Creating a Safe Religious Education Program (Unitarian Universalist Association)


A process for creating a safe congregation policy will be touched on, including new language to address disaster and trauma preparedness.

Led by Patricia Infante, CERG Faith Development Consultant and Beth Casebolt, ACRE and District Administrator for the Ohio-Meadville District.

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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or o

The Challenge of Maintaining Healthy Boundaries in Ministry: A Conversation About Emerging Issues (Faith Trust Institute)


This webinar is a thoughtful and critical conversation about the particular boundary issues it raises,including: the role of social media; self-care in a world of 24/7 access; ensuring privacy for yourself and congregants, especially regarding pastoral care issues; maintaining appropriate relationships, and expectations, with congregants.

Presenter: Rev. Lizann Bassham & Rev. Jeffrey Spencer

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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

Creating a Social Media Policy: An Important Safety Tool for Your Congregation (Faith Trust Institute)


Too often, we haven’t defined how to use technology thoughtfully, ensuring safety. Now is a great time for your faith community to develop a social media policy that fosters safety and healthy relationships, while establishing clear boundaries between clergy, youth leaders, counselors and those with whom they interact online.

Lydia Mulkey is the Youth Ministry Director for the Community Church of Sebastopol, UCC and will complete her Master of Divinity at Pacific School of Religion in May of 2015. She has served in children and youth ministry at churches in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and in Tennessee. She also serves on the Outdoor Ministries Committee for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Presenter: Lydia Mulkey

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Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

Building Better Boundaries: Creating Healthy Faith Communities (Faith Trust Institute)


Sexual harassment is a topic that impacts clergy and laity, both as victims and perpetrators. Join Marie Fortune as she discusses the role that lay leaders play in ensuring your congregation is a safe place to worship, learn, and work.

Learn more and register for this on demand webinar


Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

Safe Congregations and Risk Reduction: A Starter Kit (Faith Trust Institute)


Churches have tended in the past not to do the right thing in terms of protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse. What does “the right thing” look like and how do we get there?

This one-hour webinar with Rev. Dr. Sarah M. Rieth will equip your congregation with some of the tools and knowledge necessary to be a place of safety and trust.

This webinar will provide you with:

  • An ethical framework for risk reduction and protecting the vulnerable
  • An understanding of the basics of prevention and intervention of  abuse within a congregation
  • Resources, strategies and tools to strengthen your congregation’s policies and procedures

Rev. Dr. Sarah M. Rieth is an Episcopal priest serving as a pastoral psychotherapist and consultant in independent practice in Charlotte, North Carolina. A Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, she works with many survivors of childhood abuse and domestic violence. Her dissertation and published articles focus on the healing needs of survivors of abuse. She has worked with her own and other judicatories to develop policies, procedures, prevention training, healing protocols, and pastoral response teams to address misconduct in the church.

Learn more and register for this on demand webinar


Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

What You Need to Know: Healthy Boundaries and Social Networking in Ministry (Faith Trust Institute)


This recorded webinar will help you:

  • Identify and explore the unique boundary issues social media raises for individuals engaged in ministry.
  • Define what every faith community’s internet policy should address.
  • Address the warning signs of unhealthy internet usage.

M.L. Daniel is a lawyer in private practice in Seattle, WA concentrating in employment law.  She is an active lay leader in the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ and will receive her Masters of Divinity degree in 2011 from Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry.  Daniel is also a trainer for FaithTrust Institute.

 

Learn more and register for this on demand webinar


Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

How Is Your Ministerial Misconduct Policy Working? (Faith Trust Institute)


This recorded webinar is designed for clergy and lay leaders within a judicatory who are responsible for addressing complaints of clergy misconduct.

Most of our judicatories now have clergy misconduct policies and procedures in place. These policies provide the tools and framework for responding to complaints of misconduct, but can always use a periodic review. We suggest a review every 3-5 years.  This webinar will provide a review process which your committee can use to make the needed revisions. It will address:

  • What is the purpose of your policy?
  • What is your agenda?
  • How does your theology shape your policy?
  • Guidelines for important components of your policy and procedure
  • Suggestions for distribution of your policy to your clergy and laity
  • Relationship to your denomination’s policy
  • What can we learn from application of the policy and procedure?

Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune is the Founder and Senior Analyst of FaithTrust Institute.  She is a pastor in the United Church of Christ, an educator, theologian and author of numerous publications including Responding to Clergy Misconduct: A Handbook (2009)

M.L. Daniel is a lawyer in private practice, an active lay leader in the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church).

Learn more and register for this on demand webinar


Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

RoundTable: Misconduct & Abuse by Christian Leaders: an International Conversation (Faith Trust Institute)


In recent years, courageous survivors of abuse in Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox churches have come forward to confront our churches with this long-standing secret.  We can no longer deny that the numbers of church leaders engaged in misconduct and abuse are significant (although a minority) and the damage stretches beyond individual victims to the whole church.

This recorded Roundtable conversation includes church leaders from Australia, Canada, Norway, South Africa, and the U.S.  We have all been engaged in addressing clergy misconduct in our churches for a number of years.  We will share our understandings and insights from our particular experiences in our national contexts.  What do we see?  What have we learned?  What has changed, for better or for worse?

Presenters:
Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune
Karyn Walsh
Dr. Tormod Kleiven
Kathy McDonald
Elizabeth Peterson

Learn more and register for this on demand webinar


Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

What to Do When a Registered Sex Offender Comes to Your Congregation (Faith Trust Institute)


This presentation discusses the complexities of balancing community safety with the desire to offer forgiveness and unconditional acceptance, and the toll that the process can take on a congregation and its faith leaders.

Presenter, Rev. Dr. Kathy McCallie, has helped a congregation through the process of creating and implementing a policy and educational plan on this issue and has a wealth of experience she shares.

Learn more and register for this on demand webinar


Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.

The Spiritual Crisis of Child Victims of Abuse: How to Address Their Needs (Faith Trust Institute)


For children, as for all victims, this spiritual crisis can be shattering. Join Rev. Kathy Reid, Executive Director of Family Abuse Center (Waco, TX), as she discusses the ways to help children understand abuse and the ways their faith can support their healing. The focus of this webinar will be on Christian scripture that speaks to injustice, powerlessness, and forgiveness within the context of true justice and repentance. Recommended for advocates who work with child victims, as well as pastors and youth ministers.

Presenter: Rev. Kathy Reid

Learn more and register for this on demand webinar


Disclaimer: Sacred Space Online Learning (SSOL) seeks to provide individuals with information about religious, spiritual, or faith-based online resources from a variety of sources. Sacred Space Online Learning does NOT claim ownership over this online course or online offering. Sacred Space Online Learning is also NOT responsible for the accuracy of the materials, the content, the way they are advertised or taught, or the costs associated with this online course or offering. The views and opinions expressed in this online course or offering are those of the creators and/or the persons appearing in the online class or offering. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of SSOL, the OFLD, or MCC. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the creator(s) of the given online course or online offering.