A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERY PERSON
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan commits to creating safe environments, especially for children, youth, and vulnerable adults, from sexual, physical and/or personal abuse or exploitation.
As part of the policies and procedures for the Diocese of Western Michigan, all people who engage in pastoral relationships must do the following:
- familiarize themselves with the diocesan Safe Church policies;
- complete Safe Church, Safe Communities training every three years;
- submit to a background check every five years.
These training modules and our diocesan policies for Safe Church are intended to provide you with the tools and insights to take an active role in keeping our communities safe. They will give our communities a vocabulary for discussing the issues of sexual misconduct and harassment and assist in and teach all of us healthy boundaries and loving ways to interact with the children and other adults in our midst. This will further the crucial mission of transforming all of our churches into truly safe spaces for God’s beloved children.
Complete your training
SELF-GUIDED, ANYTIME TRAINING
If you have any questions, you can contact the Praesidium Academy Support Team at support@praesidiuminc.com or 817-801-7773 or contact Safe Church administrator Maggie Gonzalez.
TO ENROLL:
- Go to https://www.praesidiumacademy.com/redeem
- Fill in your contact information including First Name, Last Name, Email Address, and desired Password.
- Enter the appropriate registration code for your organization.
(Find your parish’s registration code here.) - Click Validate to confirm registration code.
- Click the checkbox to agree to the Terms & Conditions.
- Click Redeem.
- Write down your user login and password for future reference.
- Answer the Registration Questions about your status and role within the organization.
(View the required courses by position/role in your parish.) - Click Save & Continue.
- To begin taking training immediately, scroll down and click a course to start the content.
HELPFUL DOWNLOADS/LINKS:
- Quick Start Guide (directions listed above)
- EDWM Parish Registration Codes
- Required courses by position/role in your parish (Spreadsheet)
- Required courses by position/role in your parish (List)
UPCOMING GROUP TRAININGS ON ZOOM
These 2.5 hour training sessions are offered for those who wish to participate in the Safe Church, Safe Communities training in a community setting (on Zoom) rather than through the online, self-directed platform. This is not a “train-the-trainer” opportunity.
UPCOMING IN-PERSON TRAININGS
These training sessions are offered for those who wish to participate in the Safe Church, Safe Communities training in a community setting in person rather than through the online, self-directed platform. This is not a “train-the-trainer” opportunity.
- Saturday, September 7, beginning at 10 AM at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo. Bring a brown-bag lunch; St. Luke’s will provide drinks.
- Please call Donna or Linda at 269-345-8553 to register.
- Thursday, October 17, 12-4 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant; lunch will be provided.
- Facilitated by The Rev. Radhajyoti Kaminski – REGISTER
UPCOMING TRAIN-THE-TRAINER SESSIONS
Our hope is that each region will have several leaders trained and available to facilitate Safe Church, Safe Communities, both in online and in-person settings in addition to the existing resources for self-directed training via the Safe Church website.
The one-session, 3 hour training includes an overview of the various sessions within the revised Safe Church, Safe Communities curriculum, a deep dive into our bi-diocesan Safe Church policy, and resources for facilitation.
All those seeking training to facilitate the Safe Church, Safe Communities curriculum must be adults (over 18) and members in good standing of an Episcopal congregation (or Lutheran congregation in collaboration).
Additionally, each trainer must be generally familiar with technology — able to use Google Docs, email, and Zoom. When facilitating in-person trainings, the trainer must be able to project content from a website. When facilitating online trainings, the trainer must be able to host a Zoom meeting and be able to (or to recruit assistance to) screen share.
Note: If you receive notice that “Registration is closed” prior to the event date it means that the training is full. Please choose another date and see if there is availability.
- No upcoming dates have been announced.
REQUEST A LOCAL, IN-PERSON TRAINING
To request in-person traiing or to find a trainer nearby, please email Maggie Gonzalez who serves as our diocesan Safe Church Administrator.
