Our goal is to help the local church become a safer place. If we can assist your church in this endeavor, please reach out to the State Board through our contact page. If you are just starting or looking to improve your church policies, we’d recommend referencing our Best Practices page, the complete Abuse Prevention and Response Guide or the bottom of the resource page for helpful elements in strengthening or beginning your church policies. Below is a list of suggestions for the church member when taking on this important work.
If you have been made aware of an abuse claim, visit our reporting page on how and if you must report.
Suggestions to Consider
- Make sure your church leadership is on board.
- Don’t start this process on your own if you have church leadership. Make sure that you partner with any relevant leadership in your church as you begin implementing or growing the procedures in your church.
- Review our Abuse Prevention and Response Guide or the Best Practices page. Use those suggestions to begin or strengthen the safeguards in your church’s ministry.
- Check with your local Baptist association for any additional resources or guidance.
- Make sure your church and leadership is aware of resources like MinistrySafe to help your churches receive quality training on how to develop policies, conduct background checks, and implement safeguards to make your churches safer places.
- Contact the State Board of Missions office to assist with helping in your process.
- Be sure to follow the SBOM on our various social media platforms and emails and occasionally visit the events page at this website for upcoming trainings or helpful events for continuing education.
- If you are in a pastor search or are hiring staff and recruiting volunteers without pastoral leadership, make sure you are vetting those individuals criminally, financially and educationally.