Safe Church
Erb Street strives to be an inclusive and welcoming community and a safe place for everyone. To that end, we have created a Safe Church Policy which we seek to live out faithfully. We recognize that the document is a serious read, not an easy or fun read, because this is a serious topic. We also recognize that it places some boundaries on us as a community, requiring us to be more intentional and careful in our interactions. This helps us be more accountable and makes our church a safer place for everyone. We encourage everyone involved with our church to read it, live it, and help ensure that we all live up to it, just as we would for the rest of our faith.
The purpose of a Safe Church Policy is to ensure that Erb Street Mennonite Church (ESMC) is a safe place for all people. The intent of the policies and procedures is to protect everyone within our congregation from harm, including harassment, neglect and abuse, especially where there is a power imbalance. The policy also protects adults who work with these groups from false allegations, and the church from unnecessary litigation.
ESMC Safe Church Policy Revised 2023
A printed copy of the full policy is available in the church office and the library.
If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to a member of the Safe Church Committee, the church office, or any Church Council member, who will ensure that they are forwarded to the appropriate person(s).