Safe Church and Relationships

The Erb St. Mennonite Church congregation has created:

  1. policies and procedures to guide how we want to be in relationship with each other as a worshipping community;
  2. a process for addressing conflict, concerns and/or difficulties;
  3. an overarching safe church policy to work towards preventing the abuse of those who are vulnerable, including children.

The three documents are below. By design, all three complement and inform one another, and so should be interpreted or implemented in consideration of one another.

ESMC Conflict Resolution Process (2024)

The Goal of the ESMC Conflict Resolution Process is to provide an opportunity for anyone in our church community to address concerns and resolve differences with a Pastor or a staff member or a congregant. The process supports the early identification of conflicts and/or performance issues and follows the teachings of Mathew 18:15-17. Read more.

A covenant of loving relationships at Erb Street Mennonite Church (2023)

In thought, deed, and word, God is Love. We commit, to God and to one another, that we will seek to live out this love in our relationships.

We commit:

  • to listening to one another the way we listen for God: in love, with open minds and hearts; 
  • to giving and receiving in that same spirit, for shared learning and growth;
  •  to honesty in our communication;
  •  to caring for each person as God’s beloved child, knowing we are God’s hands and feet for one another;
  •  to recognizing when we may fall short of these commitments, and, when we do, to working towards the repair of our relationships.

Safe Church Policy (2023)

The church has spiritual, moral, legal and societal obligations to ensure a safe environment for all young people and adults participating in church programs. Spiritual and moral obligations are reflected in various scriptures. As a congregation we accept the call to nurture and care for our congregants (in particular young people and vulnerable adults). Recognizing the fallibility of humans, the congregation accepts its responsibility to implement clear policies and procedures to minimize the risk of abusing not only those who are vulnerable but everyone within our congregation. We accept responsibility to educate and engage in prevention activities to actively create a safe space for all.