Australian churches are responding to the challenge of providing safe church environments in which to carry out ministry programs. This challenge is reflected not only in preventing and responding to claims and cases of sexual misconduct in our Christian communities, but also in building knowledge at a local and congregational level.
In response to this challenge many Christian denominations have established strategies aimed at accountability and transparency in relationships and programs. Significant resources have been put into the establishment of professional standards groups / boards to handle complaints of abuse, and implementation of programs to train employees and volunteer leaders in best practice for creating safer churches.
The 'Safer Churches?' consultations and conferences (2014-2019) have encouraged openness between Churches. Being willing to ask for help from the family of Churches is an important step in allowing God to heal us and our communities and work towards reconciliation, wellbeing and wholeness.
2019 Conference
17 and 18 September 2019 at the Mecure Hotel Brisbane.
This was the first conference held by the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) Safe Church Program since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommendations were released in December 2017.
The theme for the conference, "Transforming Cultures: Listening, Reflecting, Acting" provided the framework across the two-day event.
See the 9th biennial Safer Churches Conference presentation papers, videos and photo gallery here
Previous Conferences
- Safe as Churches? Consultation - March 2004
- Safe as Churches? Consultation II - September 2005
- Safe as Churches? Consultation III - March 2007
- Safe as Churches? Consultation IV - June 2009
- Safe as Churches? V- July 2011
- Safe as Churches? VI September 26-27 2013
- Safe as Churches? VII September 2015
- Safe as Churches? VIII 16-17 May 2017
