Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training: Every Year, Everyone, At Least One

I am pleased to announce that this fall both de Cristo and Grand Canyon presbyteries approved
new sexual misconduct prevention policies requiring annual training for all (a) active teaching elders, (b) honorably retired teaching elders currently serving in ministry, (c) commissioned ruling elders currently serving in ministry, and (d) candidates and inquirers for ordination. If you are one of the above, you are asked during calendar year 2016 to take either at least one of the online training courses or attend a face-to-face training session to be scheduled in the Spring (date to be announced). All online courses are offered through the presbyteries’ association with Hugh Wood / Insurance Board and are available for all members of both presbyteries. One’s church does not need to have insurance through HW/IB to utilize these training opportunities.

To sign up yourself, staff or church officers, the session clerk should send the following information to Carolyn McBurney at the Presbytery office:

1. Individual’s name
2. His/her role with your church (staff, elder, deacon, volunteer with ____ program,
3. His/her Phone number
4. His/her email

Carolyn will enter them into the system, after which, they will receive an email from
ARMATUS with their login ID and password. They can then access the website and
take the training on their own time.

Please allow five to seven business days for processing. 

Because protecting our children and preventing sexual predation is the work of entire
communities, I believe we need “200% accountability,” by which I mean the expectation that everyone learns, grows and stays current with best practices (100% accountability) and that each of us expects the same of everyone (200% accountability).  I have taken all of the courses offered, but that was last year.

Thus, again this year in 2016, I will take one of the refresher courses: every year, everyone, at least one.

P.S. Churches interested in utilizing the Presbytery to conduct background checks, may do so at a 60% discount for churches enrolled with the Insurance Board ($5.00). Those churches not enrolled may participate, but will pay the full rate ($12.00).  An application form is available on the Presbytery website under the Clerk’s Corner.  Complete the form and mail or fax to the Presbytery office (never email something containing social security numbers.) Your church will be billed for each background check.