Wednesday, October 25th, 2023
What would you do? It’s Trunk or Treat time at your small church and you are busy lining up cars in anticipation of children in costumes walking around and playing games with congregation members. Most of the cars are registered for the event, but someone you don’t recognize lines up their car at the end […]
Read More >>Wednesday, October 25th, 2023
When thinking about health, people often think about blood pressure, heart disease and other physical conditions. But that’s not a whole picture of a person’s health. Mental health, which includes a person’s emotional, psychological and social well-being, is important for people of all ages—and just as essential as taking care of our physical selves. According […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 25th, 2023
On the playground one day as you are volunteering, you overhear a young girl tell her friend that she has an important secret with Uncle John, a friend of her dad’s. There is something about the way she says it that gives you pause. On the one hand, it could be a surprise party for […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 25th, 2023
1. Educate yourself on the area you will be traveling. If it’s a mission across town but to an area you’ve never been, map it out ahead of time. Ask others who previously have served in that area about relevant details such as where to park and areas or routes to avoid. For an international […]
Read More >>Monday, May 22nd, 2023
1. Start early. If you are already thinking about volunteers, you are a step ahead. Even though spring has sprung, your church or organization may have the bulk of its activities in summer and fall months. It’s never too early to start looking. 2. Talk with your current volunteers. With volunteers, there is always a […]
Read More >>Monday, May 22nd, 2023
You have been a volunteer at your organization for many years. You serve in many different areas, including the children’s department and during camp season. Your children’s ministry director comes to you expressing interest in your help as part of a committee updating the organization’s policies. You don’t have any experience in policymaking, so you […]
Read More >>Tuesday, September 20th, 2022
Decisions made in ordinary moments can have long-term positive or negative consequences. Clergy and ministerial leaders are often expected to make all the right decisions AND have all the right answers. Is it time for your clergy members or ministry leaders to renew their ethics training? The 2-hour “Clergy Ethics and Congregational Boundaries” course from Safe Gatherings is […]
Read More >>Friday, February 11th, 2022
We are excited to see you at the ELCA Extravaganza 2022 in Minneapolis, starting today! Visit our booth to learn more about Safe Gatherings and ask us about our newest product, Policy Builder!
Read More >>Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
Do you know the most frequent reason that a Safe Gatherings application is delayed? It might not be what you think. You may be thinking that the background check is most frequently what causes an application to be delayed, but that’s not correct. The most frequent reason? The applicant’s own references! How can that be? […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
A regular volunteer comes to you two days before the mission trip she has planned to attend and says that her Safe Gatherings approval has not come back yet. You had reminded her a couple of times over the last month or two, but she still hasn’t completed the necessary steps. She says, “I’ve been […]
Read More >>Friday, April 23rd, 2021
Over this past year, we know there have been many changes in organizations, and this includes staffing. This newsletter’s administrative tip is to remind you to let us know about these changes. We want to make sure we are still communicating with the right people. If you have Safe Gatherings admin changes, please call us […]
Read More >>Friday, February 19th, 2021
Safe Gatherings is proud to partner with N2Discovery as the recommended protection program provider for Discovery Weekend activities. At N2Discovery, Discovery Weekend resources emphasize the need for events to be safe places for children and youth. They are committed to ensuring that staff and volunteers are screened and trained, and encourage the use of Safe […]
Read More >>