Classis Hamilton Safe Church Team

Report to Classis

May, 2008

Dear Classis Delegates,

1.   The Abuse Prevention Office announces that Abuse Awareness is Sept 21, 2008.  The office is printing two bulletin inserts at no cost to the churches: one on child abuse and one on domestic violence.  There will be a space on the bottom of each insert for the local phone number of Children's Aid Society or a local domestic violence shelter or hotline.  Or, you could make it the contact number for your church’s Safe Church Team. Your Classis Safe Church Team is looking into ordering these inserts for all the churches.  They should be ready for distribution in early August which would give your church about six weeks to write in the appropriate phone number.

2.   We have a new member on the Safe Church team. He is a member of Maranatha CRC in York. Thanks to Pastor Martin Dam who made the initial contact. His name is Jake Termorshuizen and he is a retired police officer with a lot of experience investigating cases of sexual assault/abuse and to bring perpetrators to justice.

Below are the current members on the Safe Church Team. Please note the churches represented on the team. If your church is not represented, please consider contacting and encouraging someone from your church who may be willing to join the team. Then let John Gilson know. Thank you for any assistance you can give us to add members to the team.

John Benjamins (Immanuel CRC, Hamilton)
Tony Boer (Ebenezer CRC, Jarvis)
Judy Cook (Meadowlands Fellowship CRC, Ancaster)
John Gilson, Chairperson (Hope CRC, Brantford)
Monica Heeg-Admiral (Community CRC, Hagersville)
Lori Hensen (Ancaster CRC, Ancaster)
Brenda Hofland (Ebenezer CRC, Jarvis)
Jake Termorshuizen (York CRC)
Bette Vander Giessen (Bethel CRC, Waterdown) 

3.   A reminder that we have DVD versions of two videos produced by Faith Trust Institute. The first one is titled, "Hear Their Cries - Religious Responses to Child Abuse" and the second one is titled, "Bless Our Children - Preventing Sexual Abuse". Both DVDs come with study guides for discussion leaders and decision makers. If you would like to borrow them, please contact John Gilson.

4.   The above two videos were loaned out to Grace Free Reformed Church in Brantford at the request of their Child Safety Committee.

John Gilson, Chairperson
Email:      classishamilton@bfree.on.ca

Website:  www.classishamilton.ca (click on the link to Safe Church Team)