Classis Hamilton Safe Church Team

Report to Classis

September, 2008

 

Dear Classis Delegates,
 

  1. Most pastors received an email postcard announcing that Abuse Awareness was moved from the last Sunday of February to the last Sunday of September.  The Deacons’ Calendar should now have the fourth Sunday of September earmarked for an offering for the office of Abuse Prevention.  This year, the date is September 28. There is an excellent 2 minute PowerPoint presentation that can be played during the offering. You can download it from the Abuse Prevention Office website at www.crcna.org/abuse
     
  2. Your Safe Church Team has ordered two bulletin inserts for each Classis Hamilton church which we hope to distribute at the September Classis meeting. Therefore you do not need to order any bulletin inserts. One insert addresses child abuse and the other insert addresses domestic violence.

 

  1. To increase awareness of abuse and the activities of the Office of Abuse Prevention, the office is providing several resources for pastors and churches. They are:

 

·         Through Faith Alive Christian Resources, several small-fee booklets are available for churches to purchase and make available to the congregation, to council members, or to place in the church library.  A description of the booklets and an order form are now available online. Just go to the Faith Alive Christian Resources website at www.faithaliveresources.org and in the search box, type: small charge items.

 

·         Through the office of Abuse Prevention, several worship resources are available at no charge.  The worship resources include suggested sermon topics, litanies, prayers, and dramas.  An order form is now available on the Abuse Prevention’s web page.  The Abuse Prevention Office website is
www.crcna.org/abuse

 

  1. Since the May Classis meeting, we have received some calls for advice on abuse related matters — some from outside of Classis Hamilton and some from within classis. This is a reminder that even though you may come across an abuse situation in your church that does not fall within the Safe Church Team’s specific mandate, if you have a question or require advice, please feel free to call a member of the team or call Beth Swagman, Director of Abuse Prevention Office at (616) 224-0735.
     
  2. We currently have 8 members on the Safe Church Team. They are:
     

John Gilson, Chairperson (Hope CRC, Brantford)
John Benjamins (Immanuel CRC, Hamilton)
Judy Cook (Meadowlands Fellowship CRC, Ancaster)

Monica Heeg-Admiral (Community CRC, Hagersville)

Lori Hensen (Ancaster CRC, Ancaster)

Brenda Hofland (Ebenezer CRC, Jarvis)

Jake Termorshuizen (Maranatha CRC, York
Bette Vander Giessen (Bethel CRC, Waterdown)
 

We are always hoping for more churches to be represented. If your church is not represented on the team and you know of someone who might be willing to join us, please call John Gilson.
 

In His Service

On behalf of the Classis Hamilton Safe Church Team

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

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