4 Pillars of a Safe Church and How to Evaluate Them
Doesn’t this sheep look safe?
A pastor (shephard) is supposed to keep the flock safe. But how do they make sure the flock is safe from even threats within the church?
Mike Kruger, President of Reformed Theological Seminary - Charlotte, tweeted a helpful resource from the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC). After a brief introduction of the stated goals, you can read a resource they created to help churches evaluate and improve their cultures. This resource is created by people who love churches, church planters, and want to help. They’re a clear friend to evangelical churches. Read their Vision if you doubt this. The resources:
Church Cultures: Review Questions - this is the document I will discuss.
The questions they provide roll up under four categories. I’ve included a piece of their cited biblical passage:
Character and Accountability: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…”
Diversity and Difference: “…a body, though one, has many parts…”
Safeguarding and Protection: “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung round their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Power and Decision-Making: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones”
I appreciate the biblical citations and calls to lean on God for aid in this process, noting only He can bring true change.
Purpose
For clarity, some of these questions assume that a church will be doing a broad survey of its body to get their perspective on these questions. I love the purpose stated:
These review questions are not a simple test to pass or fail. Instead, they are conversation starters that we hope enable churches to take the time to reflect together honestly on their cultures and potential issues of power and abuse within them. They are designed to bring hidden things to light and to lead to lament, repentance, and a renewed sense of our need for God’s forgiveness and grace – which is why they have been published alongside some liturgy that will enable this.
How To Use
I wanted to call out one great note about how different people will experience a church’s culture and leaders differently. It’s ok and expected! It’s important not to dismiss someone’s experience because it doesn’t match your own.
You will potentially get a variety of different responses to these questions – sometimes contradictory. This is normal! In assessing the differences and complexity of people’s answers look out, in particular, for patterns that emerge which will help you discern what is really going on. Even if something is only raised by one individual, you may wish to consider how to follow it up pastorally.
Similarly, Ryan Ramsey (@rramseywrites), starts a thread on Instagram with this. I highly recommend following the link to read the whole thread:
We could greatly reduce the amount of heartache and betrayal many of us have absorbed if Christians embodied integrity by saying: “I never experienced this, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t. And your experience will inform my actions.”
And one final note: this document is meant to help churches grow. It’s not meant to tear them down or judge. It’s meant to help them be introspective and identify areas for improvement, just like we are all called to do individually as Christians.
Editorial: It is my view that the Network undertaking a broad effort to do this is necessary to address the issues raised on Leaving the Network, r/leavingthenetwork, and my letter regarding Spiritual Abuse at Vista Church and the Network. Third party organizations like GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments) partner with churches to help them investigate and improve in these areas - I believe that such an investigation and partnership would be wise given the current state. GRACE has come up regularly as a top-notch organization in this regard.
Character and Accountability
There’s a general expectation in this section: the church body should regularly be consulted and voices listened to regarding feedback they have for their leaders. This is an integral part of how leaders grow in healthy organizations. Apologies are encouraged and accepted, and to avoid the pastor becoming a doormat, grumbling is properly identified corrected. External accountability structures exist and have a real role.
“Are the voices of anyone raising questions about the character of leaders being listened to? How do you know?”
“Do questions around character form part of regular appraisals of leaders that draw in feedback from a range of people that see them in action? Has any justified criticism led to change?”
“Have you heard your leaders acknowledge their own weakness or failings in specific terms – appropriately and authentically apologising when necessary? How does your church distinguish between grumbling within the church and appropriate accountability?” - Yes, they’re from England, so it’s “apologising” not “apologizing”.
“Do those holding your church and its leaders accountable have the necessary authority, independence, and experience to do so?”
“When have external accountability structures brought challenge and change to your church and its leaders? Who will you be sharing your answers to these questions with?”
Diversity and Difference
Disclaimer: I’d like to point out that this section of the resource endorses inclusion across sex and sexuality. My endorsement of this resource does not represent an endorsement of that position. It’s possible to take the good questions and the spirit behind them without having to take the same position.
“To what extent does your church and its leaders reflect the diversity of people in the communities it is seeking to reach? Who feels included? Who feels excluded? How do you know?”
“What are the range of life experiences and circumstances of those involved in leadership? Who feels undervalued and/or excluded?”
“Why do people stay? Why do people leave? How are the experiences of those who leave your church gathered?”
“How are criticisms of those in leadership raised or handled if they don’t match the positive experiences of others?”
“How open is your church to being positively influenced by other times, traditions, tongues, and networks?”
Safeguarding & Protection
Safeguarding is a term used to describe a church’s efforts to make reporting abuses easy and the process for dealing with them clear and just. It assumes that people sin, and wants to protect people in the church from possible damage from that sin. An example would be putting contact information for a third-party agency on their website for any abuses or red flags someone sees.
“When were your safeguarding and complaints procedures last mentioned up-front in a Sunday church service?”
“Has anyone in the church ever indicated that they would have raised a concern earlier but they did not know how to do it?”
“Are all those involved in pastoral care and mentoring at your church recruited carefully, trained properly, and held clearly accountable to others under regularly reviewed guidelines?”
“Can you identify instances where pastoral care has been inadequate or overbearing? How was it handled? What has been done to improve the handling of such situations in future?”
Power & Decision Making
Power dynamics matter. They shape all manner of interactions. It’s important for anyone with power to educate themselves on how to use it and avoid it unduly influencing people. I included this quote in my letter, but it’s worth quoting again: “A pastor who doesn’t recognize power differentials in personal conversation isn’t safe.” - David Dzimianski (@DavidDzimianski on twitter)
“What effective checks and balances are in place to protect against sinful or unwise decisions being made?”
“Are your leaders able to demonstrate how they have behaved and spoken differently due to their awareness of power dynamics? Have others seen this in action?”
“Are there any individuals who people find it difficult to disagree with? How does this impact relationships and decision-making?”
Wrapping up
Again, the resource includes many more questions and explanations. It’s well worth the time to take a look.