Diocesan Policy
The purpose and intent of the Diocese of Maine’s Safe Church Policy is to safeguard employees, children, and others where possible from sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. The policy defines basic terms in order prohibit sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse; as well as retaliation for bringing complaints or participating in the complaint process within the setting of the church and its ministries and sets forth a process for receiving such complaints and resolving them.
Download the Safe Church Policy here
Training Requirements in the Diocese of Maine
Read through the instructions posted below for becoming Safe Church certified “How to Complete Your Original Certification” as well as what you need to do to refresh it each year “How to Complete Your Annual Re-Certification” or you may download all of the instructions to your own computer by clicking on this button:
Download the Training Instructions here
How to Complete Your Original Certification
PART A: Praesidium Academy
Login to Praesidium Academy here
If you do not have a login, please email Wendy Kopera with your full name, church name and town, and your email address.
On the Praesidium Academy homepage:
- Available courses are found at the bottom of the page.
- When you locate the course you wish to take, click on the course to begin. There will be detailed instructions to guide you through each course as you go.
- Your progress will be saved if you leave a course, and you can resume at any time.
- To return to the home page, click the home icon in the upper left corner.
- To print an individual course certificate, select “Certificates” in the middle section of the home page.
- To print a complete list of completed courses, click on your initials in the upper right corner of the page in Praesidium and select “transcript.”
1. Choose your FIVE “modules” (courses)
In addition to the three foundational modules that everyone should start with:
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- “Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction and Theological Background”
- “Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse and Neglect”
- “Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules and Policies”
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Choose two additional modules (electives) from the other courses available. Use your own judgment to decide which among the additional modules is most relevant to your ministry. If more than two seem helpful, it’s fine to do more than just the two required electives.
2. After you have completed FIVE modules, please PRINT your transcript (this step is easy, but frequently overlooked, please don’t skip it)
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- Lay people should print two copies: one for your records and submit one to your parish office.
- Clergy persons should print three copies: one for your records, one for your parish office, and one to Canon Martin.
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PART B: State of Maine Mandated Training
Click here to go to the Maine Mandated Reporter site
Once you arrive on the site, click “Start Course.” Proceed through the course and take the quiz. Download your certificate and distribute as in Part A, number 2.
NEW! How to Complete Your Annual Re-Certification
To keep your Safe Church certification current, you need to do these things every year:
- Complete any module from Praesidium Academy (please don’t retake a previously completed module)
- Retake Part B, State of Maine Mandated Training
- Submit your certificates as in Part A, number 2
- If your certification expires, or you do not complete the annual recertification, you are not eligible to recertify, and must begin the certification process anew
- Note: if your ministry or role changes significantly, please consider adding additional modules to support your new role.
See our FAQ (*Link) for additional information. If you encounter any challenges, please contact Wendy Kopera.
FAQs
Q: How do I access the Safe Church training modules at Praesidium Academy, and who can I contact if I have issues accessing or using the site?
A: If you have taken Safe Church courses in the past you will already have a login at https://www.praesidiumacademy.com. If you will be taking Safe Church courses for the first time, you will need an invitation to access them. Please contact Wendy Kopera [email protected] to get signed up, or if you have any problems accessing or using the site.
Q: Who is required to complete Safe Church Certification?
A: All people who receive lay licenses are required to have current Safe Church certification. Licenses are required for: Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors, Preachers, Catechists and Worship Leaders.
All leaders are required to have Safe Church certification, including Sunday school teachers, leaders of adult groups, acolyte leaders, prayer team leaders, and all people involved in faith sharing with minors and young adults.
All vestry members are required to have Safe Church certification.
All congregational and diocesan staff are required to have Safe Church certification.
Q: Who is NOT required to complete Safe Church Certification?
A: Retired clergy who are not exercising their ministry are not required to maintain their Safe Church certification. If their ministry becomes active, Safe Church certification is required.
Q: Is there a certificate for each module?
A: Yes, each module has a certificate. However, you can print a transcript of all courses you’ve completed by clicking on your initials in the upper right corner of the Praesidium home page and selecting “transcript.”
Q: Can the diocese and National Church office please keep a database of who has taken what and who has expired etc., including lay leaders and clergy? Who would have access to that information? What, if anything, would be confidential?
A: In order to keep things as simple and accurate as possible, and avoid the burden of unnecessary administration on congregations, record keeping for both Safe Church and Lay Licenses will be kept on the local level. There is no mechanism in place to retain these records on the Church or diocesan level. Clergy are required to keep a copy of their Safe Church certification in their clergy file (currently in the diocesan office, eventually in the database), and for parochial clergy, a copy must be kept with the other records in the parish office. Access to the information in the parish office is at the discretion of the priest in charge or senior warden.
Q: Can we provide group sessions? And if so, do we need to get an official certificate for each participant, or will keeping a record of who completed the training suffice? Can you tell us how we would do the certification when doing group training?
A: Yes, group sessions may be scheduled as long as there is a facilitator who is familiar both with the Safe Church program/requirements and the technology required to host a group session. Registration is required to generate a roster, attendance must be taken at the event, and a transcript of the courses taken must be printed and attached to the roster. The clergy person in charge, or senior warden, should sign the attendance record, and all paperwork must be placed in the Safe Church/Lay Licensing file/binder with your other records.
Q: Are background checks done?
This is still under consideration. Stay tuned for additional information.
Q: Where can I find additional information from The Episcopal Church?
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/safe-church/
If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with Barbara Martin, Canon for Administration.