The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries

“Some lessons are much too important for pastors not to grasp early on in their ministries. One such lesson is how to protect the most vulnerable souls in our churches, namely, the children. I know of no better teacher and mentor for church leaders on this subject than Boz Tchividjian. In The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide, Boz gives pastors, children’s staff, and volunteers everything they need to protect children from having their souls vandalized by abuse. Please read this guide and, much more importantly, implement it as soon as possible in your ministry.”

“Forty–five years of counseling, writing, and speaking have shown me that the church is a powerful system—one meant by God to bend down as he did and care for least. I have also learned that powerful systems can easily be dangerous places for the small and the vulnerable. Sadly, the church has often protected abusers and itself, thus further traumatizing victims. The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide, coauthored by Basyle Tchividjian and Shira Berkovits, is the first book that provides the A to Z of developing comprehensive child protection policies. It is my prayer that the gift of this resource will transform the church, so she is known as a refuge for all.”

“Scripture tells us to ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves’—that has to include children! They have no more courageous a defender than my friend Boz, who is passionate about helping the church protect its children. Our good intentions are not enough. Use this excellent, comprehensive, and practical guide, developed by experts incorporating best–practice child protection policies and procedures, to help your church or ministry recognize, prevent and respond to child abuse. Make sure your environment is safe for innocent children and unsafe for those who would do them harm. A very important book!”

“This book could save your ministry. As a seminary president, I am mindful of the insidious challenge of child sexual abuse in what should be the safest of places—church. Boz Tchividjian and G.R.A.C.E. have provided guidelines to help churches avoid such tragedies and if they occur, how to deal with them. The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide should be required reading for every pastor, church worker, and seminarian. As uncomfortable as this topic is, Christians cannot avoid it.”

“The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries is a crucially important handbook for the protection of our children. Churches and faith communities should be one of the safest places for children to grow up, learn, and play. Tragically, this is not always the case. Basyle Tchividjian and Shira Berkovits bring not only their hearts to this mission but years of dedication and experience in this field. This book is an answer to prayer for those who deeply desire to protect the children of their communities and who are seeking practical guidance in how to achieve this. Protecting our most vulnerable should always be of absolute importance for all of us. Amidst the untold suffering and silence, we hear the words of Christ in our hearts saying, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’”

“Child abuse is a fearful, uncomfortable, and shocking topic that some church leaders may want to ignore. But Jesus’s ministers must run TOWARD the battle. We’re called to disciple children to be worshipers of God but you can’t disciple an unsafe child. Safeguarding is a spiritual pursuit. Basyle Tchividjian and the GRACE team have crafted an invaluable resource to educate and guide church leaders in building a safe discipling environment for children. We’ve used this training at Thomas Road Baptist and will definitely utilize this guide with our team.”

“Being a local church pastor for almost fifty years, I know of no better organization or system of safeguarding the children of our church than GRACE ministries. I have learned from and admired Boz for years. This amazing book gives every church the best equipping tool to protect our most precious congregants (our children) from the most heinous of acts.”

“The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide is a book every church pastor, staff member, teacher, youth worker, and women’s ministry leader should read. Written by a team of child abuse experts, and coauthored by Basyle Tchividjian of GRACE, this book offers solid practical advice for keeping church children safe from sexual and other forms of abuse. It is a must read and I highly recommend this book.”

“To be welcomed into a church is to be welcomed into the arms of God’s people. It is meant to be a welcoming embrace of love. Any predatory threat to any person in that church tragically harms the whole church and poisons its capacity to embrace. Basyle Tchividjian has offered to the church an enormous gift by offering not only policies and guidelines for protecting children, but also teaching us on a subject too many have avoided. I am grateful for his thoroughness and his obvious pastor’s heart. Christian leaders should take heed.”

“Jesus said, ‘Bring the children to me....’ This is the definitive guide for protecting those whom we are seeking to bring to him. Detailed, practical, specific, and with appropriate recognition of when and how exceptions may be made to ‘gold standard policies,’ The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide should be in every church and Christian school library in the world.”

“The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide is a much–needed, beautifully–researched resource created for churches and ministries so that all children can be protected, heard, and healed in a predatory world. Every church should read this book and put its succinct and simple policies into practice.”

“Simply put, The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide is now the standard for any ministry desiring to create safe and protected environments where the precious souls of children can flourish. This guide provides the direction needed to implement a complete care system that prevents abuse, as well as loving interventions for those affected when the unimaginable happens. I can’t think of anyone more qualified than Boz and his team to write this groundbreaking guide.”

“As his aunt, I have known Basyle Tchividjian since before he was born. I can attest to his strong Christian character, his great sense of fun, his love for his family, his commitment to awaken the church to the growing epidemic of child sexual abuse, and his passion to do something about it. He has my applause!”

“Nobody relishes a good long talk about child abuse especially at church. But any place where trusting children gather provides opportunities for the predator. That makes child abuse a necessary discussion for any ministry. This book provides expert advice and guidance for that conversation. I pray God will use it to bring protection to many young lives.”

“Many abused and neglected children have left the faith community because they found that churches are unable or unwilling to protect them. In contrast, many sex offenders love to go to church because they know that weak policies and poor training give them the best chance to get away with their crimes. The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide is a comprehensive, concrete resource that will aid churches in keeping children safe, holding offenders accountable, and witnessing their commitment to care for the least of these.”