"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them!
For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." (Luke 18:16 NLT)
The 2019 Keeping CMC Safe Training
At Columbus Mennonite Church, we want our children to be safe. One way that we support our children is through our child protection policy known as Keeping CMC Safe (KCMCS). This policy was adopted in 2006 and updated in 2010 and 2019.
As a part of the implementation of this policy, Leadership Team encourages all attendees to participate in the yearly training that is offered. We want all adults and youth to be familiar with our policy and be aware of other ways that we can keep our children and vulnerable persons safe.
This year’s training utilizes websites as resources. These sites will provide statistics, offer safety information to provide to children, address how adults can set good boundaries, and how to report abuse.
After completing the training, regular attendees interested in working in our programs with children or youth, will need to fill out an application. Information on how to access the application will be emailed to you.
If you have any questions or want to talk about this training or the KCMCS policy, please contact Mim Halterman, KCMCS Program Coordinator at mim@columbusmennonite.org.
Training 2019
Please watch or read the five components for training and then complete the necessary form (see number 6 below):
1. It Starts with Me
4. Strong Bystanders take Risks
5. When a child discloses, how to respond
To report Child Abuse or Neglect at Columbus Mennonite Church, you may contact a member of the CMC Response Team: Pastor Joel Miller, Jim Leonard, Scott Applegate, Erin Neese, or Julie Hostetler.
6. Thank you for completing the training. Please do one of the following:
- If you do not plan to work with our children or youth, please complete and submit the participation form at the bottom of this page.
- If you plan to work with children, please fill out an application. (You do not need to fill out the participation form below. It is included in the application.)
To access the application:
- Go to Resources, and click on member log in.
- Log in information was sent to the congregation via email or it is available from Mim (mim@columbusmennonite.org).
- Complete and submit application.
- If this is your first application, you will receive a request for three references after submission of your form.
Resources used in development of this training:
Dove's Nest is a Mennonite organization that seeks to keep children and youth in faith communities safe. We are grateful to have them as a resource. Please check out their website and contact them to receive their monthly newsletter.
Dove's Nest presented Columbus Mennonite Church with the Dove's Nest Finalist Award at the Orlando 2017 MC USA Convention for our Keeping CMC Safe program. In 2018, we received a $350 Safe Church Grant through Everence, which was promoted on Dove's Nest website.
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