Invitation to Join Our Safer Sanctuaries Working Group

In April, we will be forming a short‑term Safer Sanctuaries Working Group to review the updated 2024 Virginia Conference Safer Sanctuaries Policy and compare it with our current practices at Crooks Memorial. Under our Simplified Accountable Structure, this group will study the policy, identify any needed updates, and bring a recommendation directly to the Leadership Board. Once that recommendation is submitted, the Working Group will dissolve.
To keep the commitment manageable, all policy documents will be sent out ahead of time so members can review them at their own pace. With that preparation, we anticipate that the group will need only one or two meetings to complete its work. The exact number will be determined by the group.
I will serve as a member of the Working Group to help maintain communication and awareness for the Leadership Board through the Healthy Church Healthy Community Committee, but I will not lead the group. Leadership will be chosen from among the volunteers once the group is formed.
We are seeking individuals who care about hospitality, safety, and the well‑being of children, youth, and vulnerable adults in our congregation. This is a brief, focused project, and your insight will help us ensure that our ministries remain safe, welcoming, and aligned with our shared values.
Please prayerfully consider how you might serve Christ and whether you are called to be part of this team.
Debbie Braziel

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