Resources

Quick Links:

Note: These resources are provided for informational purposes only. Their presence here does not constitute an endorsement by Dove's Nest.

Let the Children Come: Preparing Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect by Jeanette Harder

Creating Child and Youth Protection Policies

Worship

Curriculum (child abuse and neglect; parenting)

Faith Denominational Statements and Guides

Speakers and Trainers

Training Videos

Organizations

Recommended Reading (adult; children)

PROTECTING CHILDREN from Mennonite Church USA

Creating Child and Youth Protection Policies:

Abuse: Response and Prevention, Mennonite Central Committee, 2008.
Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect (state by state summary of current statutes), Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016.
GuideOne Center for Risk Management: Child Abuse Resources. 2017.
Hammar, Richard, & Liautaud, Marian. (2008). Reducing the Risk: Keeping Your Ministry Safe from Child Sexual Abuse (3rd ed.). Christianity Today International.
Harder, Jeanette. (2010). Let the Children Come: Preparing Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.
Making Our Churches Safe for All: An Introduction to Abuse Prevention for Local Churches, United Church of Christ (UCC) Insurance Board, 2004.
McClintock, Karen A. (2004), Preventing Sexual Abuse in Congregations: A Resource for Leaders. Herndon, VA: The Alban Institute.
Melton, Joy Thornburg. (2008). Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth. Discipleship Resources.
Patterson, John C. (2004). Staff Screening Tool Kit (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: The Nonprofit Risk Management Center.
Patterson, John C., & Oliver, Barbara B. (2004). The Season of Hope: A Risk Management Guide for Youth-Serving Nonprofits. Washington, DC: The Nonprofit Risk Management Center.
Tchividjian, Basyle & Berkovits, Shira M. (2017). The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press.

Worship

Alston, Renee. (2004). Stumbling toward Faith.
Bulletin insert (flier) for Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Child Abuse Prevention Month Kit for Churches (April) 2018
Goerzen, Katherine. (2017). The Bible and Our Bodies: A Worship Series in Six Parts.
Goerzen, Peter. (2013). Bringing Jesus Home. Father's Day sermon, Grace Hill Mennonite Church.
Holderread Heggan, Carolyn. (1993). Affirmation of Faith.
McNeil, Rebecca Z. (2012). I Know Jesus Loves Me (prayer).
Morely, Janet. (1993). All Desires Known. Four short poems.
Munro, Joyce. (1993). A Prayer in Three Parts. Inspired by Isaiah.
Munro, Joyce. (1993). Prayer for the Smallest.
Orr, David. (2013). Darkness to Light, Child Abuse Prevention Month sermon, First Mennonite Church.
Penner, Carol. (2009). God Save the Children.
Penner, Carol. (n.d.). Prayer for Children in Need. www.leadinginworship.com
Penner, Carol. (n.d.). Prayers for Survivors of Abuse.
Voices Together, MennoMedia, Into Account. Show Strength: How to Respond When Worship Materials Are Implicated in Abuse. (2020).

Preaching and Pastoral Care

Allen, Jon G. (2005). Coping with Trauma: Hope Through Understanding.
Carr, David. (2014). Holy Resilience: The Bible’s Traumatic Origins.
Culp, Kristine. (2010). Vulnerability and Glory: A Theological Account.
Grieb, A. Katherine. (October 27, 1999). "Vindication: The cross as good news for women." The Christian Century magazine. (subscription required)
Jones, Serene. (2009). Trauma and Grace.
Lipsky, Laura van Dernoot, and Connie Burk. (2009). Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others.
Nouwen, Henri. (1972). The Wounded Healer.
Nouwen, Henri. (1989). In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership.
Sojo.net. 100 Sermons on Sexual and Domestic Violence.
Thornton, Sharon G. (2002). Broken yet Beloved: A Pastoral Theology of the Cross.
Vieth, Victor I. (2018). On This Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Words of Jesus
Volf, Miroslav. (2006). The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World.

Curriculum

Child Abuse and Neglect:

Let the Children Come: Preparing Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect. The audience for this book is Christians who are concerned about the safety and well-being of children. Church educators will be able to use this book to lead adult Sunday school classes on the role of our faith communities in ending child abuse and neglect. Church denominations will want to use this book as they raise awareness and provide training on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Circle of Grace. The goal of the Circle of Grace program is to educate and empower children and youth to actively participate in creating a safe environment for themselves and others.
Dealing with Abuse. Close to Home series (with study guide). Child abuse is much more widespread than we’d like to admit. At least one in three girls and one in seven boys are sexually abused by the time they are 18. Physical, verbal, and emotional abuse is also far too common. This pamphlet speaks primarily to adults and teenagers who seek healing from the wounds of childhood abuse. It highlights the Bible’s emphasis on God’s passionate concern for the well-being of children.
Body and Soul: Healthy Sexuality and the People of God . (MennoMedia). Worship resources. Curriculum for adults and youth.

Parenting:

Faith Denominational Statements and Guides

American Baptist Church, Resolution Against Sexual Exploitation of Children
The Anglican Church of Canada, Sexual Misconduct Policy Applicable to National Staff and Volunteers
Christian Reformed Church in North America, Safe Church - Child Safety, Responding to Abuse: A Toolkit for Churches
Church of the Brethren, Child Protection
Church of the Nazarene, Nazarene Safe: Guidlines for Creating a Safe Environment for God's Family
The Episcopal Church, Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse
Evangelical Covenant Church, Sexual Abuse
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, An ELCA Strategy for Responding to Sexual Abuse in the Church
The Independent Fundamental Churches of America, Policy for Sex Offenders
Mennonite Brethren (Canadian Conference), Executive Board Clarifies Position on Sexual Abuse
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, Reporting Sexual Misconduct
Mennonite Church Canada, Volunteer Screening for a Safe Church Volunteer Screening Policy and Procedures Manual
Seventh Day Adventist: Child Protection Resource Guide for Pastors

Mennonite Church USA:

New England Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Safe Church Resources
Presbyterian Church USA, We Won't Let It Happen Here! Preventing Child Abuse in the Church
Southern Baptist Convention, On Protecting Children from Abuse
Unitarian Universalist, Balancing Acts - Keeping Children Safe in Congregations
United Church of Christ, Making Our Churches Safe
United Methodist Church, Safe Sanctuaries - Protecting Our Children and Youth Violence Against Women and Children; Sexual Ethics
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

Speakers and Trainers

(For more information about training options, click here. To request or schedule a speaker, contact Kathy Haake, kathy [at] dovesnest.net.

Marlene Bogard, MA; Salem, OR
Linda Gehman Peachey, MDiv, freelance writer and teacher; cofounder of Dove's Nest; member, East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church; Lancaster, PA
Jeanette Harder, PhD, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Grace Abbott School of Social Work; Dove's Nest board president; member, First Mennonite Church; Lincoln, NE
Jan Slabaugh, BS, MEd, early childhood education specialist and teacher; Mechanicsburg, PA
Brenda Yoder, LMHC, counselor, writer, speaker, educator; Shipshewana, IN
Amy Lynn Smith, LMSW, MATSJ, licensed social worker and minister, Nazerence Church; Rochester, NY
Anna Groff, MPA; Tucson, AZ
Melissa Rorabaugh Heise, MEd, MTS, teacher, licensed foster care provider; Pottstown, PA
Carol Grace Hurst, PhD, MSW, LCSW, associate professor & program director of Social Work at Eastern Mennonite University; Crozet, VA
Katherine Burkey Wiens, MEd, MS, author, speaker, educator; Newton, KS
Glen Guyton, BS, MEd, director of Mennonite Church USA, speaker, writer, advocate for intercultural competency, member of National Speaker Association; San Antonio, TX