Safe & Sacred Space

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Safe & Sacred Space Worker Certification

Thank you for your commitment to serve in ministry with children, youth and/or developmentally disabled adults.

Upcoming dates are posted on the conference website calendar. You can narrow your search by selecting "Safe & Sacred Space Training" from the drop-down menu on the calendar.  If you want to have a worker training at your local church, contact one of the approved Safe and Sacred instructors listed in our online Directories.  To view the list of instructors in your district, choose the Safe and Sacred Space Certified Instructor directory type.  Click on "District Name Certified Instructors" and scroll down the page to view the list.

At the completion of Worker Training, each participant will sign a covenant to follow safe and sacred practices.

Steps to completing training:

  1. Register for training.  See the list of upcoming dates on the conference Calendar.  You can narrow your search by selecting "Safe & Sacred Space Training" from the drop-down menu on the calendar.
  2. Download and complete the Worker Registration Packet.
  3. Bring the completed forms to the training.
  4. Download and print the Participant Training Workbook from the website and take it with you to the training.
  5. Bring a check for $30, payable to the Kansas East Conference, to the training with you to cover the cost of the background checks.

Worker Reference Forms

Lay Worker Reference Form D-1 (to be completed by a lay person)

  1. Click the link and print Form D-1.
  2. Give the reference form to the certification applicant's lay reference person.  NOTE:  A lay person completing the form cannot be a relative and must have known the certification applicant for a MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS.
  3. The lay reference person is to complete all needed information, sign/date the form, and mail it directly to:  Registrar, Safe & Sacred Space Certification, PO Box 4187, Topeka, KS 66604-0187.

Lay Worker Reference Form D-2 (to be completed by clergy) 

  1. Click the link and print Form D-2.
  2. Give the reference form to the certification applicant's clergy reference person.  NOTE:  A clergy person completing the form cannot be a relative and must have known the certification applicant for a MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS.
  3. The clergy reference is to complete all needed information, sign/date the form, and mail it directly to:  Registrar, Safe & Sacred Space Certification, PO Box 4187, Topeka, KS 66604-0187.

Clergy Worker Reference Form D-3 (to be completed by the District Superintendent)

  1. Click the link and print Form D-3.
  2. Give the reference form to the certification applicant's district superintendent.  NOTE:  A district superintendent completing the form cannot be a relative and must have known the certification applicant for a MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS.
  3. The district superintendent is to complete all needed information, sign/date the form, and mail it directly to:  Registrar, Safe & Sacred Space Certification, PO Box 4187, Topeka, KS 66604-0187.

Certification applicants are responsible to see that his or her references receive the appropriate forms.  Completed and signed references are to be forwarded directly to the Kansas East Conference office and not to the applicant or trainer.  Incomplete forms will be returned for completion and will delay the certification process.

Boy Scouts of America and the Relationship to Safe and Sacred Space Certification:  As you can see in the attached letter, the Boy Scouts of America's National Office recognizes our Safe and Sacred Space Certification program as meeting the requirements for their own training of scout leaders for packs/troops that are chartered by United Methodist Churches within the bounds of the Kansas East Conference.

Interested in holding a training at your church?
If you are interested in hosting a Safe and Sacred Space training but you do not have a certified instructor at your church, please check out the list of Certified Instructors by District in our online directory. Choose "Certified Instructors by District" from the directory list and then select your district for a list of instructors near you.

If you have questions about Safe and Sacred Space, please contact:

Nancy Brown
Coordinator, Safe and Sacred Space
An Abuse Prevention Program
United Methodist Kansas East Conference
Phone: 913-897-3121
Click to email: Nancy Brown

Terri Arnold
Co-Coordinator, Safe and Sacred Space
An Abuse Prevention Program
United Methodist Kansas East Conference
Phone: 913-897-4396
Click to email: Terri Arnold

Sue Hughes
Registrar, Safe and Sacred Space
Kansas East Conference Office
Phone: 785-272-9111 (in Topeka)
         or 877-972-9111 (toll free in Kansas)
Click to email: Sue Hughes