IF ABUSE HAS OCCURED
The church should not act as an investigative body in criminal matters. When abuse is disclosed and investigation is needed, local law enforcement should be called first.
In Illinois, members of the clergy are mandatory reporters. Click HERE and see page 22 of the linked document for current statutes in Illinois.
If abuse has happened to you or a loved one in connection with an IBSA affiliated church and you believe the disclosure of that abuse was mishandled, you can report this to the Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. To report concerns related to a church’s handling of reported sexual abuse (suspicions of recent or current sexual abuse should be reported to law enforcement officials first) click HERE and follow the prompts at the bottom of the page.
we recommend
essentials: sexual abuse prevention and response toolkit
For access to the entire Essentials Sexual Abuse Prevention & Response Toolkit, click here.
brotherhood mutual
IBSA ministry partner Brotherhood Mutual also provides many helpful abuse prevention resources for churches, including checklists and sample forms. Access them here.
ministry safe
For churches looking for an an online tool for churches to use in training volunteers who work with children. IBSA recommends Ministry Safe and uses it to train all summer camp staff and volunteers who participate in IBSA sponsored children’s and student camps. Ministry Safe also offers a selection of sample policies and procedures for local churches. To learn more about Ministry Safe click here.