Safe Ministry Sunday
Helping the whole church community make church a safe place for everyone.
Choose a day that suits your church. Use the Sunday-branded resources for Safe Ministry Sunday, or the matching generic versions for another day.
Safe Ministry Sunday fact sheet
Safe Ministry Sunday Resources
For churches holding a Safe Ministry Sunday.
Safe Ministry Sunday posters
Two posters featuring the key messages for Safe Ministry Sunday.
Children’s colouring sheet
An opening for talking with children about keeping safe.
Service presentation
PowerPoint slides with the Archbishop’s message and prayer points.
Prayer postcard
Prayer points to share with the congregation.
Generic Safe Ministry Resources
The same resources with “Sunday” removed from the branding, for churches choosing another day.
The Katrina poster and colouring sheet are shared by both sets.
Safe Ministry posters
Two posters with the key safe ministry messages.
Children’s colouring sheet
An opening for talking with children about keeping safe.
Service presentation
PowerPoint slides with the Archbishop’s message and prayer points.
Prayer postcard
Prayer points to share with the congregation.
Additional Sunday resources
Extra landscape graphics for services.
What is Safe Ministry Sunday?
An opportunity to focus on safe ministry across the whole church community.
Safe Ministry Sunday helps church leaders raise awareness, educate the church community and encourage everyone to be involved in making church a safe place.
You could hold it at the beginning of the year, during a commissioning service for children’s and youth leaders, during Child Protection Week or Children’s Week, or at another time that fits your church program.
The Office of the Director of Safe Ministry has developed resources to support churches to facilitate Safe Ministry Sunday.
Who is this for and why do it?
Everyone in our churches has a role to play in keeping everyone safe and free from harm. Safe Ministry Sunday shows that our church is serious about keeping everyone safe.
Children can take part too. The colouring sheet and posters provide an opening for teaching protective behaviours and helping children increase their personal safety.
These activities support Child Safe Standard 2: children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
A message from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
“Doing ministry safely matters because every person is made in God’s image and is deeply valued by him. God’s love and care extends to children, young people, and adults.”
Everyone in the church community shares responsibility for safe ministry. Leaders, volunteers, parents, carers and congregation members all help create an environment where people are treated with care and concerns are taken seriously.
Safe Ministry Sunday key messages
Keeping children and others safe is everyone’s responsibility.
Safe Ministry is not just for leaders. We all have a role in ensuring our church is a safe place for all, particularly children and other vulnerable people.
Katrina the Safe Ministry Meerkat
The fictional character, Katrina the Safe Ministry Meerkat has been developed to support the implementation of Safe Ministry Sunday.
The instincts of the Meerkat provide a good example of traits to foster within our church community to increase safety within our churches.
Meerkats are naturally alert, social and protective of their group. They are vigilant with early-warning abilities and are ready to quickly warn others when they spot a potential danger.
Katrina helps us remember three ways to make church safer.
Speak up to the Safe Ministry Representative, Senior Minister or another leader if you notice safety concerns.
Make sure the way we do ministry and the environment are safe.
Teach protective behaviours through incidental learning and planned activities.
Praying for Safe Ministry
- Give thanks for those serving in ministries with children, youth and other vulnerable people.
- Pray for the safety of children and youth participating in church programs.
- Pray for healing and comfort for those harmed in the past.
- Pray for wisdom for the Safe Ministry Representative, Senior Minister and others working to improve safety and implement the Child Safe Standards.
Other ideas for your church
- Run a parent forum or a conversation about what makes church a safe place.
- Launch a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety.
- Acknowledge Child Safe champions.
- Invite feedback from children and show that we listen.
- Discuss protective behaviours and advertise who to speak to about concerns.
- Include a Rector’s message in the newsletter or run a Safe Ministry training information session.
Further information
The Safe Ministry website has resources to support churches to develop a culture of safe ministry and implement the Child Safe Standards.
What to do if I have a concern
If you see something, say something.
Speak to the relevant Ministry leader or Senior Minister, unless your concern is about that person. You can contact the Office of the Director of Safe Ministry.
The Safe Ministry Blueprint contains detailed information about reporting concerns to the relevant authorities.