Today’s Reflection
Boundary-keeping is an important part of a church’s identity, and it is vital that we make this identity clear to the community both in and outside of the church. Keeping people safe is as important as all the other ministries we do because it enables us to be church in concrete ways and it empowers other ministries to thrive. It requires discipline to keep our identity centered in Christ, to stay focused on the work of Christ, and not to get side-tracked by other identities.
Bishop Peggy Johnson, “Flourishing, Not Fear: A Theology of Safety and Sanctuary,” in Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust Within Faith Communities (Discipleship Resources, 2023)
Today’s Question
What do you think about the statement, “Keeping people safe is as important as all the other ministries we do”? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
—Psalm 16:6 (NIV)
Prayer for the Week
Holy God, we recognize that all people are entrusted to our care. We respond to your will for us to watch over one another. Help us keep our eyes alert to dangers and keep our ears attentive to even silent cries for help. Use our community to be a place of safety for all. Amen. [prayer adapted from Safer Sanctuaries]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Now available in Spanish, Safer Sanctuaries is a trusted source of guidance for churches and other affiliated institutions as they work to reduce the risk of abuse in their communities. Learn more at SaferSanctuaries.org
Lectionary Readings
- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
- Psalm 19
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
- Luke 4:14-21
Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
4 Comments
Yes, certainly. Safe boundaries are essential. It’s a reason why we have Safe Sancutuary plan. Personal boundaries re essential too. I have a harder time with them.I’m more willing to compromise and that’s not always helpful. Thankfully, I’ve made it this far in life. From an actuarial point of view I don’t have an abundance of years ahead of me. That doesn’t bother me. The activities I have are satisfying. Thank You, Lord.
With the cold conditions and snow in unusual locations, I believe physical safety is very important, and may be the first connection to a church. While not set up for lodging, our church has been a warming shelter when needed. I pray for all who are cold to be able to locate a warm spot and may they receive the warmth of others as we reach out to help. Blessing to all, stay safe.
With ETERNAL LIFE there are no boundaries….led…+++…
Of course safety must be set as a premium priority. Without having read this book, and only seeing the title and sub-title…safety in terms of trust is huge. Trusting confidentiality allows for an atmosphere for authentic and transparent interactions. However – if I think about reasons why people won’t enter a church or have left the church without plans to re-enter – I would guess confidentiality safety ranks pretty high on the list. Oftentimes, we “churchy” people don’t do ourselves a lot of favors.
Not that I have been in a lot of churches, and my current one is probably the smallest one I have been in – but I do think it is pretty strongly grounded in being a safe place.
Due to a cancellation, I was able to get in to a doctor this morning to begin the process of getting a second opinion. I saw a surgeon and he has referred me to a colleague whose specialty is injections. I will be seeing this person on Friday of next week. I have significant concerns about getting yet another injection. I would appreciate prayers for wisdom and discernment.
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