When Jesus was a boy and his parents lost him on a pilgrimage trip. finally after days of looking they found him in the temple. What a wonderful thing. I know that if I were on my own for a couple of days when i was that age I would have been found in the local jail, and most definitely not at church (unless i was able to find a really sweet handrail to skate on). Nevertheless, there was Jesus in his Father’s house. A place where he knew he would be safe, secure and out of harm’s way. He was learning and pushing against the long held traditions while making his faith his own (in more ways than one). This sacred place was a safe place to learn and grow. Don’t we owe our young people this much too?
Tonight we are beginning the first of a series of meeting to put in place Safe Sanctuaries Policies that will ensure the safety of the children, youth and those who work with them in our congregation. In looking at the requirements to be a “Safe Sanctuary” congregation I think that we are already well on our way. I am excited to be working toward becoming a place where all know that children and youth are able to come and be safe.
