Safe Church, Safe Communities

The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is committed to welcoming and protecting all people who participate in activities in our congregations and at events sponsored by the diocese. Sexual misconduct on the part of any clergy person, employee or volunteer of any congregation, school, or diocesan-affiliated organization violates the mission of the church, is prohibited and will not be tolerated.

Safe Church, Safe Communities / Iglesia Segura
Comunidades Seguras

Our Safe Church, Safe Communities policies below demonstrate our commitment to creating a safe environment and outline the theology, terminology, expectations, and implementation steps for compliance. All clergy, employees, and volunteer leaders are required to receive these policies and complete the Policy & Code of Conduct Acknowledgment found at the end.

• Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults
• Política Modelo para la protección de niños y jóvenes
• Política para la protección de adultos vulnerables

Required Training

The Diocese of Chicago is committed to doing everything in its power to maintain a safe and supportive atmosphere for the children and adults who are members of its congregations, attend its programs or participate in its ministries. We require all who serve in our church to complete Safe Church, Safe Communities training, created by the Episcopal Church Task Force to Develop Model Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies and Safe Church Training.

Clergy, paid church staff, elected leaders, lay pastoral leaders, adults who work with children and youth, and others in lay leadership roles are required to take both the Universal Training and the Specialty Training modules. Key holders, youth who work with children, and youth who have leadership roles in the church are required to take the Universal Training. All training is to be completed online through the Praesidium Academy Platform and renewed every three years. To determine the training modules required, please consult the Training Requirements document.

Universal Training –

• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Introduction & Theological Background
• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Organizational Rules & Policies
• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Healthy Boundaries
• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Inclusion

Specialty Training –

• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Abuse & Neglect
• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Power and Relationships
• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Pastoral Relationships
• Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Bullying

Praesidium Academy Training Platform

For new users:

1. 1. Each church has its own self-enroll registration codes. Please contact your church office or Rebecca Elfring-Roberts to receive your church’s code and a Quick Start Guide.
   2. Use this link to access Praesidium Academy: https://www.praesidiumacademy.com/learn

For existing users: 

1. 1. Visit Praesidium Academy: https://www.praesidiumacademy.com/learn
   2. Click on Forgot your password?
   3. Enter the email address associated with your previous Armatus/Praesidium Academy account.
   4. Click the blue Reset Password button.
   5. Check your email.
   6. Click the link inside of your email to set a new password for your Academy account

Reporting Abuse

If you see something, say something.

If you witness or suspect abuse occurring in your parish, report it to your rector or to the Canon to the Ordinary. If you are a mandated reporter, you must report suspected or known abuse. The State of Illinois considers clergy and other professionals who work with children in the course of their duties to be mandated reporters. Please refer to the state’s Manual for Mandated Reporters (revised August 2019) for those specific guidelines. Note: Clergy are required to complete the attached Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement Form and return it to the Bishop’s Office for their personnel file.

In addition to reporting to the appropriate state authorities, church personnel are required to report any suspected or known abuse of children or youth directly to the rector/vicar, the program supervisor, the church wardens, or the Office of the Bishop. Phone calls, meetings, texts or notes should be investigated in a manner and extent consistent with the spirit of these policies.

The Diocese of Chicago, including all churches/agencies, schools, and other institutions within this diocese, will cooperate, to the fullest extent appropriate, with any investigation of sexual misconduct by state or federal authorities. Authorities will also be informed by the Office of the Bishop that the Diocese of Chicago will direct a concurrent internal investigation.

Illinois Department of Children & Family Services’ anonymous abuse reporting hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873).

Background Checks

In addition to completing Safe Church, Safe Communities Training, all clergy, paid employees, child and youth program volunteers, pastoral and eucharistic visitors, and participants in a handful of other ministries without exception undergo screening interviews and background checks.

New Background Check Vendor

At the end of 2025, the diocese transitioned to a new background check provider, Verified First. To request a background check, email Graicey Van Spankeren with the following information:

• Full legal name of person being checked
• Email of person being checked
• Name, title, and email of person to whom results should be communicated

Please inform Graicey as to whether they need a basic background check and/or a motor vehicle record check and/or a credit check. To see if your ministry position requires a background check, please consult this table.

Congregations will be invoiced for the cost of the background checks, as outlined below:

• Standard background check: $18.75
• Standard + Motor vehicle: $22.25
• Standard + Credit: $27.75
• Standard + Motor vehicle + Credit: $31.25

Please note: some counties and states may incur pass through fees, making costs slightly higher than what is listed above.

State of Illinois Sexual Harassment Prevention Training