Safe Church

What is Safe Church?

The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane is committed to ensuring that its churches, schools, and institutions live out our Baptismal promises by providing an environment free of abuse, exploitation, and harassment. The Diocese of Spokane provides resources to ensure that every person’s dignity is respected and protected.

Safe Church, Safe Communities Training & Certification is REQUIRED for:

All Clergy
All Employees
All Contracted Service Providers and Charters
Vestries/ Bishop’s Committees
Eucharistic Visitors
Leaders and Facilitators of Ministries
Adult Volunteers of Children’s Ministries and Schools.

Safeguarding God’s People Workplace Harassment Training & Certification is REQUIRED for:

All Employees
All Clergy
All persons in Pastoral Relationships

Diocesan-approved training on issues of sexual harassment in employment, mentor and colleague relationships and sexual exploitation in pastoral relationships will be required of all clergy, persons in Pastoral Relationships, and paid personnel in program ministries. Although other paid personnel are not required to attend the adult sexual abuse prevention training, it is encouraged for all paid personnel in the diocese. The training is also strongly encouraged for Supervisors and Decision-Makers of the congregations.

Clergy and Lay:

It is required that you complete your Safeguarding training’s within 90 days of hire. New Church Personnel, whether paid or volunteer, must review the Episcopal Diocese of Spokanes Sexual Ethics and Professional Conduct policy when they start work. Required diocesan-approved Safe Church, Safe Communities and Workplace Harassment training should be completed within six (6) months of starting work, and renewed every three (3) years. If you’re due for re-certification, please coordinate with the person in your congregation responsible for maintaining certifications.

The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane has procedures in place for investigating and addressing allegations of misconduct on the part of any member of the Diocese. If you wish to make a report concerning possible misconduct or abuse, contact: The Rev. Cn. Kristi Philip, 509-624-3191 (office)

General Inquiries on Diocesan Sexual Ethics Policy, Safe Church Training, and reporting please contact the diocesan office at (509) 624-3191.

For more information regarding Public Records Checks, please contact the Rev. Cn. Susan Cleveley, or the diocesan office (office) at (509) 624-3191.

How to be Certified?

Train with Praesidium’s Armatus Academy Online for Safe Church Certification

The Episcopal Church offers the Praesidium Academy online training for completing Safe Church courses.

New Learners

To set up an online learner profile and begin training, please follow the instructions in this quick start guide below.

If you have any difficulty enrolling, you may direct questions to the Praesidium Support Team at support@praesidiuminc.com or 817-801-7773.

To Enroll:

1. Go to https://www.praesidiumacademy.com/redeem
2. Fill in your contact information including First Name, Last Name, Email Address, and desired Password.
3. Enter the appropriate registration code for your organization (see codes below). This will attach your learner profile to your congregation. (If you are having difficulty, be sure you haven’t copied any spaces into the code)
4. Click Validate to confirm registration code.
5. Click the checkbox to agree to the Terms & Conditions.
6. Click Redeem.
7. Writedown your user login and password for future reference.
8. Answer the Registration Questions about your status and role within the organization.
9. Click Save & Continue.
10. To begin taking training immediately, scroll down and click a course to start the content.

Returning Learners

If you have taken any online training in the last 4 years, you should have already received an email from Praesidium inviting you to sign in and reset your password. Please check your spam or promotions folder if you cannot find it, and save Praesidum as a “safe email.”

Returning users may log in by heading to Praesidium Academy. Once there, enter your email and password. If you do not remember your password, or need to reset your password, select the “Forgot password” option for a password reset email.

Registration Codes

Organizational registration Codes for Enrollment online

Organization or “Church”	Registration Code
Episcopal Diocese of Spokane – Staff and Clergy	reg-episdiospokane-509-diocese
Episcopal Diocese of Spokane – Camp Cross	reg-episdiospokane-178-campcross
Bonners Ferry, ID – St. Mary’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-bonnersferry
Cashmere, WA – St. James	reg-episdiospokane-509-cashmere
Chelan, Wa – St. Andrew’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-chelan
Cheney, Wa – St. Paul’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-cheney
Coeur d’ Alene, Id – St. Luke’s	reg-episdiospokane-204-cdaidaho
Dayton, Wa – Grace Church	reg-episdiospokane-509-dayton
Ellensburg, Wa – Grace Church	reg-episdiospokane-844-ellensburgwashington
Ephrata, Wa – St. John the Baptist	reg-episdiospokane-509-ephrata
Grangeville, Id – Holy Trinity	reg-episdiospokane-509-grangeville
Kennewick, Wa – St. Paul’s	reg-episdiospokane-547-kennewickwashington
Lewiston, Id – Nativity	reg-episdiospokane-662-lewistonidaho
Moscow, Id – St. Mark’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-moscow
Moses Lake, Wa – St. Martin’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-moseslake
Omak, Wa – St. Anne’s	reg-episdiospokane-668-omakokanoganwashington
Oroville, Wa – Trinity Church	reg-episdiospokane-509-oroville
Pomeroy, Wa – St. Peter’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-pomeroy
Prosser, Wa – St. Matthew’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-prosser
Pullman, Wa – St. James	reg-episdiospokane-509-pullman
Republic, Wa – Redeemer	reg-episdiospokane-574-republicwashington
Richland, Wa – All Saints’	reg-episdiospokane-574-richlandwashington
Roslyn, Wa – Resurrection	reg-episdiospokane-809-roslynwashington
Sandpoint/Dover, Id – Holy Spirit	reg-episdiospokane-509-sandpointdover
Spokane Valley, Wa – Resurrection	reg-episdiospokane-950-spokanevalley
Spokane, Wa – Cathedral	reg-episdiospokane-950-cathedral
Spokane, Wa – St. Andrew’s	reg-episdiospokane-950-standrews
Spokane, WA – St. David’s	reg-episdiospokane-950-stdavids
Spokane, WA – St. Stephen’s	reg-episdiospokane-950-ststephens
Spokane, WA – West Central Abbey	reg-episdiospokane-950-westcentral
Sunnyside, Wa – Holy Trinity	reg-episdiospokane-950-sunnyside
Walla Walla, Wa – St. Paul’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-wallawalla
Wenatchee, Wa – St. Luke’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-wenatchee
Winthrop, Wa – Methow Episcopal	reg-episdiospokane-509-winthrop
Yakima, Wa – St. Timothy’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-sttimothysyakima
Yakima, Wa – St. Michael’s	reg-episdiospokane-509-stmichaelsyakima

Required Courses & Technical Specs

Courses required for Completion

Policies: Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
All four “Safe Church Safe Communities – Universal,” which includes: Introduction & Theological Background, Inclusion, Healthy Boundaries, and Organizational Rules & Policies
All four “Safe Church Safe Communities – Specialty,” which includes: Power and Relationships, Pastoral Relationships, Bullying, and Abuse & Neglect.

We are currently waiting for the new modules on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Exploitation to be released. At this time, you can

EITHERcomplete the “Safeguarding God’s People” modules still listed in the course catalog (just search for “Safeguarding God’s People”).
The courses are:

“Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors” (For clergy, and managers/supervisors) OR

“Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers”

Technical Specifications for using Praesidium inc Armatus online Academy training system.

Safe Church Policies, Forms and Other Resources

Sexual Ethics Policy & Acknowledgement

Download the policy
Download the Acknowledgement Form
Download the Acknowledgement Form (For Groups)
Sexual Ethics Policy
Sexual Ethics Policy Highlights
Sexual Ethics Policy Acknowledgement Form please print, complete and return to Diocesan office
Safeguarding God’s Children — On-line Learning Tips

Forming Disciples of Jesus Christ

Strong Communities of Faith

Creative and Compelling Witness