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Creating a culture of care and safety in all of our churches

Since 2007, churches in the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church have sought to provide and implement Safe Sanctuaries practices. Each local church must maintain a Safe Sanctuaries policy and review it annually.

Safe Sanctuaries is a “social structure that is consistent with the gospel” (2016 UMC Book of Discipline ¶122), allowing our sanctuaries, classrooms, mission encounters, camps and retreats – and all spaces where we gather to worship and serve God – to be places of trust.

Creating a culture of care and safety in all of our churches

Safe Sanctuaries is an overt expression in making congregations safe places where children, youth and elders may experience the abiding love of God and fellowship within the community of faith.

Safe Sanctuaries is a “social structure that is consistent with the gospel” (2016 UMC Book of Discipline ¶122) allowing our sanctuaries, classrooms, mission encounters, camps and retreats – and all spaces where we gather to worship and serve God – to be places of trust.

Since 2007, churches in the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church have sought to provide and implement Safe Sanctuaries practices. Each local church must maintain a Safe Sanctuaries policy and review it annually.

We are committed to resourcing and supporting churches that seek to be safe places where disciples of Jesus Christ are made for the transformation of the world.

Click above to set up a PeopleFacts screening account for your church

Click above to access forms, sample policies, and other resources

Click above to reach conference and district Safe Sanctuaries leaders

Click above for more resources from UMC Discipleship Ministries

Click above if you are volunteering for a conference-related event

South Carolina Conference Safe Sanctuaries Policy

Updated March 2023

Safe Sanctuaries Best Practices Training Schedule

To enable local churches to better understand and live out their Safe Sanctuaries policies, a series of training sessions is planned across the South Carolina Conference in coming weeks. Each district will host “Safe Sanctuaries Best Practices,” an opportunity for local churches to have their policies evaluated to ensure they align with our commitment to make United Methodist congregations safe places to live out God’s call. Recommended attendees for district trainings are pastors (who will receive Clergy Services credit), trustees, Staff-Parish Relations Committee members, children and youth coordinators, church council chairpersons and lay leaders.

Anderson District

August 20 | 2-5 p.m.
First UMC-Easley

Charleston District

April 23 | 2-5 p.m.
May 20 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Both sessions via Zoom
Click here to register

Columbia District

May 7 | 2-5 p.m.
Lexington UMC

Greenville District

April 30 | 2-5 p.m.
St. Matthew UMC-Greenville

Greenwood District

April 23 | 3 p.m.
Via Zoom
Click here to register

Orangeburg District

April 15 | 2-5 p.m.
St. Andrew UMC-Orangeburg

Rock Hill District

May 6 | 9 a.m.-noon
Location TBD

Spartanburg District

May 21 | 2-5 p.m.
Silver Hill Memorial UMC-Spartanburg

Walterboro District

May 13 | 9 a.m.-noon
Location TBD