In June 2022, the Arkansas Annual Conference voted to adopt a new policy to create a protective environment in our churches for children, youth, and vulnerable adults (“protected persons”) as well as the volunteers who work with them.
This policy replaces the previous Safe Sanctuary Policy and introduces Safe Gatherings , an online system for training and background checks across all ARUMC churches.
Who Is Required to Be Certified?
The following individuals must be Safe Gatherings Certified:
- Appointed clergy (including assigned laity and Certified Lay Ministers)
- Adult chaperones attending district or conference events with children and youth
Clergy Certification (Required)
All clergy — including assigned laity and Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) — serving within the Arkansas Annual Conference are required to be Safe Gatherings Certified:
- Clergy currently appointed to one or more churches
- Assigned laity
- Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs)
- Clergy, assigned laity, or CLMs serving multiple appointments (must be connected to each church’s account)
Important: Certification is required for all clergy and assigned laity regardless of level of involvement with children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
Laity Certification (Recommended)
It is strongly recommended that the following individuals complete Safe Gatherings Certification:
- Paid lay church staff who have direct supervision of protected persons and have not had a background check in the last 3 years
- Lay volunteers working with children, youth, or vulnerable adults who have not had a background check in the last 3 years
While not required, the policy strongly encourages all local churches to use Safe Gatherings as the standard process for conducting background checks and completing training for all paid lay staff and volunteers who work with children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
Purpose: Helps create a safe environment for protected persons and the volunteers who serve them.
Laity Certification (Required)
In certain situations, laity certification is required:
- Laity serving as adult chaperones at district or conference events for children and youth
- Paid lay staff who have direct supervision of protected persons and have not had a background check in the last 3 years
Important: Begin certification early to ensure you meet deadlines for your events or assignments.
Church Policy Requirement
Any church sending children, youth, or chaperones to district or conference events must have a Safe Gatherings policy in place:
- Minimum policy standards can be found on page 6 of the ARUMC Safe Gatherings Policy
- All churches are strongly encouraged to adopt a safety policy for their ministries
- Churches are required to upload their Safe Gatherings policy to their church’s Safe Gatherings dashboard.
Getting Started
To begin using Safe Gatherings:
- If your church hasn’t already done so, have a church administrator or clergy member call 888-241-8258 .
- Set up your church’s Safe Gatherings account.
- Provide names of account administrators (examples include):
- Church secretary or administrative assistant
- Youth or children’s ministry staff
Note: Each church must have its own account. Those serving multiple churches will need separate dashboards for each.
Cost
In certain situations, laity certification is required:
- Clergy, Assigned Laity & CLMs: Covered by the Arkansas Conference
- Volunteers: Covered by the Arkansas Conference
- Paid Lay Staff: Cost is the responsibility of the local church
Timeline
In certain situations, laity certification is required:
- Application: 30–45 minutes
- Training: Approximately 2 hours (can be completed in multiple sessions)
- Processing: 7–14 days after completion
- Please note: You must complete all required forms and training within 30 days of starting the application. If not completed within this timeframe, you will need to restart the process.
Tip: Start early to ensure certification is completed before any deadlines.
Before You Apply
Gather all required information before starting your application to make the process smoother.
- Applicant’s Social Security Number
- Applicant’s Driver’s License Number
- Previous residential addresses (if the applicant has not lived at their current address for at least five years)
- Birth dates of all children (including children who are no longer minors)
Questions?
For setup, troubleshooting, and questions about the Safe Gatherings site, contact Safe Gatherings directly at 888-241-8258 or contact@safegatherings.com.
For questions about safety policies and implementation, contact Alison Huskey at alison.huskey@arumc.org