Safeguarding Policy Training
We want Iron Works to be a place of safety and respect. The Scriptures command us as followers of Christ to “rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4). With this in mind, our Safeguarding Team has put together comprehensive abuse prevention policies and developed a policy training seminar to equip everyone at Iron Works to help safeguard against abuse. We urge you to read over the policy and/or listen to the seminar covering them. Prevention of abuse in our church is incredibly serious, but you can help make sure Iron Works remains a safe place for children and others who are vulnerable.
If you serve in any kind of leadership role or with children (as an officer, staff member, home group leader or host, family ministry volunteer, men or women’s ministry leader, pastor, or Phoenixville Refuge leader) you are required to complete this training seminar.
Safeguarding training
The safeguarding team offers a live training on Iron Works’ abuse prevention policy annually. If you missed this year’s training seminar, you can catch up by watching the training here.
If you are in a leadership role or serve with children (officers, staff, pastors, family ministry volunteers, home group leaders and hosts, Phoenixville Refuge leaders), you are required by IWC policy to complete this training every two years. As proof that you’ve fulfilled this requirement, please sign this affidavit [affidavit link needed] after you have watched the training seminar and email the signed affidavit to annika@ironworkschurch.org.
Safeguarding policy
Iron Works Church’s full Abuse Prevention Policy is available here. We encourage all members of Iron Works to familiarize themselves with the policy, but if you’re in a leadership position or serve with children, you need to be well-versed in it. Please read it through in its entirety in addition to watching the training seminar linked above.
About the safeguarding team
Under the oversight of the session, Iron Works Church’s safeguarding team is responsible for developing and implementing abuse prevention policies, training leadership and volunteers in those policies, and handling reports of suspected abuse. If you have a question about safeguarding policies or training, or if you noticed what may be signs of abuse, please contact the team.
Currently, the safeguarding team is made up of four volunteers, both men and women, who are members at Iron Works Church: Stefany Gess, Jon Sovocool, Ray Rishty (ruling elder), and Julia Sovocool.