That means that the congregation went through the process of establishing safety policies and practices. At First Unitarian Church we strive to make our congregation safer while still creating a supportive space for learning and growth, as well as actively working for the inclusion and safety of all people.
Learn about the certification process here.
The members of the Safer Congregation Committee are Rev. Roberta Finkelstein (Minister), Catherine Williamson (Director of Religious Exploration), Becky Laster (at large) and Jason Hann-Deschaine (at large). The Board of Trustees position on the committee is currently open and will be filled by the Board of Trustees.
The Safer Congregations Committee meets quarterly. This year the committee is:
Reviewing and updating Safer Congregations Safety Policies
Training Pastoral Care Associates, including an Elder Abuse training.
Training Children and Youth Religious Education volunteers
Some of the responsibilities of the Safer Congregations Committee are:

Know about community resources for child abuse, treatment for sex offenders, and support groups for survivors.
Know about state laws regarding reporting.
Be a resource for people to share their concerns.
Facilitate annual training on issues, policies, and procedures relevant to sexual/physical abuse.
Receive allegations of possible abuse and develop a process for expedient handling of such allegations.
Please feel free to contact any member of the Committee to talk about your concerns.