Author: Hannah Bolick

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Posts by Hannah Bolick

Loving the Vulnerable with Your Actions

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Sexual assault is an epidemic in America. Per Rape & Incest National Network (RAINN), every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. That should get your attention!  It’s horrifying. It’s evil.

For me, this issue is personal. As a parent of a young man affected by developmental and intellectual disabilities, I know my son is extremely vulnerable. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to protect him. And what I learned from my research shook me to my core.

Safeguarding the Vulnerable: Why Canadian Churches Must Prioritize Abuse Prevention

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In recent years, the Canadian Church has come under increased scrutiny regarding its response to allegations of child abuse and clergy sexual misconduct. These incidents are not only morally reprehensible and spiritually devastating—they also carry serious legal and financial implications. Churches are entrusted with the care of the most vulnerable among us. To honour that trust and walk in obedience to Christ, it is imperative that churches in Canada implement strong safeguarding protocols.

Suggested Best Practices for Use of the DOB and SSN in Searching for Criminal Records

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Screening and training of childcare workers is a must for any child- and youth-serving organization. Parents entrust our organizations with the care of their children, so we have a responsibility to be diligent in discerning who has access to those children. If our ministries are to be safe places for kids to hear the gospel, and we are to be good stewards of the lives entrusted to our care, then child safety cannot be an afterthought or “bonus” feature of our programming. It must be central.

A rigorous screening process would include an application, reference checks, interview, and background check.  Every staff member and volunteer who will work with children should be screened according to these measures. But it’s not enough to initiate the screening process – the materials returned for each applicant must be reviewed for yellow flags that warrant a follow-up conversation or red flags that may disqualify them from service with children.

So You Want to Be a Child Safety Coordinator… Maybe?

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I get it—child safety isn’t exactly the role everyone’s lining up for. It doesn’t come with confetti, stage time, or a cool Spotify playlist. But if you’ve found yourself here—whether by calling, conviction, or maybe just a “you’d be great at this!” conversation with your pastor—let me encourage you: it’s worth it. Like, really worth it.

When I stepped into the role of Safety Coordinator at Christ Journey Church, I didn’t have a handbook or a team of experts on standby. What I did have was a deep conviction that protecting children is one of the holiest and most practical things we can do as the Church. I also had a highlighter, a lot of questions, and a strong sense that this job was going to require more of God than me. That was probably the most important thing.

Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws: What Church Leaders Must Know

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Every state has a mandatory child-abuse reporting law on the books.

But many pastors and church leaders are unaware of these statutes, let alone their need to comply with them.

Now is the time for church leaders to familiarize themselves with these laws, how they work, and what to do if the unthinkable–a suspected case of child abuse–ever arises.
Abuse allegations consistently rank first among the reasons churches go to court each year, so the gravity of the situation alone merits the highest of priorities.

NOTE: The information contained here is general in nature and is not intended to be legal advice. The Southern Baptist Convention encourages each church to consult with legal counsel when implementing local policies and practices.