According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States will
experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. And over 90% of these cases of child sexual abuse
are perpetrated by someone who is known and trusted by the child or the child’s family. Our
children are vulnerable. . . even in the church; numerous reports of child sexual abuse have
been reported in churches throughout the country.

This child abuse prevention training has been developed to protect the vulnerable and prevent
future abuse in the church by increasing knowledge and awareness about child sexual abuse.
Through interactive dialogue, participants will learn healthy ways to talk about abuse in the
communities they serve. In addition, this training is designed to equip leaders to assess their
current environmental risk factors for “blind spots” and create action steps to reduce the
potential for abuse and to respond in faithful and ethical ways in the event that abuse is
discovered in their context.

This 5-hour training (10/9 & 10/10/2025 9:00-11:30AM Eastern) is designed for both teaching and ruling elders, and satisfies the
requirement for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training discussed at the 2022 General Assembly
of the PC(USA).