In every community, including our churches, there will be people who are experiencing violence and others who choose to use it. But most of all, there are those of us who witness each other’s lives. We are bystanders to each other’s lives and to the life of our church community as a whole. We see, we hear, we notice. And when something doesn’t seem right, we have the opportunity to choose a response that brings care and safety.

Being a community that cares is about each of us being alert to signs that something may be wrong and, when it’s safe to do so, taking action that supports, protects, or prevents harm.

You can find out more about this course by contacting our Families and Culture

The course draws on the best available evidence about what helps individuals in our communities respond safely and prevent violence before it occurs. It offers a faith-based framework for noticing what is not right, and any social drivers that can lead to violence, choosing to act, and caring well for those affected.

Delivered through six short, interactive video modules, the course combines teaching, reflection, and real-life scenarios drawn from church contexts. It can be completed individually online, facilitated in person to groups and undertaken by small groups/bible study groups, giving dioceses and parishes flexibility in how they engage with the program.