Common questions.

The Safe Church Project is a faith-based initiative dedicated to rebuilding trust in the Church by creating visible pathways to spiritually safe, trauma-informed, gospel-centered communities rooted in truth, dignity, and love. It serves the Church through Sanctuary Certified™ — its trauma-informed training and certification program — and the Safe Church Directory, a public listing of the churches that have completed that certification.

Many faithful Christians love Jesus deeply but have experienced harm, silencing, or displacement within church environments where power was prioritized over people and safety was not upheld. We exist to help people find communities where Christ alone is Lord and where the Church’s witness reflects humility, integrity, and care for the vulnerable.

No. The Safe Church Project is not affiliated with any political party or ideology. Our work is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the conviction that every person is created in the Image of God. We focus on spiritual safety, dignity, accountability, and faithfulness to Christ — not partisan alignment.

A spiritually safe church centers allegiance to Jesus Christ above power or ideology, rejects spiritual abuse, coercion, and authoritarian leadership, practices accountability and humility, treats all people with dignity and care, and responds to harm with truth, protection, and responsibility. Safety does not mean perfection. It means integrity, accountability, and a commitment to growth.

Churches are listed in the directory after completing Sanctuary Certified™ — the Safe Church Project’s trauma-informed training and certification program — and affirming the Alignment Statement. A church is not added on the basis of recommendation or reputation alone; the listing follows completed certification. A listing may be withdrawn if certification lapses or alignment is no longer demonstrated.

No. A listing cannot be purchased. Churches earn their place in the directory by completing Sanctuary Certified™, and the directory listing itself is always free with active certification. The program carries a tuition that sustains the training and educational work of the Safe Church Project, but no amount of giving can influence listings or rankings.

No. Inclusion reflects a church’s completion of Sanctuary Certified™ and its alignment with core commitments to spiritual safety, dignity, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It does not imply agreement on every theological or cultural issue.

Inclusion reflects a church’s completed certification and alignment, not ongoing oversight of daily ministry. If concerns arise, we encourage individuals to prioritize their safety and seek appropriate pastoral, therapeutic, or legal support. The Safe Church Project does not provide crisis intervention or adjudicate disputes.

Yes. If certification lapses, or if credible concerns arise indicating misalignment with our stated values, listings may be reviewed or removed in order to protect the integrity and safety of the directory.

Sanctuary Certified™ and the directory are two parts of one pathway. Sanctuary Certified™ is the structured process of training, accountability, and trauma-informed formation a church completes — building a culture of safety from the inside out. The Safe Church Directory is the public listing a church earns by completing that certification. Sanctuary Certified™ is now available, and your church can begin today.

The Safe Church Project is sustained through its training and certification program and the voluntary support of individuals who believe the Church’s witness matters. No church pays for inclusion, and no listing is influenced by financial giving. This work exists to provide pathways, not profit.