08/25/2026
Friends, a gentle reminder — MinistrySafe / Safe Gatherings Training 💙
One of the ways we show Christ's love is by creating safe, trustworthy places for everyone who walks through our doors. If you serve with any vulnerable people in our church, please take a few minutes to complete or renew your MinistrySafe training.
This training is required by the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church for all staff and volunteers who work with vulnerable people.
Who are vulnerable people?
1. Children — anyone under 18 years of age
2. Vulnerable Adults — Arkansas law calls them endangered or impaired persons under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-1703. That means:
An endangered person is an adult 18+ who is found to be in a situation that poses a danger to themselves and demonstrates a lack of capacity to comprehend the consequences
An impaired person is an adult 18+ who, as a result of mental or physical impairment, is unable to protect themselves from abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation. A long-term care facility resident is presumed to be an impaired person.
In practice this includes our children, youth, older adults with health needs, adults with disabilities, and anyone who depends on others for care and safety.
Why this matters — two reasons:
1. It's our Conference commitment.
The Arkansas Conference adopted updated Safe Sanctuary policies in 2022 requiring Safe Gatherings certification for all churches in the ARUMC. Per the December 2025 update from the Conference, certification now includes online abuse prevention training + background checks + Federal criminal search (reference checks were retired Jan 1, 2026). Training is to be renewed every two years and no one without certification may serve with minors or vulnerable adults.
2. It's the law in Arkansas.
Arkansas requires us to report suspected allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, as mandated reporters under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-402 for children. If we have reasonable cause to suspect child maltreatment — defined as abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation, or abandonment under § 12-18-103(7) — we must immediately notify the Child Abuse Hotline.
For adults, the Adult and Long-Term Care Facility Resident Maltreatment Act requires reporting of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of endangered and impaired adults, and our Conference policy extends that call to protect.
What I need you to do this week:
Request Safe Gatherings / MinistrySafe link
Complete the ∼45 min video + quiz
Complete the background check consent when prompted
If you need the link resent, aren't sure if you're up to date, or serve in our church or community on behalf of the church, to include, senior visitation, disability ministry, or working with children at Mena First United Methodist Church, please message the church office. We'll get you set up. The Arkansas United Methodist Conference will pay the costs for background checks in most circumstances. If you need assistance or access to a computer, just let us know and we can arrange to assist in this way as well.
Thank you for helping us be a church where the most vulnerable are seen, safe, and deeply loved.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jason
Hotline to save: Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-482-5964
