Annual Required Education Courses

Annual Required Education is back!
Over the weekend, a third-party report was released that detailed decades of sexual abuse, the mishandling of reports, and the subsequent cover-up of abuse allegations in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The findings are, among other things, shocking, frustrating, and profoundly heartbreaking. They are also a reminder of how essential it is to have preventative resources, including education and training, as well as accessible and responsive mechanisms for the reporting of abuse and misconduct. And most importantly, churches and ministries must take any reports of abuse seriously and soberly and respond in a way that prioritizes the safety of the victim and those who may be vulnerable to abuse.

A critical lesson that we and our partner churches and ministries have learned over the years is that we all have a duty to be vigilant in watching for abuse in our ministry communities. If something doesn't seem right, we should not remain silent. Furthermore, those in a position of power and influence must take action to address the abuse appropriately. So as a reminder, if you have any concerns, please contact us at notifyHR@reliant.org or use our anonymous reporting line at 844-544-1444. And no matter what role we are in, we must also be aware of our actions to ensure that we are not creating environments that allow even hints of abuse to fester.

This is why for the last three years, we have required all Reliant Missionaries and Associates to take courses on two topics vital to fostering a safe and healthy environment for you as a staff member and for those to whom you minister. On June 1, 2022, we will once again launch web-based training courses on Child Safety Awareness and Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention. These courses are taught from a Biblical perspective and are meant to equip you and your team in ministry. This year, we also will invite you to complete a Ministry Experience Survey that includes questions about your experience at your partner church or ministry and about the services that Reliant provides.

Your supervisor has been made aware of what is included in this year's Annual Required Education and the expectation that you complete these steps by July 31, 2022.

Below are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions, but we also encourage you to visit the Getting Started and General Questions Solomon page to begin. Feel free to reach out to your Program Team with any questions. Both Kristina Lilly, Reliant's HR Compliance Coordinator, and I are also here to help, and you can reach us at hr@reliant.org. Be sure to check your Reliant inbox for emails with links to LEARN and MinistrySafe that will be sent out on June 1, 2022.

I am grateful to be partnering with you to build safe and healthy ministries.

Warmly,

Steps to complete by July 31, 2022.

Look over the helpful information about the Required Education Courses.
Complete the Sexual Abuse Awareness Training course. You'll receive an email invitation from hr@reliant.org for the course you need to complete. The subject line will start with "Here is your link to the..." and will include your unique link to the MinistrySafe course.
Complete the appropriate Harassment & Discrimination Prevention course(s) for your staff level.*
Take the Ministry Experience Survey.*
*You will receive emails from learn@reliant.org with links to these three activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are we doing this again when we took the same courses last year?

• Reliant is committed to fostering a safe and healthy ministry environment for employees and those to whom they minister. Therefore, it is beneficial for us all to be trained and educated regularly on best practices around child safety and workplace harassment and discrimination prevention, two areas that are essential for creating safe ministry and work environments. It also gives you a chance to review the policies related to these topics. Plus, some states require annual training on workplace harassment, and this ensures that we are compliant with those state laws.

• The Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention course has been updated for 2022. The Abuse Awareness training by MinistrySafe is the same course but with a new look. However, it is such a vital topic for churches and ministries today that the information covered in the course must remain top of mind for anyone who works with children, youth, young adults, or any vulnerable population.

How long will it take to complete the Annual Required Education?

• For most staff, it will take just over 2 hours to complete the courses. For staff members who are supervisors or leaders, it will take around 3 hours. See Role Definitions for more details about who falls under each role.

I completed the courses as part of my New Staff Training with Reliant. Do I need to retake them?

• If you have attended Reliant Training since January 2022 and completed the courses, you do not need to take them as part of the Annual Required Education for existing staff. However, all Reliant Staff that attended training before January 2022 will need to complete them again as part of the Annual Required Education.

I am planning on exiting staff within the next few months. Do I need to take the courses this year?

• If you are planning on exiting staff with Reliant before October 1, 2022, you do not need to take the courses this summer. But it would be great if you could take the Ministry Experience Survey!

• If your Program Team is aware of your planned exit, they may have removed you from the list, and you should not have been emailed the links to the courses. However, if you did receive the links, please let your Program Team know so that they can note that you are excluded from the training requirement.