Teen Violence and Bullying: What We Can Do to Stop It

The dictionary defines the word sanctuary as “a place of refuge or safety” and it is the word often used to label a faith community’s place of worship.

The cruel irony is that places of worship can be unsafe spaces for some people. The Christian church has a long and rich history of caring for the poor and the downtrodden, but it also has a reputation for being an instrument of discrimination, bigotry, and hypocrisy. Fortunately, there are pastors and congregations who are refusing to continue these traditions of exclusion and seeking to build safe sanctuaries that extend beyond the church building.

Learn what you can do as a church leader and as a faith community to support the safe schools and the anti-bullying movements while growing in your understanding that we all have the potential to be bullies and act in ways that are excluding.

• Look within the walls of your building for situations when people feel bullied and how to respond to these teachable moments.
• Look beyond the walls of your building for ways to spread a Gospel message that embraces everyone.

About Our Presenter: Rev. Luke Grobe is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and currently serves First Congregational UCC in Longmont, Colorado. His intimate experience of being excluded from churches as an openly gay Christian informs his passion for building inclusive and welcoming communities. Rev. Grobe serves as the chair of the local safe schools coalition, leads anti-bullying and inclusive community workshops for youth and adults in both faith-based and secular settings, and works with numerous community organizations to support youth who experience bullying and exclusion

This Webinar is sponsored by Justice and Witness Ministries United Church of Christ as a part of their Webinar Series, Addressing Domestic and Sexual Violence: Tools for Faith Leaders.

Free and Open to the Public