In becoming a Safe Haven for Children, the goal is to reflect God's hope for those who are most vulnerable--to assure, as Bishop Anderson states, that "the children of the world have a future."

Such assurance grows out of our baptism and takes many forms. A Safe Haven for Children campaign in your congregation is an excellent way to start. Begin by focusing on the following four keys to a Safe Haven. In doing so, you will pave the way to "let the children come."

Four keys to a Safe Haven

1. Make a public congregational resolution and covenant to become a welcoming place for children. (You may use the resources in the folder of this resource entitled "We will . . ." and "Covenant to be a Safe Haven for Children.")
2. Implement an intentional educational process to increase your collective understanding of the issues confronting our children.
3. Develop partnerships with child-focused organizations in your community to help embody the commitment and test the understanding of your congregation.
4. Celebrate as you share your story to help foster a dialogue with congregations across the nation that share your commitment to children.

Seven action steps for a Safe Haven

Here are seven specific steps your congregation can implement as it begins its commitment to become a Safe Haven for Children. As you begin these action steps, a helpful resource to consult is Take It to Heart: An Asset-Based Guide to Nurturing Children, Youth, and Families in Faith Community (code 34-10655-2100). Call Augsburg Fortress at 1-800-328-4648.

Step 1
Adopt a resolution at your next congregational meeting that your congregation will be a Safe Haven for all children and their families and caregivers. (See "Congregational Resolution" included in this packet.)

Step 2
Affirm your congregation's covenant with children during a time of worship.

Step 3
Notify your synod office to report that your congregation is committed to being a Safe Haven for Children. (The number of Safe Haven congregations will be announced at synod assemblies in the year 2000 and at the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2000.)

Step 4
Encourage leaders of congregational programs and members in your congregation to explore church, local, and synodical resources.

Step 5
Contact other faith communities and service organizations that are working to help the children in your area flourish.  Learn what programs and resources they have available.

Step 6
Work with congregational leadership to develop a year-long learning program to explore forces, attitudes, and actions that affect the lives of children and their families in your community. Bring together an intergenerational panel that includes, children, youth, and adults. Invite people from your congregation and community to speak at learning events. Tap your own community resources. For ideas, refer to the "Possible community resources" list below.

Step 7
Share your congregation's story about being a Safe Haven. Write about it in newsletters. Mention it during announcements in worship. Have special mile-marker celebrations along the way where stories are shared, slides, or videos are shown, and where meals are enjoyed.

Tell your own answers to these questions: How has being a Safe Haven for Children changed your congregation? How are individual church members affected?

The ELCA will gather stories from congregations, and Safe Haven models to share with the wider church. Watch for more information about this.

Possible community resources

• A pediatrician could share information about health issues facing children.
• A professional educator could discuss safety issues facing schools.
• A law enforcement officer could talk about gang violence and substance-abuse problems affecting children in your community.
• An advocacy representative from your synod could lead a discussion about ways to advocate for the well-being of all children.

"In Holy Baptism our gracious heavenly Father liberates us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are born children of a fallen humanity; in the waters of Baptism we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life. By water and the Holy Spirit we are made members of the Church which is the body of Christ. As we live with him and with his people, we grow in faith, love, and obedience to the will of God."

From the service for Holy Baptism, Lutheran Book of Worship, p. 121.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." Matthew 19:14