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Church Executive
December 11, 2025
By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris
The risk of child sexual abuse remains a serious concern for churches and ministries, but new tools are helping them respond proactively with clarity and confidence.
Historically, the Church struggled to implement effective preventative protocols, but there has been recent momentum toward change. But what is driving this shift?
Much of that progress is being fueled by partnerships between MinistrySafe and leading Church Management Systems (ChMS), joining forces to make it easier than ever for churches to effectively train and screen staff members and volunteers.
EFFECTIVE PREVENTION EFFORTS
Change is often driven by better education: replacing misconceptions with accurate information. Church and ministry leaders are learning that ‘stranger danger’ and child check-in systems alone will not solve the problem of child sexual abuse. Prevention requires that the church implement a comprehensive, targeted safety system to protect children from sexual abuse. MinistrySafe provides a trusted solution.
MinistrySafe System
Led by sexual abuse attorneys and standard of care experts, MinistrySafe is the industry leader in the development and deployment of child sexual abuse prevention resources, utilizing the 5-Part Safety System:
• Sexual Abuse Awareness Training (6 million trained)
• Skillful Screening Process (Sample forms and training)
• Background Checks (Tailored for ministries)
• Policies & Procedures (Library of sample forms)
• System for Monitoring and Oversight
The final Safety System element — System for Monitoring and Oversight — refers to the online Control Panel, the centerpiece of the proprietary Risk Management Software (RMS) developed by MinistrySafe. Since 2005, MinistrySafe has developed and refined technology to deliver Safety System elements in an easy-to-use online system; an industry-leading resource deployable at the church level. Currently, MinistrySafe provides the abuse prevention framework for more than 20,000 ministries through a cutting-edge RMS; now MinistrySafe resources may be integrated with many of the Church Management Softwares available in the marketplace.
TECHNOLOGY AS A CHANGE AGENT
Twenty years ago, very few churches relied on technology for administration and management. Church Management Software (ChMS) was expensive and complicated, only used by very large churches.
Today, churches of all sizes have access to inexpensive, easy-to-use platforms providing a suite of service solutions for accounting, payroll, human resources, communication, people management, giving, event registration and more. ChMS providers enhance their platforms through robust integrations, allowing ministries to connect the tools and services they use in one place.
ChMS Integration — Ease of Use
MinistrySafe integrates with leading ChMS platforms, giving churches easy access to key elements of the 5-Part Safety System. Many of these integrations also allow churches to order MinistrySafe trainings and background checks directly within their ChMS. These integrations empower churches and ministries to strengthen prevention efforts within their chosen management software. MinistrySafe collaborates closely with its ChMS partners to continually improve the user experience and ensure seamless access to MinistrySafe resources. This usability and ‘one-stop-shop’ approach enables churches and ministries to easily implement streamlined, effective systems that truly lead to the prevention of child sexual abuse.
Within the next two years, most major ChMS systems are expected to support full MinistrySafe functionality — allowing churches to initiate, track and renew MinistrySafe training and background checks directly within their existing management system. The figure below shows the current and planned integration functionality across popular ChMS platforms.
A CLOSER LOOK
Planning Center
Planning Center provides a widely used suite of applications that streamlines ministry operations across worship, events, and volunteer management. A new add-on recently enhanced the MinistrySafe experience within Planning Center, enabling users to order background checks and training directly within the platform, with data and reports syncing back into Planning Center.
“We’ve fostered a rich ecosystem of integrations in Planning Center because churches are better off with seamless access to best-in-class tools like MinistrySafe. Their passion to safeguard children and vulnerable populations makes for a natural alignment with our purpose to help churches help people. We’re committed to the impact these tools are having in protecting so many.”
— Daniel Murphy, Group Product Manager at Planning Center
Tithely
Tithely is an all-in-one church technology platform that helps more than 50,000 churches around the world increase generosity, streamline operations, and stay connected with their people. With simple tools for giving, communication, and church management — all in one place — Tithely makes it easier to cut through the busywork and Simply Serve™.
Now with MinistrySafe resources incorporated into Tithely, churches can protect their congregations through trusted child safety training and screening, integrated right into the platform.
“At Tithely, we are committed to providing churches with technology that works for them, not against them. By teaming up with MinistrySafe, we are ensuring that every church has a broad range of resources necessary to create a safe environment for their members. This partnership represents a strategic step in our mission to simplify church operations, including solutions such as the ability to protect their people.”
— Dean Sweetman, Co-CEO of Tithely
Pushpay
Pushpay is a comprehensive church management and digital giving solution focused on serving large and multi-campus churches. MinistrySafe trainings and background checks are ordered through the MinistrySafe platform. Training scores, completion dates and other information are reported back to Pushpay.
“Our goal is to help ministry leaders connect with their communities, and that includes providing them with the tools they need to ensure a safe and secure environment. We’re thrilled to continue our investment and long-standing partnership with MinistrySafe to help church leaders initiate, track, and manage essential training and background checks. We believe that a connected and integrated tech ecosystem empowers churches to focus on what matters most: ministry.”
— Kenny Wyatt, CEO at Pushpay
MinistryPlatform
MinistryPlatform offers a flexible enterprise-level platform tailored for churches needing advanced data management and reporting. MinistrySafe trainings may be assigned from within MinistryPlatform, with results reporting back; background checks must be ordered and managed through the MinistrySafe Control Panel.
“MinistryPlatform is a church management system that is built for your ministry, from custom fields and structure to your own personalized ecosystem of integrations. Through our partnership and integration with MinistrySafe, churches can seamlessly track and manage certifications to ensure ongoing compliance, meet safety standards, reduce liability risk, and build trust with families — ultimately helping protect children and vulnerable adults.”
— Mary Patrick, Product Manager of MinistryPlatform
TouchPoint
TouchPoint is a customizable ChMS built for mid- to-mega sized churches seeking enterprise membership and engagement tools. TouchPoint’s integration with MinistrySafe goes beyond basic connectivity, allowing churches to fully assign, manage, and track both background checks and trainings directly within the system. With real-time status updates, alerts, and a user-friendly interface for ministry leaders, TouchPoint provides end-to-end visibility and control, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks when it comes to protecting your people.
“At TouchPoint, our goal is to help people connect and grow in their walk with the Lord through their local church — equipping churches with excellent technology and best-in-class partners. MinistrySafe is a key trusted partner. Together, we share a deep passion for protecting children and vulnerable populations, and we are honored to serve the church as it serves others.”
— Ross Miller, President of TouchPoint
ChurchTrac
ChurchTrac provides an affordable and user-friendly ChMS option for churches of all sizes, focusing on simplicity and core ministry tools. MinistrySafe integrates with ChurchTrac, allowing users to assign and track trainings and background checks, while background check actions are still completed in the MinistrySafe Control Panel.
“At ChurchTrac, we see ourselves as a Partner in Ministry — and that means helping churches care for the people God has entrusted to them. MinistrySafe is doing vital, kingdom-impacting work by equipping churches to protect children and create safe environments. We’re honored to make these trusted tools accessible through ChurchTrac so that every church, regardless of size or budget, can take meaningful steps to safeguard their ministries.”
— T. Byron Tedder, CEO of ChurchTrac Software, Inc.
Rock RMS
Rock RMS is a powerful open-source church management system designed for customization and scalability. Rock was the first ChMS to fully integrate MinistrySafe training and background checks, allowing churches to assign, track, and take action entirely within the Rock platform.
Text In Church
Text In Church provides communication tools to help churches follow up and stay connected with guests and members. A full MinistrySafe integration is now available, allowing trainings and background checks to be ordered and managed within the Text In Church platform.
“Our heart at Text In Church has always been to ensure that people feel known, noticed, and loved. This partnership with MinistrySafe takes that mission even further. We believe tools should serve the Church by helping leaders protect and care for the people God has entrusted to them. Together, we are equipping churches not only to communicate with clarity but also to create safe spaces where kids and families can thrive. That is the kind of impact technology the Church should have: one that helps leaders protect, connect, and point people to Jesus.”
— Tyler Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Text in Church
Kimberlee Norris and Gregory Love are partners in the law firm of Love & Norris and founders of MinistrySafe. After representing victims of child sexual abuse for more than two decades, Love and Norris saw recurring, predictable patterns in predatory behavior. MinistrySafe grew out of their desire to place proactive tools into the hands of ministry professionals. For more information about the authors, see LoveNorris.com.