NazSafe Resources | Canada Central District COTN

Naz Safe

Helping churches create safer ministry environments, policies, and practices to protect minors

Nazsafe is the Church of the Nazarene’s commitment to creating safe, healthy, and trusted ministry environments, especially for children, youth, and vulnerable persons.

Rooted in care, stewardship, and accountability, Nazsafe reflects our shared responsibility to protect those entrusted to us and to uphold integrity in all areas of ministry.

Nazsafe is a mandatory requirement under the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene and is essential for insurance and legal compliance. All churches, boards, pastors, staff, and volunteers share responsibility for ensuring required training, screening, and policies are in place and reviewed annually.

More than a checklist, NazSafe is an ongoing practice of faithful leadership—helping churches reduce risk, strengthen trust, and ensure ministry spaces are safe, transparent, and accountable.

Who this applies to:
Pastors • Boards • Staff • Volunteers

Core requirements include:
Annual Abuse Prevention Training • Skillful Screening • Criminal Record Checks (as required) • Policies & Procedures • Ongoing Oversight

Nazsafe protects people, strengthens the ministry, and safeguards the mission of the Church of the Nazarene.

Resources

NazSafe Guidelines Booklet

Guidelines for establishing policies and procedures for protecting minors and preventing sexual misconduct.

View Manual

Naz Safe Resources

Annual Compliance Checklist

A simple checklist to help pastors and church boards track Naz Safe requirements and complete annual review and sign-off.

NazSafe Legal Compliance & Records Governance Package

This resource provides churches with a clear, insurance-aligned framework for responding to allegations, investigations, and document requests. Designed in accordance with Canadian privacy legislation and mandatory reporting laws, the package includes a Records Release Policy, Disclosure Log, Document Preservation Notice, and Board Adoption Resolution. These tools help protect pastors, boards, volunteers, and the District by ensuring proper documentation, legal compliance, and responsible cooperation with insurance providers and authorities.

Legal Compliance Package (Google Doc)
Legal Compliance Reference Sheet (Google Doc)

Volunteer Screening Tools

Downloadable forms and guidance to support safe screening, including volunteer applications, leadership approval, and record check requirements. (These are guidelines to be used and adapted to each church's ministry context.)

Volunteer application
- Google Doc Template
- Google Form Template
Suggested Teen Volunteer Application
- Google Doc Template
- Google Form Template
Suggested script for screening applicants (Google Doc)
Interview Form (Google Doc)
Reference form for volunteers (Google Doc)
Reference checklist (Google Doc)
Reference Form for vulnerable adults (Google Doc)

Forms & Ministry Templates

Customizable forms for local ministry use, including incident reporting, consent forms, transportation permissions, and confidentiality agreements.

Updated Template For Churches - Video Training Tracking (Google Sheets)
NazSafe Confidentiality Agreement (Google Doc)
NazSafe Incident Report Form (Google Doc)
Form Letter - Background Vulnerable Sector Check (Google Doc)
NazSafe Parent Consent Form Camp (Google Doc)
Youth Ministry Transportation Form (Google Doc)
Invoice Template (Google Doc)

Policies & Procedures Templates

Editable policy templates churches can adapt to their context, including abuse prevention, reporting procedures, codes of conduct, and supervision guidelines.