Abuse Prevention & Response Training

Equipping Nashville churches to safeguard the vulnerable.

Overview

Churches are called to be places of safety, healing, and hope—especially for children, youth, and other vulnerable people in our care. Tragically, abuse can and does occur in ministry settings when safeguards are weak or missing.

This half-day training will help pastors and ministry leaders understand what abuse is, how it impacts individuals and church communities, and how your church can put wise safeguards and response plans in place. Together we’ll learn from practitioners in abuse prevention, law, and law enforcement, and we’ll highlight resources available through the SBC’s Abuse Prevention & Response work.

We’re also grateful that Nashville First Baptist Church will share about their recent ECAP (Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention) accreditation work, and that Dr. Thomas West plans to bring a brief word of greeting.

Who Should Attend?

This event is designed especially for:

• Senior/lead pastors and elders
• Executive pastors, administrators, and office managers
• Nursery, children’s, youth, and college ministry leaders
• Special needs ministry leaders
• Biblical counselors and care ministry team members
• Any church leader involved in screening, training, or supervising volunteers and staff

Schedule

10:00 AM – Welcome & Opening Prayer

10:15–10:45 AM – Session 1: “What Is Abuse and How Can We Safeguard?”
Presenter: Jeff Dalrymple, Director of Abuse Prevention & Response, SBC Executive Committee

10:45–11:15 AM – Session 2: “Abuse Prevention, Response, and Legal Challenges”
Presenter: Dani Bryson, Assistant District Attorney

11:15–11:30 AM – Break / Lunch Set-Up

11:30 AM–12:00 PM – Session 3: “Abuse Prevention from a Law-Enforcement and Executive Pastor Perspective”
Presenter: Matt Espanshade, Executive Pastor, The Journey Church, Lebanon, TN; Retired FBI Special Agent

12:00–12:45 PM – Q&A with Presenters (Over Lunch)
A moderated Q&A panel with Jeff Dalrymple, Dani Bryson, and Matt Espanshade. 

1:00 PM – Conclusion & Prayer

Speakers

Jeff Dalrymple
Jeff serves as Director of Abuse Prevention & Response with the SBC Executive Committee. He works with churches, associations, and state conventions to promote abuse prevention, care, and response best practices across Southern Baptist life.

Dani Bryson
Dani serves as an Assistant District Attorney, bringing extensive experience in prosecution and in walking with victims and families through the legal process. She will help ministry leaders understand their responsibilities and how to work well with civil authorities.

Matt Espanshade
Matt serves as Executive Pastor at The Journey Church in Lebanon, Tennessee and is a retired FBI Special Agent. Drawing on his law-enforcement background and current church leadership role, Matt helps churches think through real-world safeguards and response plans.

Event Sponsor