I’m Lori Morrison, a retired private investigator, speaker, author, podcaster, and church safety-obsessed coach.
You may know me as the host of The Unlovely Truth podcast, an author, and a speaker. Church safety is kind of my thing because of my experiences as a private investigator and also as a church staff member. Let me tell you a story about that.
Mr. Smith, (whose name I have changed) my 6th grade teacher, was there one day and gone the next. He wasn’t fired, just allowed to slink away. That’s the last I remember seeing him until over 20 years later.
I was on a church staff at the time and imagine my shock when Mr. Smith showed up one day for an appointment with my boss, our lead pastor. I had no idea why he was there. He didn’t attend our church. Thoughts began to race through my mind. Was he there to finally unburden himself? Was he planning to start coming to our church? I honestly wasn’t sure I liked that idea. Then I remembered how much he loved horses, and how he would offer pony rides at events geared towards families.
That sent me into a near panic. My staff role was Children’s Pastor. I couldn’t stomach the thought of letting him anywhere near my little flock. I’m not sure how long Mr. Smith’s meeting with my boss lasted but to me, it felt like he was there all day. Finally he left, and I semi-barged into my boss’s office.
“Boss,” I said. I didn’t actually call him boss, but like with Mr. Smith I’m changing his name to protect the guilty. “Boss, I don’t know why that man was here, but I need to share with you what I know about him.” I repeated the sordid tale I just told you. How many of you were horrified by my story?
My boss was not. “Lori,” he said. “He has repented of that and God has forgiven him. It seems like you are the one with the problem.”
This happens in too many of our churches.
I want to see a revival that happens because our communities see that churches are truly safeguarding the physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of everyone in their congregations and communities. That’s how we earn the right to effectively share the Gospel.
That’s why I host my podcast, speak, write books, and why I developed a training system to help mitigate physical, emotional, and spiritual safety issues in our churches. It’s essential for ministry leaders, concerned parents, pastors, and church boards. It will help anyone who wants their church to be a safe and trustworthy sanctuary for their congregations AND their community.