Creating Space to Belong Capital Campaign: Safety

Our Creating Space to Belong campaign is about Hospitality, Safety, and Accessibility—building a new pedestrian walkway and making our church fully accessible for everyone. So far, we’ve raised over $551,000 of our $750,000 goal. And now, a family has offered a $60,000 matching gift—every new pledge will be doubled. We know many of you are considering your gifts. Now is the perfect time to step in. Every gift matters. Every pledge brings us closer to Creating Space to Belong.

Read this reflection by All Souls member, Shay Dowley:

Academicians, criminologists, and church leaders all agree that with rising threats and increasing legal accountability, churches can no longer afford to be reactive. Churches must be sanctuaries in every sense: places of peace, integrity, and trust. In today’s world, that means planning well, training wisely, and loving intentionally. In Church Safety and Security: A Practical Guide, Robert Cirtin emphasizes that churches must take both physical, emotional, and spiritual safety seriously. The church's response to safety—both physical and emotional—should reflect its foundational values of compassion, care, justice, and community responsibility. Creating Space to Belong capital campaign is consciously prioritizing the well-being of its members and visitors in the following ways:

Creating Space to Belong means consciously prioritizing the well-being of our members and visitors. On the physical side, this means maintaining safe and accessible facilities, with clear emergency protocols, trained personnel, and security measures that protect gatherings and children’s areas. Beyond physical safety, we also aim to care for the emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of those who come through our doors. This means fostering a community marked by respect and belonging, where people can speak honestly and share openly without fear of judgment, and where the richness of our diverse backgrounds and experiences is welcomed as a gift. Our aim is for those who call All Souls home to experience the kind of community Jesus intended: where prayer, connection, mutual learning, and support are offered and where teaching and preaching balance grace, healing, and truth, reinforcing the church’s role as a safe and nurturing home for all.

S. LaShay Dowley PhD, LPC, MAMFT, CST, NCC, CPCS 

Founder, CEO, Therapist, Director of Clinical Affairs, Enduring Connections Counseling Group, LLC.