Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese
of Los Angeles Diócesis Episcopal
de Los Ángeles

Whole and Healthy Churches

Safe Church Training and Prevention

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is committed to fostering communities of trust, healing, and justice. Our Safe Church and misconduct-prevention programs uphold the dignity of every human being and help ensure churches, schools, and ministries are places where all people can experience the love of God.

Preventing misconduct and responding appropriately when it occurs is not simply policy or canon compliance. It is a faithful response to Jesus’ call to love one another, modeled in the Baptismal Covenant. Training, clear guidelines, and robust reporting and response systems help safeguard every person’s spiritual and physical well-being.

Diocesan policies originate in the model Safe Church policies established by The Episcopal Church through General Convention. New diocesan policies were adopted in spring 2025. The Diocesan Office is the primary resource for congregational and diocesan-institution leadership questions about policies, implementation, training, background checks, and key-holder agreements.

Questions about individual training or access to Praesidium should be directed to the local Praesidium administrator. Each worshipping community in the Diocese should have an administrator.

Contacts

  • Julie Kelly, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Finance, ext. 227, jkelly@ladiocese.org: Praesidium training access and support.
  • Anilin Collado, Missioner for Human Resources, ext. 250, acollado@ladiocese.org: human-resources questions and general background checks.
  • Missy Morain, Missioner for Christian Formation, Children and Youth, ext. 245, mmorain@ladiocese.org: policies, implementation procedures, audits, training questions, and LiveScan background checks.

For policy questions, email SafeChurch@ladiocese.org and the appropriate diocesan staff member will respond.

Safe Church policies

Training and resources

Online and limited in-person training is available in English and Spanish through Praesidium. Sign in to Praesidium (opens in a new tab).

Reporting and support

The Diocese has procedures for investigating and addressing misconduct allegations involving any member of the Diocese.

External reporting

For known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of minors, contact the California Department of Social Services (opens in a new tab). For known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, contact Adult Protective Services (opens in a new tab). If a minor or vulnerable adult is in imminent danger or you witness abuse, call 911.

Internal reporting

After external reporting, make an internal report to the Diocesan Office for suspected or known abuse, exploitation, or neglect; sexual harassment; discrimination; policy violations; injuries; bullying; and other concerning incidents.

Lay reporting: Submit the Confidential Notice of Concern form (opens in a new tab). For questions, email confidentialnotice@ladiocese.org.

Clergy reporting: Contact Title IV intake officers Thomas Discavage at tdiscavage@ladiocese.org or Norma Guerra at nguerra@ladiocese.org, each at 213.482.2040. You may also submit the Confidential Notice of Concern form (opens in a new tab).