Updated Aug. 24, 2026: MinistrySafe has given a statement disputing Pawleys Island Community Church’s (PICC) characterization of PICC’s use of MinistrySafe’s resources as a “partnership,” and PICC has responded in an email.
MinistrySafe’s full statement, reported by Live5 News, is as follows:
MinistrySafe is committed to the prevention of child sexual abuse in churches and child-serving ministries. At present, MinistrySafe is serving more than 25,000 churches, offering safety system elements and background checks through an online platform.
Currently, an average of 450 churches per month sign up for MinistrySafe Membership, which provides access to child protection resources in an entirely self-led and self-implemented context. Earlier this month, Pawleys Island Community Church signed up to receive access to these resources.
On August 21st, media outlets reported that Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC) announced that it has “partnered” with MinistrySafe related to an evaluation of child protection policies and efforts. “Partnership” implies communication and agreement between PICC and MinistrySafe leadership; no such communication or agreement has occurred in any form.
While we are hopeful that this church is moving in the right direction where child protection is concerned, we have no relationship with the church or the now-defunct school. Any reference to a “partnership relationship” between PICC and MinistrySafe is misleading and inaccurate.
PICC elders sent the following statement in an email on Aug. 24:
We understand that there is confusion around our church’s relationship with MinistrySafe due to a statement the company released.
PICC has purchased MinistrySafe’s annual subscription, providing us online access to their sexual abuse awareness training, skillful screening training, background checks process and policies and procedures guidance. The protection of children is our highest priority, and we have already implemented many of the tools our MinistrySafe subscription provides.
MinistrySafe states on the “partners” section of its website that it is “Trusted by Churches – Large and Small.” While we have no insight into their company’s response, nor do we wish to enter a debate regarding the definition of “partner,” we will no longer use the word “partner” in future communications about our use of MinistrySafe.
We have attempted to contact the MinistrySafe team to clear up this confusion and will continue to utilize our MinistrySafe subscription to help us ensure a safe environment for children in our care.
ChurchLeaders original article written on Aug.21, 2026, below.
Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC) announced that it is partnering with MinistrySafe as leaders work to evaluate and improve church policies and procedures designed to protect children. PICC has been at the center of controversy since mid-July when it came to light that certain church leaders had allowed a registered sex offender to volunteer on the church’s campus, which at the time was shared with a school.
Facts Only
MinistrySafe serves over 25,000 churches offering safety system elements and background checks via an online platform.
An average of 450 churches sign up for MinistrySafe Membership monthly for self-led access to child protection resources.
Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC) signed up to receive access to these resources earlier this month.
Media outlets reported PICC announced a "partnership" with MinistrySafe regarding an evaluation of child protection policies and efforts on August 21st.
MinistrySafe stated no communication or agreement exists between PICC and MinistrySafe leadership.
PICC purchased MinistrySafe’s annual subscription for access to training, background checks process, and policies.
PICC has implemented many tools provided by the MinistrySafe subscription.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The conflict arises from differing definitions of a transactional relationship—specifically, the term "partnership." MinistrySafe defines its offering as providing resources within a self-led context, while PICC framed their acquisition of these tools as a collaborative evaluation process, leading to conflicting public narratives. This highlights a common tension in organizational interactions where practical engagement (purchasing services) is interpreted differently from formal structural collaboration. The core dynamic involves the commercial exchange versus the perceived shared goal, suggesting that value systems—one rooted in transactional agreement and the other in relational intent—are fundamentally misaligned. When an organization leverages specialized tools for protection, the framing of that relationship becomes a site for contention regarding authority and accountability. This suggests that simply possessing resources is not equivalent to establishing a binding partnership; the difference lies in agreed-upon governance structures.
What is the operational definition that governs the use of resources when formal agreements are absent? How do institutional entities navigate the space between practical cooperation and declared alliance without relying on potentially contested semantics? What risks arise when perceived functional alignment is presented as strategic collaboration?
Sentinel — Human
The text appears to be a factual report summarizing a public dispute between an organization and a church regarding the use of resources, characterized by quoted positions rather than purely synthesized argument.