Mark Yarbrough, DTS’ vice president for academic affairs, told The Christian Post that the decision to work with MinistrySafe came following a presentation that the group gave at the seminary. “Listening to their statistics and stories, I realized how big a problem abuse can be and that there are procedures that churches and ministries need to be doing to protect our kids,” explained Yarbrough, who’s also an academic dean and assistant professor of Bible exposition at DTS.

Students pursuing a ministry degree at an evangelical seminary in Texas are now required to complete sexual abuse awareness training as part of their education.

Dallas Theological Seminary announced earlier this month that it’s partnering with the group MinistrySafe to provide training for ministry degree students.

Reportedly the first seminary in the nation to do so, the requirement takes effect during the fall semester, which began on Monday, and can be met via an internship offered by MinistrySafe.

DTS President Mark Bailey said in a statement, “we’re pleased to partner with MinistrySafe to equip our students to protect those who are most vulnerable.”

“There are some issues that a seminary just can’t prepare you for and that you have to learn on the job once you’re out in ministry,” Bailey said.

“With this issue, if you’re learning on the job, something terrible has already happened. We don’t want our students and the children who are served by their ministries to experience that.”

Mark Yarbrough, DTS’ vice president for academic affairs, told The Christian Post that the decision to work with MinistrySafe came following a presentation that the group gave at the seminary.

“Listening to their statistics and stories, I realized how big a problem abuse can be and that there are procedures that churches and ministries need to be doing to protect our kids,” explained Yarbrough, who’s also an academic dean and assistant professor of Bible exposition at DTS.