Section I. Basic Procedures for Ministry with Children and Youth
1. Two Adult Rule
Church policy requires that every effort be made to ensure that no fewer than two adults be present at all times during church-sponsored programs, events or activities involving children and/or youth.
- To prevent the appearance of collusion, and to reduce the risk of false accusations, it is advisable to avoid situations where the two responsible adults are related or reside in the same household. This policy stops short of forbidding such situations however, recognizing that family ministry teams are often dynamic and effective and do not necessarily pose a risk to children and youth.
- In a classroom setting, the two adults would be one teacher and one teacher’s assistant.
- A roamer will be available during classroom settings, i.e. Sunday school and VBS, to support teachers and assistants. If two adults are not available, a roamer may be assigned to move in and out of rooms, but it is our goal to have two adults at all times assigned to each classroom as a matter of policy.
- In accordance with this policy, the nursery will be staffed by a paid nursery attendant and a volunteer assistant.
2. First Aid/CPR Training
At least one adult trained in CPR/First Aid should be in attendance at all programs, activities and events involving children and youth. Paid staff who care for or supervise children and/or youth must be CPR/First Aid trained.
3. Annual Orientation for Workers
a. All workers with children and youth, whether paid, volunteer, part-time, full-time, clergy or lay are required to attend an orientation session to be informed of the church’s policy regarding:
1) Policy for the prevention of child abuse
2) Procedures for ministry with children and youth
3) State laws concerning child abuse
4) Church’s policy for reporting alleged incidences of child abuse
b. After initial orientation, all workers will be required, on an annual basis, to sign a statement of awareness and compliance. The church will make new and continuing workers aware of any changes to church policy.
4. Five Years Older Rule
All workers (excepting youth helpers- see next paragraph), with children and youth whether paid, volunteer, part-time, full-time, clergy or lay must be 1) at least five years older than the age group that they are interacting with and 2) must be at least eighteen years old.
5. Youth Helpers (11-17 years old)
Children and youth who wish to participate in a church-sponsored program should attend the age-level appropriate component of said program. In the case where an age- level appropriate class is not offered, for example a high school class during VBS, then it is appropriate and acceptable for youth, ages 11-17, to act as helpers to the two adults who are supervising the program/class.
- In no instance will the youth helper be left alone with a child/children in a supervisory capacity.
- Such youth helpers must be at least five years older than the participating ministry group (Sunday school class, VBS class, etc.)
- In compliance with the policy of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church and the policy of this church, the youth helpers must attend a mandatory orientation session. Additionally, youth helpers will sign the Covenant for Youth Helpers, as presented in Attachment 1 to this policy.
6. Windows in Classroom Doors
All rooms used in ministry settings for children and youth will have doors with windows. Additionally, doors can be left open and “baby gates” can be utilized.
7. Open-Door Counseling
At any counseling sessions with children or youth, the door of the room used should remain open. Additionally, if at all possible, the counseling session should take place when others are around, but not in listening distance.
8. Parental Notification
Parents will always be given advance notification and information regarding the programs and events in which their children will be participating. Parents must provide written participation for any event in which a worker may be alone with a child or youth.
9. Participation Covenants
Participants in the youth group and Tweens ministries will sign a Code of Conduct for Youth Events, as presented in Attachment 2, on an annual basis.
10. Parent & Family Education
A concerted effort will be made to inform the congregation of this church’s Safe Sanctuaries policies. Appropriate settings include, but are not limited to, special presentations, the annual Health Fair, new member classes and brief presentations at regular worship services.
11. Use of Photographs
Photographs of children and youth may be published in the public domain, e.g., local newspaper or the church website, with written permission from parent or guardian. Photos posted on the website will not identify specific individuals by name.
12. Medical Information and Emergency Contact Forms
All children and youth who participate in church-sponsored events and activities on a regular basis will have a medical information card on file. The card will also contain emergency contact information.
- Additionally, all adults who participate as chaperones on church-sponsored field trips will also complete medical and emergency contact information.
- Youth not connected to the church are welcome to attend youth group and Tweens field trips. However, they must complete medical information and emergency contact forms.
- On field trips, one adult leader will be the designated Safety Officer and as such will carry copies of all youth and adult medical and emergency contact information.
- The Safety Officer will also ensure that each vehicle has a first aid kit.
Section II. Youth Ministry Procedures
1. Use of Email
The email identities of youth should be protected and not given out.
a. Youth leaders and other adults responsible for mass communication should utilize the “blind copy” feature when sending out emails to the church youth.
b. Youth email lists should be used for general communication regarding youth activities only and not for broadcasting jokes, news items or other information.
2. Transportation Considerations When Leaving the Church Premises
- Use of Personal vehicles. Adult leaders that drive their personal vehicles on youth ministry trips should be sure that their vehicles are in good working order. Drivers must be properly insured. It will be the responsibility of the Trustees to ensure that the church has adequate insurance.
- Use of Rental Vehicles. Adult drivers must be properly insured. It is assumed the rental agency provides vehicles in good working order. It will be the responsibility of the Trustees to ensure that the church has adequate insurance.
- Commercial vehicles and drivers. It may be desirable to hire a bus and professional driver, with appropriate licenses, for certain trips.
- Use of 15-passenger vans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued cautions about the use of fifteen passenger vans because they have a high propensity for rolling over. It will be the policy of this church to ban use of 15 passenger vehicles for youth group use.
- Communication. All vehicles traveling in a caravan of church vehicles will be equipped with two-way radios (walkie-talkies) so that communication is always available. The church will have radios available for such use.
- Seat belts. All passengers, both youth and adult, traveling in church-sponsored events will be seat belted in accordance with Maryland law. In accordance with recommendations of NHTSA, all passengers under the age of twelve should ride in a rear seat. (Exception for rented commercial buses that are not equipped with belts.)
- First aid kits. All vehicles traveling in a caravan of church vehicles will be equipped with basic first aid kits, which will be supplied by the church and approved by the Parish Nurses.
3. Field Trips
Trips to museums, recreation areas, etc. are desirable components of a varied youth ministry. In order to ensure safety and well being of youth on such trips, the following shall be observed:
- Permission forms will be required for all trips.
1) Multi-event forms can be used when trips will take place within a short time frame.
2) The permission form must be signed by both the youth and parent/guardian. A sample permission form is presented in Attachment 3 to this document.
- There must be an adequate number of chaperones on field trips.
1) The ratio of youth to adult chaperones for the Tweens group, comprised of youth in 5th and 6th grade, will be 4 to 1.
2) The ratio of youth to adult chaperones for a youth group comprised of 7th-12th graders will vary between 4/6 to 1 depending on the activity. The number of chaperones required will be determined by the staff or volunteer who is directing the activity or event. For example, a trip to a museum, where it is difficult to control interaction with the public, will require more supervision. A trip to a relatively closed environment, such as a dinner theatre, would require fewer chaperones.
- All chaperones will be briefed about the plans/itinerary prior to the trip by the adult leader in charge. The adult leader in charge will assign one adult to be the designated Safety Officer, in accordance with Section I, paragraph 12.b of this document.
4. Sleeping Arrangements On Overnight Trips
Youth groups may have an occasion to go on a trip that requires sleeping in public accommodations, such as hotels or dormitories on college campuses. The following are the minimum common standards that should be adhered to, while recognizing that adult chaperones may alter these guidelines or add additional policies as the particular arrangements warrant.
- Adults will not sleep in the same room as youth who are unrelated to them. Parents who choose to have their youth sleep in a room with an adult chaperone that is not related to them may sign a waiver with such a request.
- In a hotel setting it is recommended that an adult room is between two youth rooms.
- To minimize the danger from within the group as well as from strangers, if possible, a hotel where rooms open to the interior of the building rather than the outside should be chosen.
- It is recognized that circumstances, such as a mission trips where sleeping arrangements are not chosen by our church, may dictate a departure from the recommended policies. Adults involved in planning trips involving overnight accommodations should ensure that the policies are followed in spirit, if not to the letter.
5. Interpersonal Boundaries in Relationships
Trips provide a wonderful opportunity for fellowship. They also can nurture positive relationships among the youth and adult leaders. Adults will provide good leadership by modeling appropriate behaviors, to include:
- No profane language.
- No practical jokes that would be harmful.
- No permission for the boys to enter the room where the girls are sleeping or for the girls to enter the room where the boys are sleeping.
- No permission for two youth or one youth and one adult to separate themselves from the group.
- No inappropriate touching creating the perception that the personal space and privacy of the individual is being violated.
- No use of tobacco products in the presence of youth.
Section III. Application Process and Screening Procedures
Careful screening is one way to prevent the abuse of children and youth. It can be time consuming and expensive, but well worth the effort in peace of mind that the most reliable, committed and experienced staff and volunteers are in place for every program that involves children and youth at Huntingtown UMC. We open our facility to use by non-church organizations, such as the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, but require that these outside community groups adhere to our policies and guidelines as noted in this section. Thus, this section addresses policy for both church volunteers as well as volunteers affiliated with community groups that will be using our facility.
1. Church Volunteer Application Process
a. Applicants must demonstrate six months of regular attendance at HUMC before they are invited into ministry with children and youth.
b. All persons desiring to become involved in volunteer ministry with children and youth at Huntingtown UMC will be required to complete an Application for Ministry with Children and Youth, Attachment 4.
c. The Sexual Misconduct Questionnaire must be completed and reviewed in accordance with the policies set forth by the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
d. Applicants must sign a permission form allowing the church to secure the appropriate background checks necessary for the position. The form is part of the application as described above in paragraph b.
2. Paid Staff Application Process
a. All persons desiring to obtain employment at HUMC who will work with children and youth will complete an employment application as directed by the Staff-Parish Relations Committee.
b. Applicants must sign a waiver of confidentiality allowing the church to secure the appropriate background checks necessary for the position.
c. Upon hiring, a Sexual Misconduct Questionnaire must be completed and reviewed in accordance with the policies set forth by the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
3. Volunteer Application Process for Outside Organizations
- Application procedures will be in accordance with the sponsoring group’s policy.
- The Sexual Misconduct Questionnaire must be completed and reviewed in accordance with the policies set forth by the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
- Applicants must sign a waiver of confidentiality allowing the church to secure the appropriate background checks necessary for the position.
4. Background Checks
- Church Volunteers
1) Background checks will be completed for all volunteers in ministry with children and youth. The church will use LexisNexis Risk Management, through our membership with Church Volunteer Central, to accomplish background checks.
2) The cost of the background check will be paid by the church. Volunteers may defray the cost of the background check with a special offering.
3) Initially, the church will complete background checks on all volunteers. Thereafter, rechecks will be accomplished every four years unless a person leaves the church for a year or more. In that case, a recheck will be accomplished when they return to the church and desire to resume ministry with children and youth.
4) Last-minute staffing requirements may necessitate the use of volunteers who have not been cleared through a background check. Although not normal operating procedure, the church may use non-checked volunteers in limited instances, such as when illness leaves a Sunday school class unstaffed. Non-checked volunteers will be paired with volunteers that have already been cleared through the background check process. In no instances will the volunteer without a background check be left as the sole adult supervisor of children or youth.
- Outside Organization Volunteers.
1) Electronic background checks will be completed for each adult volunteer affiliated with an outside organization that is using our church facilities.
2) The cost of the background check will be paid by the volunteer or their sponsoring organization.
3) The church may waive the background check requirements for volunteers from outside groups if the sponsoring organization conducts background checks as part of their own internal screening process.
- Church Paid Staff
1) A background check will be conducted for all paid employees of HUMC that work with children and/or youth.
2) Background checks will be accomplished through the State of Maryland’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS).
3) The cost of the database search as well as the cost of fingerprinting (if any) will be paid by the church.
4) CJIS checks for the Learning Center employees will be paid from the Learning Center funds.
5) Initially, the church will complete background checks on all employees at the time employment commences. Thereafter, the church reserves the right to complete random checks periodically.
6) Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory results on the background check.
7) At the discretion of the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), an electronic screening may be conducted in addition to the CJIS screen, as part of the pre-hiring process.
8) Background Screening Procedures
a. Upon receiving a completed Application for Ministry with Children and Youth, one person from the church staff, that is the Pastor, Director of Christian Education, Youth Director or Office Manager will input the required data to perform a background check.
b. All instances of connection to the LexisNexis Risk Management website for the purposes of inputting a request or retrieving a report will be accomplished on a church computer.
c. Motor Vehicle Report checks will also be performed for adults acting as carpool drivers for offsite activities.
d. If a “flagged” item appears on a report, the reviewer will consult with the other two staff members to determine a course of action. Flagged items are defined as: child abuse/molestation/ neglect, violent offenses, sexual misconduct, and recent (less than five years) occurrence of DUI/DWI or drug charges.
e. If the report is returned “clear”, that is no unfavorable items (as defined in the previous paragraph), then a second staff member other than the original reviewer will also review the results.
f. All other procedures concerning background checks will be in compliance with the Professional Services Agreement between Huntingtown UMC and LexisNexis Risk Management.
Section IV. Reporting Procedures for Incidents of
Abuse on Church Property or at a Church-Sponsored Activity
Huntingtown UMC’s commitment to the prevention of child abuse requires that its workers with children and youth make reports of suspected or alleged abuse. Although not required by law, Sunday school teachers, youth workers and others in ministry with children and youth will report any incident alleged or suspected abuse per the procedures outlined in this section. It should be noted that some persons, such as professional teachers and medical personnel, are required by law to make a report of suspected abuse. Some of these mandatory reporters may also be engaged in volunteer ministry at HUMC and this policy does not seek to take precedence over their legal obligation to report.
1. Reporting Procedures
Once an incident of child abuse is observed or allegation of an incident is made, it is crucial that it be dealt with speedily. The staff person or volunteer who observes alleged abuse or to whom such alleged abuse is reported shall report the incident immediately to the staff person in charge of the activity. The staff person will provide the volunteer with a Report of Suspected Incident of Abuse form (See Attachment 5 to this document.) If there is not a staff person in attendance at the event at the time an incident is alleged, the volunteer will obtain the necessary form and information from the Safe Sanctuaries Policy binder, located on the upper level in the library area and in the lower level in Room 1. Forms will also be available in Sunday school classroom binders and will be carried by chaperones on field trips.
a. If the staff person in charge of the activity is accused of alleged abuse, the volunteer who observed the abuse or to whom a report of alleged abuse is disclosed will complete parts 1-6 of the incident report and notify the Pastor immediately.
b. If the Pastor is accused of abuse, step 6 of the incident report will require informing the chair of the SPRC. Attachment 6 to this document is a list of church officers and phone numbers.
2. Completion of Incident Report Form
The person who observes the alleged abuse or to whom such alleged abuse is reported will complete items 1-6 of the incident report to the best of their ability, notifying the persons/agencies as noted on the form. Completed forms will be delivered to the Pastor for safekeeping in a locked location. All information is to be kept confidential.
3. Informing the District Superintendent and Other Church Officials
a. Once the pastor has been informed, he/she will be responsible for informing the District Superintendent and any other church members that he/she deems necessary.
b. If the Pastor is accused of abuse, the chair of the SPRC will inform the District Superintendent and any other church officials he/she deems necessary. Completed forms will be delivered to the District Superintendent for safekeeping.
4. Imminent Danger
In the event that a child or youth is in imminent danger, a volunteer worker should inform staff (if present) and call the Calvert County Sheriff’s Department without delay. An incident report can be completed “after the fact” in such cases where there is an immediate threat to the well being of a minor.
Section V. Reporting Incidents That are Unrelated to
Church Property or Church-Sponsored Activities
Being in ministry to children and youth may place volunteers and staff in the position to receive reports of alleged abuse that are unrelated to the church property or a church-sponsored activity. When an alleged incident of abuse has taken place at home, school, or another setting and is conveyed to a church volunteer or staff, Huntingtown UMC does not impose reporting procedures, as outlined in the previous section of this document. However, as Christians, we believe we have a moral imperative to make a report in the best interest of the minor involved. To facilitate the reporting process, we offer the following information.
1. Reporting Procedures
We are all responsible for the protection of the children in our community. Anyone who has reason to suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse, neglect or mental injury should report this information to the Calvert County Department of Social Services (DSS). The Child Protective Services (CPS) division of the DSS receives reports 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can be reached at 443-550-6969, 443-550-6900 or 1-800-787-9428.
2. Confidentiality
Calvert County Department of Social Services is prohibited from releasing the names of people who make reports. Even if the reports are released under court order, the name of the reporter remains anonymous.
3. Anonymous Reports
Although discouraged by the DSS, anonymous reports are allowed in the State of Maryland. Whether the report is made anonymously or not, it is advisable to make the report in the presence of an objective witness, such as the pastor, who can verify that the report was made and by whom.
4. Informing Church Staff
It is incumbent that the pastor is made aware of situations that may require pastoral care. Therefore, if the report to CPS is not made in the presence of the pastor, the pastor should be informed of the report as soon as possible so that he/she can respond appropriately.
Section VI. Response Plan
A quick, compassionate and unified response to an alleged incident of child abuse is expected. All allegations will be taken seriously. In all cases of reported or observed abuse in a children’s activity, the entire staff of that activity shall be at the service of all official investigating agencies.
1. Response to the Victim
All allegations will be taken seriously, and with respect for the victim’s privacy. Care should be given to provide a sympathetic response to the family of the victim as well. Pastoral support will be available to all persons involved with the incident as indicated.
2. Response to the Alleged Abuser
The alleged abuser will be removed from activities involving children and youth until the incident is resolved. The removal does not convey, nor should it be interpreted as, an assumption of guilt. Continuing pastoral support will be available to all persons involved with the incident, including the alleged abuser’s family.
3. Response to the Baltimore-Washington Conference
As noted in Section IV of this document, the District superintendent will be notified of an alleged incident by the Pastor. The Conference will be kept aware of all steps throughout the process until a resolution is reached.
4. Response to the Congregation
The pastor will prepare a brief and honest statement to be presented to the congregation. The statement will honor confidentiality concerns and victim’s privacy rights and will not contain unnecessary details or attempt to place blame.
5. Response to the Media
The Pastor, or his/her designee, is the only person authorized to make statements to representatives of the media. All requests for statements should be directed to the Pastor or his/her designee. Training in how to handle media requests should be a regular part of Safe Sanctuaries staff training.
Attachment 1
Covenant for Youth Helpers
I have agreed to work as a volunteer aide in the ministry of care giving for children in our congregation. As a participant in this ministry I agree
Demonstrate behavior appropriate for a person who has responsibility for
children. To that end, I will
· Maintain a calm, loving, and gentle demeanor
· Model appropriate behavior for children
· Demonstrate respect for children, parents, my supervising teacher(s) and coworkers at all times.
· Focus my attention and interaction on the children, not on other workers.
- Seek to understand the children in my care. This means that I will learn about the physical characteristics, developmental characteristics, and appropriate ways of responding and interacting with children of various temperament and personality styles.
3. Participate in training and orientation sessions offered or recommended by my church leaders, at least annually.
4. Abide by the policies and procedures established by my church for this ministry.
Name (Printed)_____________________________ Signature _____________________________
Date______________________________
Attachment 2
Code of Conduct for Youth Events and Activities
I, ________________________________________understand that I am responsible for my own behavior during the event. As a representative of Huntingtown United Methodist Church, I am expected to conduct my self in keeping with the highest Christian regard and respect for others. In signing this covenant, I agree to live by the following guidelines listed below during the event.
I shall:
1. Respect the physical and emotional well-being of my own body.
· No tobacco products
· No alcohol or illegal drugs
2. Respect the physical and emotional well-being of other youth and adults.
· No cursing or fighting
· No harmful practical jokes
· “Do unto other as I would have them do unto me”
· Respect their involvement in activities
3. Make no phone calls except to parents or guardian.
4. Participate fully in approved group activities. Potentially harmful games or activities such as the following shall not be introduced:
· Make one or more persons the brunt of a joke
· Destroy self-esteem or communicate a lack of respect (e.g., calling people stupid or name-calling)
· Create teams by choosing sides or eliminate persons
· Pit boys against girls or persons against persons
· Focus on cut-throat competition
· Involve destruction of property
· Involve misuse of clothing or food
· Provoke immoral behavior or are immoral in content
5. Respect the property of the places we will be visiting
· The event/activity area shall be left in the same, or better, condition as it was found.
· Everyone shall participate in cleaning up
6. Show proper respect for adults overseeing the event
__________________________________
Signature of Youth
___________________________________ _________________________________
Signature of Parent or Guardian Date
Attachment 3
Youth Permission Form
Activity:__________________________________________
Depart: ___________________________ @ ______________AM/PM
Parent/Guardian Pickup: _____________________________@ _________ AM/PM (approximate)
I give my permission for my son/daughter, ________________________________, to participate in the Huntingtown UMC youth group trip to ________________________. I understand that he/she will be transported by volunteer adult drivers and that once there, he/she will be asked to “check in” on a regular basis with one of the adult leaders and will be asked to stay with the group at all times. I agree not to hold Huntingtown UMC or any adult drivers responsible for any accidents or injury to my child which may occur during the trip.
I give my permission for my youth to be photographed and allow HUMC to release said pictures for publicity purposes. □ Yes □ No
________________________________________
Signature of Parent or Guardian
I agree to stay with the group at all times while on the trip and to “check in” with the adult leader at the designated time and place.
______________________________________
Signature of Youth
In the event of a medical emergency, your son/daughter will be taken to the nearest medical facility for treatment. Every effort will be made to contact you should such a situation arise.
Parent/Guardian Home Phone _______________________________
Parent/Guardian Work Phone ________________________________
Parent/Guardian Cell Phone_________________________________
Alternative emergency contact person _________________________________
Phone _________________________________
Relationship ________________________________
Attachment 4
Huntingtown United Methodist Church
Application for Ministry with Children and Youth
Part 1. Personal Information
Name _______________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle
Address _____________________________________________________________________
Street City Zip
If less than five years, please provide additional residence information on back of form.
Home Phone ________________________ Work Phone_________________________
Mobile Phone _______________________ E-mail ______________________________
Emergency Contact (Name & Phone Number)__________________________________
Best time to be contacted __________________Can you be called at work?__________
Present church member ______Yes ______No _____In membership process
Occupation______________________________________________________________
Where employed ___________________________________ Full-time / Part-time
Do you have your own transportation?___________________
Do you have a valid driver’s license? ________
Do you have automobile liability insurance?_____ (list policy limits and name of carrier)
_______________________________________________________________________
Part 2. Experience/Availability
Church positions held in the past. Please include committee memberships and participation in activities such as VBS, etc. (please note church name, if not HUMC)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Position applying for__________________________________________________
Availability: Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun
Number of hours available per week __________ Prefer: AM PM
What skills, spiritual gifts, or talents do you have which might be useful in this position?
What training or experiences, i.e., Scouting leadership, youth coaching, etc. do you have which might be useful in this position?
Why would you like to volunteer to work with children and/or youth?
Part 3. Safe Sanctuaries
In accordance with policy set forth by the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, the attached questionnaire must be completed annually by all lay workers, both salaried and volunteer who work with children and youth. (Clergy also complete a similar form, on an annual basis).
I certify that all information provided in this application is true and complete. I understand that any false information or omission may disqualify me from further consideration, and may result in my removal if discovered at a later date.
Signature _____________________________________________ Date _____________
1. Name of person observing or receiving disclosure of child abuse__________________________
2. Victim’s Name_________________________Age/date of Birth__________________________
Address____________________________________Phone Number______________________
3. Date/place of initial conversation with/report from victim_______________________________
4. Victim’s statement (detailed summary):______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Name and address of person accused of abuse:_________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________
Relationship of accused to victim (staff, volunteer, family member, etc.):____________________
6. Name of staff person to whom reported:______________________________________________
Reported to Pastor (date/time):_______________________________________________________
7. Reported to victim’s parent/guardian (name):__________________________________________
Date/Time:_______________________________________________________________________
Summary:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Reported to Calvert County Department of Social Services at 443-550-6969 or 443-550-6900
Date/time:_______________________________________________________________________
Spoke with:______________________________________________________________________
Summary:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Other contacts:__________________________________________________________________
Date/Time:______________________________________________________________________
Summary:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Bible calls upon people of faith to care for and nurture children and youth, and calls upon the church to be a place of sanctuary. (See Matthew 18:6-7; Luke 18: 15-17; Psalm 27: 4-5.) In addition, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church passed a resolution on "Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in the Church" in 1996. It was revised and adopted in 2004. The resolution calls local congregations to develop and implement educational programming on abuse, risk factors and prevention strategies, to screen all volunteers and paid staff who work with children or youth, and to implement procedures designed to prevent abuse.
Unfortunately, churches have not always been safe places for children. Child sexual abuse and exploitation can occur in churches, large and small, urban and rural. The problem cannot be defined by racial, cultural or economic factors. Many annual conferences of the United Methodist Church have had some experience of child abuse and virtually all congregations have adult survivors of early sexual abuse. Such incidences are devastating to all involved: the child, the family, the local church, and its leaders. The emotional ramifications are foremost, but legal considerations and monetary consequences of litigation are also the reality.
In an effort to follow the recommendations of the General Conference, and with a sincere desire to ensure that our church is indeed a safe haven for children and youth, the Church Council of Huntingtown UMC approved the formation of a Safe Sanctuaries Task Force in November 2004. The task force was charged with developing polices and procedures to safeguard our children and youth in the church. Meeting on fifteen separate occasions from January to December 2005, a draft proposal was completed by the task force and submitted to the Church Council in early 2006. The Council approved the draft on March 15, 2006, with the provision that one section, the implementation procedures for background checks, still needs to be completed. The task force is composed of twelve persons representing a cross-section of the congregation and includes the pastor, the Director of Christian Education and the preschool director. As our guiding document we utilized the book, Safe Sanctuaries, Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church, by Joy Thornburg Melton. Additionally, some members attended a seminar conducted by Rev. Melton, who is a lawyer and minister in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. We also researched the policies of other churches and conferences of the United Methodist Church via the Internet and interviews. At our request, a representative from the Calvert County Department of Social Services and Sheriff’s Department attended a meeting and presented information to the task force. Additionally a member of the congregation who is a personnel security expert for the U.S. Department of Defense also provided guidance.
Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5). At Huntingtown UMC, with Jesus’ words as our guiding principle, we celebrate our children and youth and invite their full participation in the life of the church. This Safe Sanctuaries document was written so that we know we are doing everything in our power to ensure that we are providing a safe environment for children and youth to grow in the love and knowledge of God. It should be noted, however, that the policies and procedures are not based on a lack of trust in workers, but are intended to protect our preschoolers, children, youth, workers, staff, volunteers and the entire church body. Implementation of these procedures serves to reduce the risk of actual abuse as well as the possibility of false accusations.
