We are now in process of beginning implementation:
Meroney United Methodist Church
Safe Sanctuary – Final Version
Policy and Procedures
God calls us to make our church a safe place and to create a community of faith where all can grow safe and strong.
Meroney United Methodist Church, as a Christian community of faith and a United Methodist congregation, pledges to conduct the ministries of the gospel in ways that assure the safety and spiritual growth of all and affirms its absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all people.
To this end, the Meroney United Methodist Church’s practices with children and youth will:
- Follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers.
- Implement prudent operational procedures in all children and youth programs and events.
- Educate all of our workers with children and youth regarding the use of appropriate policies and methods.
- Have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of state law.
- Be prepared to respond if an incident occurs.
I. Selection of Workers
All workers of children must sign the “Participation Covenant for all Workers with Youth.” Any background information that raises concerns will be discussed with the Pastor. It is the intent of this Policy and Procedure that any actions will err on the side of protecting our children and youth. Once workers are selected, they must complete and sign the Participation Covenant Statement.
Background checks can be made and should be made if there is any suspicion with the youth or child volunteer with Castle Branch, Inc. who is in partnership with the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our local representative currently is Beverly Miller who can be contacted at 888-723-4263.
II. Standards for conducting programs or activities for children or youth.
The following rules are a part of the prevention strategy for the Safe Sanctuary policy for Meroney UMC:
The Two Adult Rule
As a matter of safety for both the student and the adult, all programs should strive to have no fewer than 2 adults 18 years of age or older present at all times for any church-sponsored or sanctioned program, event, or ministry involving children or youth. It is understood as a smaller church that it might not always be possible to have two adults present but all programs should be designed so that there are two adults present and if a program consistently (2 or 3 violations in past 6 months) has only one adult volunteer, the volunteer should report this to the pastor and the church council chair so that another volunteer can be sought or changes made to how the program is implanted.
(Pastor Note: For Sunday School and other church school activities (i.e. VBS, Kids for the Kingdom) when there are other adults around but perhaps not in the room where one teacher is teaching, there must be a viewable window so other adults on the premise can view the activities in the room. In no case should the window be covered so that others cannot see into the room. This was the Church Council's understanding of how we would live within this policy)
Overnight Accommodations
Events that require overnight accommodations require at least (2) leaders. If necessary for children/youth to share a room with a leader, leaders shall sleep in separate beds from children/youth so long as any one leader shall not be alone with any one child/youth.
Recognizing accommodations may be restrictive in some situations; one leader is adequate, so long as any one leader shall NOT be alone with any one-child/youth.
The Five Year Rule
It is a general expectation that persons working with children or youth be at least five years older than the group with whom they are working. Any exceptions to this rule would have to be approved by the Pastor and church council.
Advance Notice Rule
Ministry with children and youth shall always give the parents or guardians advance notice and full information regarding the event(s) in which their children will participate. A parent or guardian must give written (Parental Medical and Liability Release) permission for their child’s participation in off site activities.
Facility Rule
There should be windows in all classroom doors or outside windows where children or youth are participating. If the door does not have a window, and there are not any outside windows that can seen through (i.e. stained glass), the door should remain open while the room is in use. In the event of counseling or one on one session with youth or children, there should be an “open door” policy established. There should also be another staff or volunteer in the vicinity even if that person is not within actual listening distance.
Checking in and checking out Rule
There will be established and written practices related to who children and youth are left with or picked up from church sponsored or related programs, events or activities.
Activities away from the church
At no time, regardless of the nature of the church-sponsored event, program, or ministry, should a youth or child be in a staff member or volunteer’s home or car unless a non-family member adult is present.
There should always be clear understanding of the appropriate setting for any ministry format. (i.e. camp ministry would take place in or around a camp).
Summary Comment: These rules are written for both the protection of the children and the adults but as a small church with only limited volunteers, we recognize the difficulty in carrying out these rules to the letter of the rule so we acknowledge there will be exceptions, but we do not intend for the exceptions to be carried on as a normal procedure. When we find exceptions to a rule on any type of consistent basis, the pastor and chair of the church council should be consulted on how the issue should be dealt with.
III. Standards for reporting and responding to reported incidents of abuse or accidents.
- State reporting rule
All workers with children and youth are required by law to report any suspected cases of child abuse to the proper authorities.
- Plan for responding to allegations of abuse
Every paid and unpaid worker with children and youth must be trained to know North Carolina’s requirements for reporting abuse to law enforcement authorities and child protective services. If child abuse or sexual misconduct with a child or youth has been reported, we are required to contact the proper authorities, which in this case would be the Chatham County Sherriff Department.
If a person suspects abuse of a child or youth in a non-church situation, he or she is also obligated to report the alleged incident to the appropriate authorities.
If you or someone else would like to speak with someone confidentially regarding sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct, please call the NC Conference Co-ordinator for Sexual Ethics Concerns at 1-877-603-8816.
First, secure the safety of the child, youth or vulnerable adult member.
Remove the accused from any further contact with children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Treat the accused with dignity and support.
Also, offer to provide pastoral care to family of accused, as appropriate. Refer the accused to clergy outside of Meroney if deemed more desirable or if it is requested by the accuser’s family.
When an allegation of abuse is made regarding a church related or sponsored activities or event, a committee will be immediately convened to investigate the allegation. The committee will, unless said member is named in the incident, be composed of the following persons:
Pastor
Chair of Church Council
Chair of Trustees
Lay Leader
Lay Member to Annual Conference
Staff-Parish Relations Committee
Legal Counsel
The committee will not wait for a time when everyone can be present, but will initiate its meeting as soon after the alleged incident as is possible. However, no more than 24 hours will have lapsed after the initial report for the committee to meet. The committee will first assure that the alleged abuser has been removed from contact with the alleged child or youth victim. The committee will next assure that all reporting requirements have been met. The pastor or his or her designee will serve as a spokesperson for the church in dealing with the congregation, the public, and the media. Every reasonable effort will be made to protect the rights of the victim and the accused. With guidance from a legal professional, the pastor shall initiate appropriate ministries and actions over a long period to enable healing by all affected people.
The Meroney United Methodist Church will not retaliate against any person who brings forth a legitimate complaint of child abuse. All staff leaders and members are expected to immediately report any knowledge of suspected abuse, wherever it has occurred. Prompt and appropriate investigation and corrective action will be taken including discipline when appropriate. Persons who make false accusations will also be subject to disciplinary action, when appropriate.
While the Church cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality, it will make every reasonable effort to maintain confidentiality by disclosing information about the complaint only on a “need to know” basis and as necessary to comply with the state and Church law and to promote God’s call for justice, reconciliation, and healing.
Passed on May 25, 2006
Participation Covenant for all Workers with Youth
The congregation of Meroney United Methodist Church is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all youth and volunteers who participate in ministries and activities sponsored by the church. The following policy statements reflect our congregation’s commitment to preserving this church as a holy place of safety and protection for all who would enter and as a place in which all people can experience the love of God through relationships with others.
- No Adult who has been convicted of child abuse (either sexual, physical, or emotional) should volunteer to work with children or youth in any church-sponsored activity.
- Adult survivors of child abuse need the love and support of our congregation. Any adult survivor who desires to volunteer in some capacity to work with children or youth is encouraged to discuss his/her willingness with our minister before accepting an assignment.
- All adult volunteers involved with the youth of our church must have been actively involved in our church for at least 6 months before beginning a volunteer assignment.
- Adult volunteers with youth strive to observe the 2-adult rule at all times so that no adult is alone with one youth. Due to our small church if a volunteer consistently (2 or 3 times in a 6 month period) finds they are the only adult, the pastor and the church council chair should be contacted.
- Adult volunteers with youth shall attend training events when provided by the church to keep volunteers informed of church policies and state laws regarding child abuse.
- Adult volunteers shall immediately report to their supervisor or Pastor any behavior that seems abusive or inappropriate.
Please answer each of the following questions:
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to observe and abide by all church policies regarding working in ministries with youth. Yes______No_____.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to strive for the 2-adult rule at all times, and if you find yourself alone consistently (2 or 3 times in 6 months) as one volunteer report the violation of the 2-adult rule to the pastor? Yes________ No________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to abide by the 6-month rule before beginning a volunteer assignment? Yes_________ No_________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to participate in training and education events when provided by the church related to your volunteer assignment? Yes_______ No_________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to discuss with the minister of this congregation your experience, if any, as a survivor of child abuse? Yes_______ No________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to inform the minister of this congregation if you have ever been convicted of child abuse? Yes_________ No_________.
I have read this Participation Covenant, and I agree to observe and abide by the policies set forth above.
_______________________________________________________________
Signature of Applicant Date
_______________________________________________________________
Print Full Name
...
We are now in process of beginning implementation:
Meroney United Methodist Church
Safe Sanctuary – Final Version
Policy and Procedures
God calls us to make our church a safe place and to create a community of faith where all can grow safe and strong.
Meroney United Methodist Church, as a Christian community of faith and a United Methodist congregation, pledges to conduct the ministries of the gospel in ways that assure the safety and spiritual growth of all and affirms its absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all people.
To this end, the Meroney United Methodist Church’s practices with children and youth will:
- Follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers.
- Implement prudent operational procedures in all children and youth programs and events.
- Educate all of our workers with children and youth regarding the use of appropriate policies and methods.
- Have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of state law.
- Be prepared to respond if an incident occurs.
I. Selection of Workers
All workers of children must sign the “Participation Covenant for all Workers with Youth.” Any background information that raises concerns will be discussed with the Pastor. It is the intent of this Policy and Procedure that any actions will err on the side of protecting our children and youth. Once workers are selected, they must complete and sign the Participation Covenant Statement.
Background checks can be made and should be made if there is any suspicion with the youth or child volunteer with Castle Branch, Inc. who is in partnership with the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our local representative currently is Beverly Miller who can be contacted at 888-723-4263.
II. Standards for conducting programs or activities for children or youth.
The following rules are a part of the prevention strategy for the Safe Sanctuary policy for Meroney UMC:
The Two Adult Rule
As a matter of safety for both the student and the adult, all programs should strive to have no fewer than 2 adults 18 years of age or older present at all times for any church-sponsored or sanctioned program, event, or ministry involving children or youth. It is understood as a smaller church that it might not always be possible to have two adults present but all programs should be designed so that there are two adults present and if a program consistently (2 or 3 violations in past 6 months) has only one adult volunteer, the volunteer should report this to the pastor and the church council chair so that another volunteer can be sought or changes made to how the program is implanted.
(Pastor Note: For Sunday School and other church school activities (i.e. VBS, Kids for the Kingdom) when there are other adults around but perhaps not in the room where one teacher is teaching, there must be a viewable window so other adults on the premise can view the activities in the room. In no case should the window be covered so that others cannot see into the room. This was the Church Council's understanding of how we would live within this policy)
Overnight Accommodations
Events that require overnight accommodations require at least (2) leaders. If necessary for children/youth to share a room with a leader, leaders shall sleep in separate beds from children/youth so long as any one leader shall not be alone with any one child/youth.
Recognizing accommodations may be restrictive in some situations; one leader is adequate, so long as any one leader shall NOT be alone with any one-child/youth.
The Five Year Rule
It is a general expectation that persons working with children or youth be at least five years older than the group with whom they are working. Any exceptions to this rule would have to be approved by the Pastor and church council.
Advance Notice Rule
Ministry with children and youth shall always give the parents or guardians advance notice and full information regarding the event(s) in which their children will participate. A parent or guardian must give written (Parental Medical and Liability Release) permission for their child’s participation in off site activities.
Facility Rule
There should be windows in all classroom doors or outside windows where children or youth are participating. If the door does not have a window, and there are not any outside windows that can seen through (i.e. stained glass), the door should remain open while the room is in use. In the event of counseling or one on one session with youth or children, there should be an “open door” policy established. There should also be another staff or volunteer in the vicinity even if that person is not within actual listening distance.
Checking in and checking out Rule
There will be established and written practices related to who children and youth are left with or picked up from church sponsored or related programs, events or activities.
Activities away from the church
At no time, regardless of the nature of the church-sponsored event, program, or ministry, should a youth or child be in a staff member or volunteer’s home or car unless a non-family member adult is present.
There should always be clear understanding of the appropriate setting for any ministry format. (i.e. camp ministry would take place in or around a camp).
Summary Comment: These rules are written for both the protection of the children and the adults but as a small church with only limited volunteers, we recognize the difficulty in carrying out these rules to the letter of the rule so we acknowledge there will be exceptions, but we do not intend for the exceptions to be carried on as a normal procedure. When we find exceptions to a rule on any type of consistent basis, the pastor and chair of the church council should be consulted on how the issue should be dealt with.
III. Standards for reporting and responding to reported incidents of abuse or accidents.
- State reporting rule
All workers with children and youth are required by law to report any suspected cases of child abuse to the proper authorities.
- Plan for responding to allegations of abuse
Every paid and unpaid worker with children and youth must be trained to know North Carolina’s requirements for reporting abuse to law enforcement authorities and child protective services. If child abuse or sexual misconduct with a child or youth has been reported, we are required to contact the proper authorities, which in this case would be the Chatham County Sherriff Department.
If a person suspects abuse of a child or youth in a non-church situation, he or she is also obligated to report the alleged incident to the appropriate authorities.
If you or someone else would like to speak with someone confidentially regarding sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct, please call the NC Conference Co-ordinator for Sexual Ethics Concerns at 1-877-603-8816.
First, secure the safety of the child, youth or vulnerable adult member.
Remove the accused from any further contact with children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Treat the accused with dignity and support.
Also, offer to provide pastoral care to family of accused, as appropriate. Refer the accused to clergy outside of Meroney if deemed more desirable or if it is requested by the accuser’s family.
When an allegation of abuse is made regarding a church related or sponsored activities or event, a committee will be immediately convened to investigate the allegation. The committee will, unless said member is named in the incident, be composed of the following persons:
Pastor
Chair of Church Council
Chair of Trustees
Lay Leader
Lay Member to Annual Conference
Staff-Parish Relations Committee
Legal Counsel
The committee will not wait for a time when everyone can be present, but will initiate its meeting as soon after the alleged incident as is possible. However, no more than 24 hours will have lapsed after the initial report for the committee to meet. The committee will first assure that the alleged abuser has been removed from contact with the alleged child or youth victim. The committee will next assure that all reporting requirements have been met. The pastor or his or her designee will serve as a spokesperson for the church in dealing with the congregation, the public, and the media. Every reasonable effort will be made to protect the rights of the victim and the accused. With guidance from a legal professional, the pastor shall initiate appropriate ministries and actions over a long period to enable healing by all affected people.
The Meroney United Methodist Church will not retaliate against any person who brings forth a legitimate complaint of child abuse. All staff leaders and members are expected to immediately report any knowledge of suspected abuse, wherever it has occurred. Prompt and appropriate investigation and corrective action will be taken including discipline when appropriate. Persons who make false accusations will also be subject to disciplinary action, when appropriate.
While the Church cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality, it will make every reasonable effort to maintain confidentiality by disclosing information about the complaint only on a “need to know” basis and as necessary to comply with the state and Church law and to promote God’s call for justice, reconciliation, and healing.
Passed on May 25, 2006
Participation Covenant for all Workers with Youth
The congregation of Meroney United Methodist Church is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all youth and volunteers who participate in ministries and activities sponsored by the church. The following policy statements reflect our congregation’s commitment to preserving this church as a holy place of safety and protection for all who would enter and as a place in which all people can experience the love of God through relationships with others.
- No Adult who has been convicted of child abuse (either sexual, physical, or emotional) should volunteer to work with children or youth in any church-sponsored activity.
- Adult survivors of child abuse need the love and support of our congregation. Any adult survivor who desires to volunteer in some capacity to work with children or youth is encouraged to discuss his/her willingness with our minister before accepting an assignment.
- All adult volunteers involved with the youth of our church must have been actively involved in our church for at least 6 months before beginning a volunteer assignment.
- Adult volunteers with youth strive to observe the 2-adult rule at all times so that no adult is alone with one youth. Due to our small church if a volunteer consistently (2 or 3 times in a 6 month period) finds they are the only adult, the pastor and the church council chair should be contacted.
- Adult volunteers with youth shall attend training events when provided by the church to keep volunteers informed of church policies and state laws regarding child abuse.
- Adult volunteers shall immediately report to their supervisor or Pastor any behavior that seems abusive or inappropriate.
Please answer each of the following questions:
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to observe and abide by all church policies regarding working in ministries with youth. Yes______No_____.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to strive for the 2-adult rule at all times, and if you find yourself alone consistently (2 or 3 times in 6 months) as one volunteer report the violation of the 2-adult rule to the pastor? Yes________ No________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to abide by the 6-month rule before beginning a volunteer assignment? Yes_________ No_________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to participate in training and education events when provided by the church related to your volunteer assignment? Yes_______ No_________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to discuss with the minister of this congregation your experience, if any, as a survivor of child abuse? Yes_______ No________.
- As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to inform the minister of this congregation if you have ever been convicted of child abuse? Yes_________ No_________.
I have read this Participation Covenant, and I agree to observe and abide by the policies set forth above.
_______________________________________________________________
Signature of Applicant Date
_______________________________________________________________
Print Full Name
...