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For the Safety of Our Children &
Youth
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Guidelines for Developing a Policy |
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Article below is from PC(USA) resource booklet, pgs. 9-10: We Won't Let It Happen Here! Preventing Child Abuse in the Church
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Download this article: Text Document: safety_policy_guidelines.rtf or PDF: PCUSA-policyguide.pdf We recommend: Downloading entire booklet by PC(USA): We Won't Let It Happen Here! ... (PDF is 45 pages, 900K) |
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Developing a Policy |
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Jesus taught us, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Children are our present and our future, our teachers, our inspiration. They are full participants in the life of the church and in the realm of God. And yet, there were over one million children who were confirmed to have been abused or neglected in the United States in 1988 (the year for which the most recent statistics are available). Studies have estimated that one of three girls and one of seven boys is sexually abused before the of 18. Jesus also said, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones. ... it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). Our Christian Faith calls us to offer both hospitality and protection to the little ones, the children. Tragically, churches have not always been safe places for children. Child sexual abuse, exploitation, and ritual abuse occur in churches, both large and small, urban and rural. The problem cuts across all economic, cultural and racial lines. Such incidents are devastating to all that are involved: the child, the family, the local church, and its leaders. Increasingly, churches are torn apart by the legal, emotional, and monetary consequences of litigation following allegations of abuse. Minimally, churches should have
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Most of
these issues will be addressed in more depth in a later chapter of
this resource. Developing a policy for dealing with child abuse in
the church provides an opportunity for a congregation to look at all
the ways in which children need to be protected in the church. This
includes other safety issues besides child abuse issues, such as van
maintenance, fire extinguisher placement, First Aid training, and a
multitude of related issues. Some congregations end up with a “Safe
Church” policy, which is broader than one that limits itself to
protecting children from child sexual abuse. An important first step in developing a policy is to check insurance coverage. There are several reasons for doing so. It is important to determine if your church is covered in the event of child abuse in the church and, if not, to decide if it is necessary to obtain a rider for such coverage. The church will also want to talk with their insurance agency about savings there might be in premium cost if the church develops and implements a “Safe Church” policy. A “Safe Church” policy needs to address:
Most of these topics will be addressed later in this resource. There is also a list of resources that might prove helpful in this process. In developing your church’s policy, it will be important to consult legal advice about screening applications and interviews. It will also be important to become acquainted with your state’s child abuse laws and reporting procedure. |
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| Document description here is prepared by Mary Marcotte, Associate General Presbyter for Education and Leadership Development, Presbytery of New Covenant: | ||
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• Theological background
Among the handouts
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Back to: Sample Policies Page ^top |
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