Child Protection Policy Resources

August 16, 2018/by jbradak

God intends for the church and its ministries to be a safe place for all to encounter god and grow into lives of service and fulfillment. We are called to be a holy community: “As the one who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct”.(1 Peter 1:15)

Safe church policies help protect the most vulnerable among us, especially our children from the devastating effects of abuse. Policies also protect churches, church staff, and volunteers from possible false allegations of abuse. Everyone is safer when policies are in place.

The Book of Order at G-30106 Administration of Mission provides: “All councils shall adopt and implement a sexual misconduct policy and a child protection policy.”

Over-view Resources

Presbyterian Church (USA)’s website: This website is designed to help all ministries be safe ministries, includes information on how to create policies, raise awareness of prevention practices, report misconduct and rebuild a broken trust when sexual misconduct occurs.

“We Won’t Let it Happen Here: Creating a Child Safe Church” 2013 Manual

A Project of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Presbyterian Child Advocacy Network (PCAN) A Network of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA). This 36 page manual gives an in depth over-view of statistics on child and youth abuse, outlines how churches can create policies, sample training plan, and examples of forms and documents.

Books

Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth by Joy Thornburg Melton. Published in 2012, this expanded & updated edition includes information from 2 previous books plus new section on vulnerable adults & safety on the web. Includes excellent suggestions, guidelines, training, worship, sample forms & much more.

Helpful Insurance Company Websites and Helplines

Church Mutual Safety Resources
Brotherhood Mutual Safety Library

PCUSA Abuse Prevention Helpline

Check-list for your policy:

Prologue which includes scriptural foundation and purpose of your policy

Prohibited behavior – definitions of terms and types of abuse and standards of conduct.

Prevention measures which include: 1) screening, 2) training and 3) prevention procedures for minimizing the risk two adult rule, for example) for adults working with children in your church.

Reporting: Who, what, when and where…

*If your church does not have a media policy, make sure your procedures for minimizingrisk address use of technology and social media.

Training Options

Insurance Board/Partners in Prevention: Provides on-line courses for PCUSA churches.
Boy scouts of America
Some insurance carriers provide on-line training

Background Checks

Presbytery of Newton uses National Background Investigations

Check with your insurance company to see if they have a preference or suggestion.

This resource sheet as a flyer: Abuse Prevention Policy Resource Sheet 2018

SAMPLE POLICIES: Small church CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY

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500 Kenyans Receive Medical Services in Two Day “Medical Camp

August 15, 2018/by jbradak

MJ Finken and Harold Johnson returned July18 after ten days spent in Kenya for matters pertaining to the activity and management of our mission partnership with the Presbyteries of Nairobi. Newton-Nairobi Partnership Team member Darlene Tapie preceded us and has remained behind for an additional five weeks of promoting her prayer shawl ministry.

July 10-11, Kasasule Health Centre located among the villages outside the rural Town of Kibwezi staged a medical camp with 11 Kikuyu Hospital (Presbyterian) medical staff employees and several Tunza Family Pl/anning volunteers supporting the five members of KHC’s staff. Almost 500 local residents were provided evaluative services through cancer screening, eye clinic, orthopedic treatment and family and reproduction counsel. An evaluative report from the Kasasule Management Committee on the two days and some of MJ’s photos are attached.

Three Newton volunteer recruits who planned to participate in the July event had to postpone their trip until Jan-Feb 2019, when the next “medicamp” will be scheduled. Therefore, time remains for others to plan joining them.

2018 funding for the KHC is being shared 50/50, with the three Nairobi Presbyteries each contributing $13,600 to match Newton-Nairobi Partnership Team’s reserve fund. The NNPT reserve fund is now depleted.

The Nairobi Partnership Board, realizing the need and benefits to be gained, is resolved to not allow the KHC to fail for lack of funds, as are we of the Newton-Nairobi Partnership Team. Our recent May events have stirred interest within some of the congregations of the presbytery, and NNPT efforts are underway for sharing the ministry with congregations, with initial results most encouraging.

Your gifts would be greatly appreciated. You can make a financial gift at www. highlandspresbyterynj.org or send a check to Presbytery of Newton (390 Rte 10 W., Randolph, NJ 07869) marking the memo: “Nairobi Partnership KHC.”

Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to serve Jesus Christ through our Nairobi Partnership.

Curriculum

August 8, 2018/by jbradak

Check it out!

We get a lot of free samples at the Resource Center, and I finally sat down to see what we have. Now, you can do the same.

There are resources for one-room Sunday Schools for smaller churches or traditional classroom style Sunday Schools, lectionary-based, two- and three-year rotational models, adult, nursery, confirmation. We only have samples, but you can find a lot online. If you prefer tactile, stop by the Resource Center and check things out firsthand.

PC(USA) Store

Cokesbury

Sparkhouse

We offer some to borrow: Faith Questions, and Being Reformed.