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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