Safe Sanctuaries
Safe Sanctuaries provides guidelines that help congregations create churches that are safe for children, youth and youth workers. Guidelines cover training in First Aid and CPR, procedures for reporting suspected incidents of child abuse that conforms to requirements of state law, and guidelines for assuring a safe physical environment.
In the past, Troy Conference has offered workshops for clergy and lay leadership across the conference. The conference encourages churches to adopt Safe Sanctuaries policies and procedures.
Here are some guidelines:
What is a Safe Sanctuary Personnel Policy?
Safe Sanctuary Personnel Policies are essentially two things:
- Policies for recruiting, hiring and screening staff and volunteers who work with children and youth; and
- Having an intentional plan for responding to a report of or suspicion of child abuse.
Why do we need them?
At baptism, the question is posed to the congregation; "Do you, who witness and celebrate this sacrament, promise your love, support and care to the one (s) about to be baptized, as he/she/they live and grow in Christ? And with all honesty and intention, "we promise our love, support and care."
It is our responsibility to make the best possible world for the most dependent and vulnerable among us. By taking seriously the threat of harm that child abuse poses and by responding in positive, proactive ways, we are living out our baptismal vows as members of Christ’s household of faith.
In short, creating safe sanctuaries is part of our job as disciples.
Abuse is something that often got swept under the carpet. News reports and confirmed statistics make the truth of the matter painfully apparent. No one, including the church, can afford to look in the other direction. According to national statistics, 879,000 children were victims of maltreatment in 2000. Sixty-three percent (63%) were the result of neglect, nineteen percent (19%) the result of physical abuse, ten percent (10%) the result of sexual abuse, and eight percent (8%) the result of psychological abuse. Those are sobering statistics, especially to dependents who suffer at the hands of adults.
They suggest that in every congregation across America, someone has felt the effects of child abuse, personally or peripherally and the consequences can be devastating and last a lifetime.
It couldn’t happen here" is just not a healthy or realistic outlook. As Christians, we need to seriously consider the presence and effects of abuse and witness always to an alternative way of being and doing, both for victims and for abusers.
Keep in mind that a child victim is never responsible for causing abuse, never to be blamed for it, never capable of consent ... and child abuse is always wrong. The consequences of overlooking a reported case, a suspected case or the opportunity to be proactive can be as sobering as the statistics above.
Children who suffer abuse in whatever form, can carry a lifetime of trauma affecting their capacity to be in healthy relationships. Churches where abuse has occurred break the bonds of trust for many members and can severely damage not only relationships with one another, but with God in Jesus Christ. Reported cases which make their way through the court system can cost churches their very existence. At the same time, abusers need the community of God’s people to help them establish healthy, alternative patterns of behavior.
Having a policy for staff and volunteers couples with a plan of response for a suspected or reported case of child abuse will save a tremendous amount of confusion and distress at a most difficult moment in the life of your church.
How do we get started?
- Get a resource which outlines the process
- Form a team
- Call A Partner in Education
Who Can Help?
Developing safe sanctuary personnel policies can be a daunting but productive task. For more information about Safe Sanctuaries, contact the Rev. Holly Nye, (518) 584-8214 x18.
Resources
Safe Sanctuaries policy, North Central New York Annual Conference
Safe Sanctuaries information, Western New York Annual Conference
Safe Sanctuaries page, Wyoming Annual Conference
Safe Sanctuaries, General Board of Discipleship
Karen Groff, a member of the Ballston Spa United Methodist Church in New York publishes a monthly newsletter on Safe Sanctuaries for her church. Groff has offered to share articles from the newsletter, Tidings, with the Conference. Download the following articles: