tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post7991924493926808317..comments2023-11-03T05:46:44.728-04:00Comments on RevGalBlogPals: Ask the Matriarch - Safe Church PolicyStephanie Anthony/She Revhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10089531643725874239noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-85341104289631195912011-08-29T16:33:49.629-04:002011-08-29T16:33:49.629-04:00Greetings, I am DCE in a medium congregation and t...Greetings, I am DCE in a medium congregation and the church i work for has just recently begun implementing A Safe Policy. I am open to sharing my congregation's document. My suggestions on how to go about creating a document is to contact other churches in the area if they have 1 they can share. Own the book Safe Sanctuaries as well as the PC (USA) version (downloadable for free) We Won't Let it Happen Here. We created a 4 person committee that drafted the document taking from other churches, presbyteries and synod's examples of 'what we needed.' This took about 2-3 months, with Session oversight.<br />After session approval, a general letter was written to the congregation and specific letters to any and all volunteers for background checks. For a church who's 'been doing it forever,' the most concern was over what would happen to the information once gathered.<br /><br />We are just begining the background checks with Protect My Ministry .com (a business approved by our presbytery to conduct the background checks).<br /><br />I hope this helps, please contact me if you would like samples, etcthebish05https://www.blogger.com/profile/00278669687247374681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-48025051422275968902011-08-28T00:49:37.254-04:002011-08-28T00:49:37.254-04:00We just updated our diocesan policies a year ago. ...We just updated our diocesan policies a year ago. Prior to my life as a priest I worked in mediation and counseling for people who were abused by clergy. Oddly enough that work led me to seek ordination (long story). I think it is very important to have a policy that is carefully written and also flexible. It is best to have two persons when working with children, but in small rural churches, when someone calls in sick or it is impossible to have two persons, we have roving ushers (or other designated adult) who check in on Sunday school classes. It has been difficult for many of our folks to attend the in person trainings, so I created a website a few months ago that provides training for Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Exploitation prevention. I am working on a Harassment course now. <br /><br />If anyone would like to contact me about specific policies (or check out our online training) I would be happy to read them over and give input.Rev Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12726406869967857511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-70785965028331725182011-08-27T16:40:53.824-04:002011-08-27T16:40:53.824-04:00We're a small rural congregation (12 members! ...We're a small rural congregation (12 members! although our attendance is higher than that, and we have 14 active youth), and we are generally at greater danger from bears or snowslides than we are from people. That's a good thing, because the quickest response time from any law enforcement would be about 45 minutes — we are pretty much on our own if something goes wrong. So, yay to flexibility!<br /><br />Our "Safe Church" policy is fairly simple. No one can be alone with youth; two people approved by the Session must be present at all times. If anyone (usually me) is alone in the church, the doors must be locked. For counseling sessions or food-bank distributions, someone else must be called to come in. When the offering is being counted, at least two other adults (besides the counter) must be in the building. (It's a small building, so we're always within hearing and usually within sight of one another.)<br /><br />We have publicized those rules very well, which means we can invoke them liberally. I have said to people who frightened me, "I'm sorry, but I can't take you over to the food bank because we have a firm rule requiring two members to participate in each distribution." That's a little softer than, "There's no way in the world I'm going over there alone with you."<br /><br />Unspoken is the rule that when a troublesome individual is there (which happens fairly frequently here in the wild wild west), at least one man will remain as well. We have a code phrase for that: "XXX, I have something I'd like to talk to you about after everyone else leaves." <br /><br />The flexibility comes into play in that we don't specify individuals or roles so much as just the requirement of always staying in two's.<br /><br />And because I'm often at the manse alone (it's a "second home" for us because I'm a tentmaker, and my husband is a health-care provider who often works weekends), I have developed a speed-dial list of trustworthy people nearby (neighbors as well as church folk) and a different code phrase: "Oh, XXX; I'm glad I caught you; I can't come for dinner tonight after all." (This is an excellent phrase to catch people's attention because I NEVER turn down dinner.)<br /><br />We have other policies relating to children. We gather a lot of info from parents, we give a lot of info to parents, and we frequently remind kids what to do if they're uncomfortable or afraid.Suzynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-32483616380382542532011-08-26T15:03:00.951-04:002011-08-26T15:03:00.951-04:00Thanks all for the great input!Thanks all for the great input!earthchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447310443886956100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-20848524503121301892011-08-26T11:35:40.385-04:002011-08-26T11:35:40.385-04:00It is a way of creating and supporting a safe spac...It is a way of creating and supporting a safe space for members of your church who may have gone through abuse and never had the courage to tell anyone. Without fear-mongering, it is also a way to be proactive.<br /><br />If it seems silly, share with your parishioners that you want this to be in place for community meetings and events too. And if your presbytery or church hierarchy have any resources you can adapt (I hope they would) then it will be easier. I think you might be surprised at the abuse that goes unreported, even in what seems to be a "safe" rural area.<br /><br />peace<br /><br />DebDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12169805543154662247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-48236694226116438942011-08-25T12:04:06.215-04:002011-08-25T12:04:06.215-04:00I am a former lawyer and retired teaching elder (t...I am a former lawyer and retired teaching elder (to use the new terminology). The first congregation I served was a small rural congregation. It is important in any setting to make sure that you have "rules" in place not just to protect children but to protect the adults as well. When I moved to the last church I served, I insisted that a window be put in one of the doors into my office mostly for my protection. <br /><br />We think we know our parishioners, but anyone, including elderly parishioners can molest and be molested.<br /><br />You might see if a larger congregation is having a training program for safe sanctuaries and have some parishioners attend. Perhaps there are other small congregations that you can meet with and explore together what makes sense in your situation.<br /><br />In the first congregation I served a young male member was accused of molesting a young boy. This is in a community where everyone knew everyone else and no one imagined that this young man would ever do anything like that (and I'm not sure he did).Joan Calvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858394238696729686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-3408336583588312672011-08-25T11:42:48.286-04:002011-08-25T11:42:48.286-04:00Here's the United Methodist "Safe Sanctua...Here's the United Methodist "Safe Sanctuaries" page:<br /><br />http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.5598111/k.A248/Safe_Sanctuaries.htm<br /><br />(Pardon the untypable URL; the whole UMC site is like that...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-12053625025637849402011-08-25T10:19:42.760-04:002011-08-25T10:19:42.760-04:00Neither of my current congregations has a policy. ...Neither of my current congregations has a policy. However, when I was DCE at my home congregation I attending a training hosted by Zoar Lutheran (ELCA)in Perrysburg Ohio. They had recently implemented a good policy and had a very nice packet for us to take with us. I could send you a copy of mine, or you could contact Zoar directly.ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01034492637745064803noreply@blogger.com