Wisconsin
Conference UCC
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Every church staff needs to protect the safety of it's most
vulnerable members. At the 2003 Annual Meeting, a Resolution was passed encouraging each church to develop safe sanctuary personnel policies. Safe Sanctuary Personnel Policies What are they? Why do we need them? How do we get started? Who can help? What is a Safe Sanctuary Personnel Policy? Safe Sanctuary Personnel Policies are essentially two things:
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 (www.prevent-abuse-now.com). 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. You can get free materials from the Wisconsin Conference UCC by calling 608-846-7880. Form a team. The Conference resources will help identify who should be involved. Call A Partner in Education Who Can Help? Developing safe sanctuary personnel policies can be a daunting but productive task. The Partners in Education, a consulting team of excellent Christian Educators throughout Wisconsin, has been trained and is willing to help you get started. Find one near you. Call them with questions. Ask them to coach you at different points in the process. While they can’t be a member of your task force, they want to help you develop the most faith-based, comprehensive process possible. Partners in Education
Adapted with permission from Raymond Community United Church of Christ Call to Worship L We gather as people of faith, seeking to create a more secure and loving environment for our beloved children. ALL We gather as people who love the church, believe in Jesus Christ, and hope for a world where people would not intentionally hurt other people. L We come together to learn, to pray , to challenge ourselves and to strengthen our church. All We do this with confidence in the risen savior, Jesus Christ, who invited the children to come to him. Scripture - Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV) People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.' And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them and blessed them. Prayer Litany of Hope L In all we do, all we say, all that
we are, there is God's Spirit of hope. L When we move through times of transition as people and as congregations, God's gentle guidance grants us strength and vision. All As people who care about our children and our churches, we acknowledge the reality of hurt and pain that can be inflicted. L As the Body of Christ, we stand ready to affirm our role in teaching and protecting all of our children. All As we take steps to make our church safe, we remember the gospel call to love God and serve God - to help those who are least among us. L And so, we call upon God's wisdom to grant us strong voices and clear actions that will help to make our church a place of safety, teaching and inspiration. All Thanks be to God for gathering us together and inviting us into right relationship with Jesus Christ and with one another. Song - Jesus Loves Me The Wisconsin Conference has produced a helpful workbook to assist churches as they begin the process of preparing a Safe Sanctuary policy. The workbook will walk you through each of the steps: Step One: Creating a Task Force Step Two: Designing a Policy Step Three: Designing a Code of Behavior Step Four: Designing a Response Plan Step Five: Designing a Primary and Secondary Screening Application Process Step Six: Creating the Necessary Forms To obtain a copy for use in your church, please contact the Wisconsin Conference office at (608)846-7880 or cmartell@wcucc.org. Click here to print out a PDF version of handbook.
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Wisconsin Conference UCC |
Safe
Sanctuaries
4459 Gray Rd.