Child/Youth Abuse Prevention and Protection Policy
“Safe Sanctuaries”
Malesus United Methodist Church
Memphis Annual Conference
General Church Adoption: April, 1996 Revision: 2004-2005
Memphis Annual Conference Adoption: June, 1998
Malesus United Methodist Church Adoption: March 13, 2006
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church, in April 1996, adopted a resolution aimed at reducing the risk of child sexual abuse in the Church. The adopted resolution includes the following statement:
“Then Jesus took a little child and put (him) among them; and taking (her) in His Arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me’ “(Mark 6: 36-37)
Jesus also said:” If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones…, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
The Church, above all institutions, is called to welcome and nurture the child. Our goal is to maintain a safe, secure, loving place where children may grow, and where those who care for them may administer to their needs in responsible ways.
The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church state that “children must be protected from economic, physical, and sexual exploitation, and abuse.” Tragically, churches have not always been safe places for children. Child sexual abuse, exploitation, and ritual abuse (ritual abuse refers to abusive acts committed as part of ceremonies or rites; ritual abusers are often related to cults, or pretend to be) occurs in churches, both in large and small, urban and rural. The problem cuts across all economic, cultural, and race lines. It is real, and it appears to be increasing. Most Annual Conferences can cite specific incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation in their churches. Virtually every congregation has among its members adult survivors of early sexual trauma. Such incidents are devastating to all who are involved: the child, the family, the local church, and its leaders. Increasingly, churches are being torn apart by the legal, emotional, and monetary consequences of litigation following allegations of abuse.
We uphold that to report abuse is to be a witness to the world of the love and justice of God and fully recognize that reporting abuse is a form of ministering to the needs of those crying out for help. Simply, to report abuse can help to stop existing abuse and prevent further abuse. As caring Christians, we are also committed to protect and advocate for children, youth, and vulnerable adults participating in the life of the church. The Church, at all levels of its organization, is entrusted with the responsibility of providing an emotionally safe, spiritually grounded, healthy environment for children, youth, and adults in whom they are protected from abuse.
Additionally, as we move into caring for the abused child, the Church community must also be intentional in embracing the family system as we call upon them to look at their wounds and the wounding of their child. Further, we recognize the grace that God gives in upholding Christian community; and, we will look for grace-filled ways of dealing with those who have been victimized and the accused.
This section is taken from the Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church-1996. Copyright 1996 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission. (pp. 384-386) and The Memphis Annual Conference “Safe Sanctuaries” Policy adopted 2004-2005
Thus, in covenant with all United Methodist Congregations, we adopt this policy for the prevention of child abuse in our church.
Purpose:
Our congregation’s purpose for establishing this Child/Youth Abuse Prevention and Protection Policy and accompanying procedures is to demonstrate our absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all our children and youth.
Statement of Covenant
Therefore, as a Christian community of faith and a United Methodist congregation, we pledge to conduct the ministry of the gospel in ways that assure the safety and spiritual growth of all our children and youth as well as all of the workers with children and youth. We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection of recruitment of workers; we will implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; we will educate all of our workers with children and youth regarding the use of all appropriate polices and methods (including first aid and methods of discipline); we will have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of state law; and we will be prepared to respond to media inquiries if an incident occurs.
Conclusion
In all of our ministries with children and youth, this congregation is committed to demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ so that each child will be “surrounded by steadfast love…established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal” Baptismal Covenant II, The United Methodist Hymnal, p.44.
Procedures for Following the Child/Youth Prevention and Protection Policy
Malesus United Methodist Church
- Definitions
Child abuse may be any act committed by a person in a position of trust (parent, giver, Sunday School teacher, pastor, or other) which harms or threatens to harm a child’s welfare, physical, spiritual, or mental health.
Further definitions of abuse and neglect vary according to state laws. Tennessee has child abuse reporting laws with varying definitions of child abuse and varying provisions as to who may and must report, penalties for not reporting and required action following the report. For information in Tennessee refer to Tennessee Code Annotated Chapter 37, see www.state.tn.us/youth/cps/.
We recognize that Child Abuse may fall into four categories:
- Physical Abuse
Inflicting bodily harm to children constitutes physical abuse. Instances of physical abuse include any physical act of undue force such as an assault with a knife, strap, or other implement; burns, fractures, and bruises resulting from being beaten, pushed down, shaken, pinched, slapped or thrown. Physical abuse does not always leave visible marks.
- Sexual Abuse
Any time a child is used for the sexual stimulation of an adult or older child, abuse has occurred. The child is powerless either to consent or resist such sexual acts. This includes fondling, sexual intercourse, forced participation in sexual acts, incest, exploitation for the purpose of pornography or prostitution, and/or exposure to adult sexual activity.
- Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse deeply affects a child’s self-esteem by submitting him/her to verbal assault or emotional cruelty. It does not always involve injuries we can see. The child receives the message that he/she is not good and never will be. Emotional abuse can include closed confinement (being shut in a small area), making racial remarks, excessive punishment, use of profanity, knowingly permitting drug or alcohol abuse, ignoring, or encouraging peer abuse.
- Neglect
It is not hearing or addressing a child’s basic needs for health, welfare, or safety resulting in harm to the child. It can include any of the following acts of negligence or maltreatment:
- Failure to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing
- Abandonment
- Refusal to seek treatment for illness
- Inadequate supervision
- Health Hazards in the home, school, or church
- Ignoring a child’s need for contact, affirmation, stimulation, or nurture
Codes of Law: A child protection program is mandated by statute, which means there are state laws which declare a child’s right to be free from abuse and neglect. Refer to the Tennessee Code Annotated for additional information, www.stste,tn.us/youth/cps.
We also want to include the following definitions
- Sexual Harassment
As stated by The 2004 United Methodist Discipline Paragraph 161.I: We believe human sexuality is God’s good gift. One abuse of this good gift is sexual harassment. We define sexual harassment as any unwanted sexual comment, advance, or demand, either verbal or physical, that is reasonably perceived by the recipient as demeaning, intimidating, or coercive. Sexual harassment must be understood as an exploitation of a power relationship rather than as an exclusively sexual issue. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the creation of a hostile or abusive working environment resulting from discrimination on the basis of gender. Contrary to the nurturing community, sexual harassment creates improper, coercive, and abusive conditions wherever it occurs in society. Sexual harassment undermines the social goal of equal opportunity and the climate of mutual respect between men and women. Unwanted sexual attention is wrong and discriminatory. Sexual harassment interferes with the moral mission of the church.
- Sexual Misconduct
A Comprehensive term that includes:
1. Child sexual abuse
2. Sexual harassment
3. Rape or sexual contact by force, threat, or intimidation
4. Sexual conduct (such as offensive, obsessive, or suggestive
behavior, unacceptable visual contact, unwelcome touching or
fondling) that is injurious to the physical or emotional health of
another.
- Sexual malfeasance as defined by the broken trust resulting from sexual activities within a ministerial relationship or other professional relationship.
- Sexual abuse of another person involving sexual conduct in relation to any person under the age of 18 years, anyone over the age of 18 without the mental capacity to consent, or any person when the conduct includes force, threat, coercion, intimidation, or misuse of office or position.
The Presbyterian Church USA “Creating Safe Churches”
- Professional and Boundary Issues
This article by Nancy Ellett Allison, Ph. D has been received with permission from Christian Ethics Today. Copyright February 1997. I found it on the Advocate Web: Helping Overcome Professional Exploitation www.advocateweb.org
Boundaries are the limits that allow for safe connections between individuals. A boundary is that defining space which clarifies “you” and “me.” Our understandings of what are acceptable boundaries grow out of our family origin. A healthy boundary allows and individual to relate with genuineness to others. Persons with healthy boundaries know how to provide for their own personal privacy and safety (and by extension, that of their young children). Appropriate intimacy and the achievement of trust are possible in relationships because there is no fear of losing “self” in establishing connections with others.
Persons with unclear boundaries establish in the “locus of control” outside themselves. They allow others to define who they are, what they think, where they go. Intimacy for this individual can easily lead to abuse if those whom they relate prove untrustworthy. These persons often find their way to the pastor’s office and frequently thrive under the leadership of an authoritarian minister. Persons with rigid boundaries are generally distant, unconnected, and lonely. These individuals have found safety through rejecting connections with others. Frequently these responses are results of past abuse or emotional trauma. Intimacy and trust seem beyond reach. Our boundaries vary depending upon our roles. Whether in a professional or volunteer role we make an ethical covenant with society to exercise self-restraint, to give and not take from the parishioner/student, and to monitor self-interests. Obviously these covenants are violated daily. Nevertheless, our society continues to uphold these implicit standards, especially in a court of law when someone has been abused. The professional/volunteer is considered the person of power in the relationship. Boundary violation is more a process rather than a single event. Few professionals “decide” to take advantage of an individual. Yet when professionals/volunteers deny or remain unaware of their personal significance, power, or authority they will begin the process of boundary violation by misusing that power. At any time a professional/volunteer exploits a relationship to meet personal needs rather than the needs of the parishioner/student, the boundaries have slipped away and the parishioner/student is in trouble.
Know who you are; know your gifts and strengths; and commit to use those strengths in service to others. Find ways of having your personal need for intimacy met appropriately. No spouse or best friend can meet all your needs but perhaps a cluster of persons with whom you share a reciprocal relationship can. No one seeking your help in a professional/volunteer role should be meeting your needs for receiving care.
- Standards
- Minimum Age
In recruiting and hiring volunteers and paid staff to work with children and youth in any position of authority, they must be at least 5 years older than the age of the persons they are working to serve. The main authority figure for a youth must be at least 22 years of age. In addition, workers with small children must be 18 years of age.
In the case of assistants and youth interns the following guidelines apply:
- A minimum of 12 years of age and 4 years older than the participants
- In the judgment of the staff person, be competent to assist
- An assistant may not be counted as an adult in the child/adult ratio
- An assistant must lend aid with at least two other adults
- In the area of youth a male adult and a female adult must be present
These adults may be married as long as youth intern is present.
Married couples must not be alone with children or youth.
- Caution
Adults, leaders, volunteers, staff, and assistants should take every precaution to never be alone with a child or youth in inaccessible areas. This can include, but not limited to: an automobile while taking a child home, a classroom with windows/locked doors, a cabin at camp.
- Six Month Rule
The Malesus United Methodist Church will employ a six-month rule requiring that all volunteers, seeking to serve in areas of children and youth ministries, show evidence of membership in good standing in this congregation or another United Methodist Church for a minimum of six months. Persons not meeting this minimum requirement may serve only in an assistant capacity with two other-non-related adults. In a non-member has attended this church a year or more, an exception to this rule may be approved by the appropriate committee and the Pastor.
- Two- Adult Rule
A minimum of two non-related adults are to be utilized in all programming with children and youth. When impossible to staff with two non-related adults, there must be an additional adult serving as a floater with visible access to all areas.
A floater could be the Pastor, Sunday School Superintendent, or a screened volunteer who could move in and out of classrooms and recreational areas and function as additional helpers.
E. Rooming
1. Adults should never share a bed with a child/teenager.
2. On a trip select a hotel/motel with rooms opening to the interior.
3. Unless two adults can share a room with 2 youth, the youth need to
have separate rooms from the adults.
F. Non-Church Related Groups
It is recognized that some groups who use the facilities of Malesus United Methodist Church may have their own Child Protection Policies in effect. However, it is highly encouraged that all non-church related groups adhere to this policy of Malesus United Methodist Church and if the group chooses not to operate within this policy, then the Church Council of the church may choose to review the future of any relationship with that group.
- Policy Instruction
All persons with responsibility for the care of children, youth, and other vulnerable persons which include all paid staff persons, Pastor, and volunteers ( including but not exclusive of teachers, Vacation Bible School workers, youth counselors, youth chaperones) must receive instruction to this policy. We highly encourage all non- church related groups that use our facilities receive instruction to this policy. Training sessions regarding our policy will be held as needed.
- Screening Procedures
The initial and most fundamental step to prevention is the careful screening of the persons who will have supervised access to children less than 18 years of age and vulnerable persons. Although we recognize the integrity of an overwhelming number of the persons with discerned calling to ministries with children, youth, and vulnerable persons, we realize that abuse still occurs in the church. Therefore, we believe that all persons should be properly screened and all screening documents kept confidentially on file.
The following steps should be followed in screening volunteers and paid applicants:
- Complete an application form
An application/information gathering form will be required for all staff positions and volunteer positions seeking to be in ministry to children, youth, and vulnerable persons. These forms are confidential to the Pastor and PPR Chair unless problems arise. They will be kept on file.
The application provided by “Safe Sanctuaries” will include the following information:
Name
*Address
*Phone Number
*Emergency Contact Person
*Gifts, Skills, Relevant Training
*Education
*3 References who are non-family (staff persons only)
*Church Membership including how long a member
*Pastor’s Name and Phone Number
*Why the Person wants to serve in this position
*When they are available
We will not ask for information regarding marital status or handicapping conditions as stated in Federal/State discrimination guidelines. We will also be sensitive to age and sex discrimination guidelines; however, adequate information may be requested to insure compliance with this policy’s minimum standards.
- Conduct an Interview With Applicants
We recommend an interview be conducted with all paid applicants and offer the following tips to aide the interview process.
*Prepare a list of questions. In doing so, read the application and note areas of exploration.
*It aids the interview process if specific questions are used so that the questions are standard for all applicants.
*Be aware of red flags. These “flags” are indicators of issues which must be explored further in order for you to be assured that all information is collected concerning a prospective employee/volunteer. Some of these “flags” might include:
– Many addresses over a short period of time. This could indicate that a person is trying to be anonymous. But it also could indicate that they are a college student who moved a lot to keep rent low.
– Wants to work with only one age group. If someone would like to work with only one specific age group, it could indicate that person has targeted that age group for molestation. Or, it could mean that is the age group for which they are trained and that experience has shown they do not work well with other ages. Also be aware of young adults who seem overly committed to one age group. For example, someone who simultaneously leads a scout troop, a coach little league, serves as a Big Brother, and now wants to teach Sunday School may be neglecting their own peer relationships in order to cultivate potential victims.
– Does not want/need/like close supervision. The interview may indicate that the person does not like to be closely supervised. This might raise questions about motivation for applying for this work.
The interviewer needs to be able to explore issues as they arise during the interview and depart from the set of prepared questions to do so.
Institutions, agencies, and day care programs are encouraged to include education on child abuse issues. Orientation, on-site certification, and personal supervisory experience of an applicant may substitute for an interview if adequate documentation is in the applicant’s files.
- Disclosure
The Malesus United Methodist Church requires all persons having supervised access to children, youth, vulnerable persons and developmentally disabled persons to complete a disclosure form and keep it on file. A proper form is attached. We reserve the right to investigate further or request background checks if necessary/needed.
- Reference Checks
The Malesus United Methodist Church requires that a minimum of three references be contacted on all applicants having access to children, youth, and vulnerable adults. One of the references must be the applicant’s Pastor (clergy person’s District Superintendent) and the other two must be non-relatives. A form is attached.
- Background Checks
Pastors and paid employees will be required to have a background check. We will ask for the Social Security Number, Driver’s Licenses Number and the list of past five residences for a County Criminal Court Check. We reserve the right to request further checks if needed. This information will be kept on file and held in confidence between the Pastor and the PPR Chair unless a problem arises. Background checks are good for four years.
In the case of volunteers we reserve the right to requests background checks if needed.
- Reporting Abuse/Alleged Abuse
We uphold that to report abuse is to be a witness to the world of the love and justice of God and fully recognize that reporting abuse is a form of ministering to the needs of those crying out for help. Simply, to report abuse can help to stop existing abuse and prevent further abuse.
Seeing abuse, and hearing the truth of abuse, is most difficult at best. Abuse is a highly emotional issue that has at its core the violation of trust and common understandings of healthy, whole, loving relationships. People most often want to believe the best of others, and therefore, they have difficulty believing that an acquaintance or friend is capable of abuse. With emotions stirred by this volatile issue, our vision is often clouded and the voices unheard.
All reports of child abuse must be taken seriously and handled in ways that care for the well being of both the abused and the accused. All cases of suspected abuse must be reported to the Department of Children’s Services in Tennessee (423-6599). In a case of abuse you must go to the person of authority unless that person is the suspected abuser. The person of authority must go straight to the Pastor unless the Pastor is the suspected abuser. Parents and proper Authorities will be immediately notified. The Pastor shall be the sole spokesperson in case there is media attention. Efforts of individuals to investigate before calling the appropriate agency are discouraged. Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect will result in criminal charges being sought.
- A Written Report
A written report of basic information is necessary to ensure ongoing ministry to and advocacy for, victims and others involved in a suspected case of abuse. Any report of child abuse or suspected child abuse or neglect should be met with written record of needed information.
Basic information shall include.
- Names
- Ages
- Addresses
- Telephone numbers of both the abused and the accused
- Nature of the abuse
- Dates (if possible)
- Factual details that brought the report into being
- Names of the persons making the report
- Date information was received
- Their signature
- Other factual information
Reports should be brief and void of speculation, unsupported opinion, and information not relative to the situation. These reports need to be filed in a secure place to ensure the confidentiality of the person who has made the disclosure. All reports shall be made in ink or typed.
- To Whom Shall the Report Be Filed
The report should be communicated and filed with the Pastor and the Church Council.
In the event that the ordained minister is the alleged perpetrator, the report must be made to the District Superintendent and subsequent handling should follow the procedures outlined in The Book of Discipline. In every case, information should be well documented and safely secured by the person making the reports, as well as, those receiving it.