How to begin
If you do not have a copy of the Safe Sanctuaries resources from The General Board of Discipleship, order them now through our online bookstore via the links below. It will be very helpful to have a copy of either book and a copy of the DVD for training purposes.
Books:
DVD:
If you are not the pastor, have an initial conversation with him or her, getting their support to establish guidelines and policies at your church.
Contact your Conference or denominational office to find out what resources, both personnel and print/web based are available to you as you seek to create guidelines and policies at your church. If you do not know how to contact your conference office, check with your pastor.
Use the following check list to help determine what needs to be done to grow a Safe Sanctuaries environment at your local church.
Take the Self-Evaluation
Use the following checklist to help your congregation assess its policy needs for the prevention of abuse in your church’s ministry with children and youth. You'll see at a glance the areas needing attention. Download a PDF version.
- We screen and check references for all paid employees, including clergy, who have any contact with children and/or youth.
- We screen all volunteer workers for any position involving work with children and / or youth.
- We train at least annually all volunteer and/or paid workers with children/youth to understand the nature of abuse and to recognize indicators of abuse.
- We train at least annually all volunteer and/or paid workers with children/youth in how to carry out our policies to prevent abuse.
- Our workers and volunteers are informed of state law requirements regarding abuse and their responsibility for reporting incidents.
- We have a clear reporting procedure for a suspected incident of abuse that follows the requirements of our state law.
- We have insurance coverage available in case a complaint of abuse occurs.
- We have a clearly defined building usage strategy as a component of our abuse prevention plan.
- We have a clearly defined response plan to be implemented in case an allegation of abuse is made against someone in our church.
- We offer at least annual education opportunities to parents of children and youth about how to recognize and reduce risks of abuse.
- We take our policies to prevent abuse seriously, and we are committed to their enforcement for the safety and security of all our children, youth and the adults who work with them.
From: "Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in The Church"
Convince your church to develop a Safe Sanctuary policy
Talk with your pastor, church leaders, parents and grandparents. Pastors are generally eager to provide a safe place for all people. They may just be waiting someone to encourage the effort. If need be, find a group of people who are concerned and agree of the need for safety policies. Then meet as a group with the decision making body of your church. Ask that a task group be officially formed to study the issue and educate the congregation. Get a copy of Safe Sanctuaries book and the DVD for the task force to use.
Write a Safe Sanctuary policy
Download a sample policy here. You should also check with your Annual Conference office for additional information. Visit our list of Annual Conferences with Safe Sanctuary webpages.
Know your legal responsibility
In many states, clergy members or those involved in child care are considered "mandated reporters", meaning they have specific obligation to report suspected child abuse. Review a summary of the laws in your state (PDF download).
Finding trainers to talk about abuse
Contact your local hospital, police, social service agency or public health department for names of people in your area. Call a school counselor.
Safe Sanctuaries is about being prepared and thinking ahead. It is not about limiting your ministry. It is about doing ministry safely with children, youth and the adults who work with them.
Kwasi Kena
Taylor Burton-Edwards
Safiyah Fosua
Dean McIntyre
Sandy Jackson
