Safe Sanctuary Policy
- INTRODUCTION
Our church has a safe sanctuary policy. Please read the description below.
Jesus said,” Whoever welcomes a child….welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:5). Children are our present and our future, our hope, our teachers, our inspiration. They are full participants in the life of the church and in the realm of God.
Jesus also said, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck.” (Matthew 18:6)
The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church state that “…children must be protected from economic, physical and sexual exploitation, and abuse.
PURPOSE
Our congregation’s purpose for establishing this Safe Sanctuary Policy and accompanying Safe Sanctuary Prevention Procedures is to demonstrate our absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety, mental and emotional well being 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 of our children and youth as well as all of the teachers and workers with children and youth. We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers; we will implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; we will educate all of our teachers and workers with children and youth regarding the use of all appropriated policies and methods; we will have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of state law.
CONCLUSION
In all 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, United Methodist Hymnal)
Approved by Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee in August 2013