Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist Church Safe Sanctuary

Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist ChurchSafe Sanctuary PolicyTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church . 1Purpose . 1Statement of Covenant . 2Conclusion. 2Definition of Terms . 2Adults . 2Children . 2Youth . 2Sr. High Youth. 2Vulnerable Adults . 2Screening Forms . 2Background Checks . 3Church Programs (as related to insurance) . 3Policy. 31. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Requirements of Hired Staff . 31.1. Hiring and Screening . 32. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Requirements for Volunteer Staff . 33. Handling of Screening Forms and Background Checks. 44. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Guidelines for Staff Training . 45. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Practices for Safe Ministry . 45.1. The Two Adult Rule . 45.2. Roving Adult . 55.3. One‐On‐One Counseling. 55.4. “Five‐Years‐Older” Rule . 55.5. Advance Notice to Parents . 56. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Outside Groups Facility Use . 57. Procedures for Reporting and Responding to Complaints of SexualMisconduct/Abuse/Harassment . 68. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Continuing Education of Congregation and Staff . 7Adopted: 03/17/2010Last Revised: 07/17/2013

Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist ChurchSafe Sanctuary PolicyAppendix AEMPLOYMENT APPLICATION . 8Appendix BAUTHORIZATION for CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK . 12Appendix CVOLUNTEER QUESTIONNAIRE . 13Appendix DSEXUAL ABUSE & MOLESTATION PREVENTION POLICY . 15Appendix EEVENT PERMISSION AGREEMENT . 17Appendix FINDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT FORM . 20Appendix GINCIDENT REPORT FORM . 21Appendix HAddendum to Safe Sanctuary Policies . 23Appendix ICovenant Letter for Registered Sex Offender. 26Adopted: 03/17/2010Last Revised: 07/17/2013

Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist ChurchSafe Sanctuary PolicyIntroductionHunt’s Memorial United Methodist Church, (hereinafter referred to as “Hunt’s”) as a faithcommunity, seeks to live out the highest ideals of its mission and witness in ministering tomembers of the church and community. In so doing, we have developed this Safe SanctuaryPolicy to help us provide a safe environment which is conducive to the health, wholeness, safety,and spiritual well‐being for all people, especially to the most vulnerable people of our society:children, youth, and vulnerable adults (hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as “thevulnerable”). As people called Methodist, this is both a concern for us locally and the wider churchin general. Below are excerpts from The Book of Resolutions which address the importance of thisissue from a biblical and theological framework.Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the ChurchJesus said, “Whoever welcomes a child . . . welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5).Children are our present and our future, our hope, our teachers, ourinspiration. They are full participants in the life of the church and in therealm of God.Jesus also said, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these littleones . . . it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened aroundyour neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).Our Christian faith calls us to offer both hospitality and protection to the littleones, the children. The Social Principles of The United Methodist Churchstate that “children must be protected from economic, physical, emotionaland sexual exploitation and abuse” (¶ 162V).God calls us to make our churches safe places, protecting children, youth andthe vulnerable from abuse, ritual or otherwise. God calls us to createcommunities of faith where children, youth, and adults grow safe andstrong.1PurposeThe purpose for Hunt’s to establish this Safe Sanctuary Policy and the accompanying procedureswhich follow therein is to demonstrate our clear and unequivocal commitment to the physicalsafety and spiritual growth of our children, youth, and vulnerable adults.1The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church, 2004, pp. 201‐202Adopted: 03/17/2010Last Revised: 06/19/2013Page 1

Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist ChurchSafe Sanctuary PolicyStatement of CovenantTherefore, the community of faith of Hunt’s pledges to conduct the ministry of the gospel in waysthat secure the safety and spiritual growth of all of the vulnerable as well as all those workers withchildren and youth. We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment ofworkers; we will implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; we willeducate all of our workers with the vulnerable regarding the use of all appropriate policies andmethods (including first aid and methods of discipline); we will have a clearly defined procedurefor reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of local, state, andfederal laws; and we will be prepared for media inquiries if an incident occurs.ConclusionIn all of our ministries with the vulnerable, Hunt’s is committed to demonstrating the love of JesusChrist so that each of the vulnerable will be “surrounded by steadfast love, . . . established in thefaith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal” (“Baptismal CovenantII,” United Methodist Hymnal, p. 44).Definition of TermsAdultsPersons 18 years old or older.ChildrenInfants through age 11.YouthChildren age 12 through 17.Sr. High YouthChildren age 16 through 17.Vulnerable AdultsThose adults with diminished physical, mental or emotional capacities.Screening FormsScreening forms for use with volunteers are designed to assist in gaininginformation on persons who are applicants for working at Hunt’s in programs withchildren, youth and vulnerable adults. Their use is designed to enhance theprotection of those who participate in the program.Adopted: 03/17/2010Last Revised: 06/19/2013Page 2

Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist ChurchSafe Sanctuary PolicyBackground ChecksAs with screening forms, background checks are designed to protect individualsinvolved in the programs offered by Hunt’s to children, youth and vulnerable adults.Church Programs (as related to insurance)Hunt’s is covered under its current liability policies for programs relating tochildren, youth and vulnerable adults as long as they are programs operated byHunt’s. Hunt’s must have control over starting and stopping the operation, hiring orfiring the employees, and the management of day‐to‐day operations. The decision tooperate a program, as described above, should be a matter of record in the minutesof the Church Council or Board of Trustees of Hunt’s. This will lay to rest thequestion of whether it is a Hunt’s operated program or a non‐church program that isusing Hunt’s premises, as non‐church programs are not covered under the Church’sinsurance policy.Policy1. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Requirements of Hired Staff1.1. Hiring and Screening1.1.1. All employees of Hunt’s Memorial UMC will be hired by the Staff‐Pastor ParishRelations Committee (SPPRC) and under the supervision of the Pastor, and will beaccountable to them.1.1.2. All employees hired by Hunt’s must complete the following forms: EmploymentApplication and Authorization & Request for Background Check. The EmploymentApplication (see appendix A) will require each applicant to provide three referenceswho are not related to the applicant by blood or marriage. The Authorization &Request for Background Check form (see Appendix B) will be filled out by applicant togrant permission for Baltimore County Police/Sheriff to do background check andsend results of check to the SPPRC.2. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Requirements for Volunteer Staff2.1. All volunteers working with children, youth, and vulnerable adults must fill out theVolunteer Application Form (see Appendix C) and the Questionnaire for SexualMisconduct (see Appendix D).This policy shall take effect on March 17, 2010. Even persons serving as volunteers prior to theeffective date shall be required to complete both screening forms.2.2. Volunteers shall have been regular attendees of Hunt’s before being allowed to lead suchAdopted: 03/17/2010Last Revised: 06/19/2013Page 3

Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist ChurchSafe Sanctuary Policyprograms. Volunteers who are new to Hunt’s shall provide a pastoral reference as one ofthe references included on the screening form. If the volunteer is a new Christian whocannot provide a pastoral reference, he or she will volunteer under supervision for sixmonths.3. Handling of Screening Forms and Background Checks3.1. Shall be reviewed by the Chairperson of SPPRC, the supervisor of the prospectiveemployee and the Pastor3.2. Shall be kept in the confidential personnel files of Hunt’s both during and after terminationof employment.3.3. Personal references will be investigated by the Pastor of Hunt’s and kept in theconfidential personnel files of Hunt’s.4. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Guidelines for Staff Training4.1. All employees and volunteer leaders who work with the vulnerable will participate inprofessional training, beginning with the first year of service.4.2. Training may be conducted in separate sessions, or may be part of regularly‐scheduledtraining for employees. Additional awareness about Hunt’s Safe Sanctuary Policy will bemade available for all church members so that our church body may be a part of aconscientious effort to secure and maintain a safe environment for all children, youth,vulnerable adults and staff. (see Section 8)5. Safe Sanctuary Policy and Practices for Safe Ministry5.1. The Two Adult Rule5.1.1. Two adults (preferably who are not related) should be on site at all times during anychurch‐sponsored program, event or ministry involving the vulnerable. (This willinclude our nursery, Sunday School classes, music programs, youth programs, and anyother programs where children, youth and/or vulnerable adults are present, includingoff‐site events.)5.1.2. Two adults or Sr. High Youth (preferably who are not related) should be on site atall times during any church‐sponsored program, event or ministry involving thevulnerable in the nursery.Adopted: 03/17/2010Last Revised: 06/19/2013Page 4