New Safe Sanctuary policy further protects children
At Charge Conferences this year, churches are required to submit a new Safe Sanctuary plan.
These plans, which were mandated at the 2008 annual conference session, take steps to assure that children, youth and adults in United Methodist churches are safe from sexual misconduct, harassment, abuse, molestation and harm.
"What a good thing it is that in 2007 the conference COSROW crystallized our attention on this important policy, which has been around for over a decade," said the Rev. Cindy Burkert, pastor of Ebenezer UMC.
Speaking as someone who has provided safe sanctuary training in more than 50 churches, Burkert added, "Implementing Safe Sanctuaries is a combination of good common sense for protecting our children and those who serve them."
The reports are "all over the place," said District Superintendent Vivian McCarthy. Some churches have filled out simple, brief, clear-cut one-page statements while others have written many pages, she said.
"Some churches had resistance," said the Rev. Mary Dennis, Guide in the Western Region. Members showed resistance to what they called the "pervert form," she said. They didn't believe it applied to their church, since there were no "perverts" in their congregations. "I've known him since he was a baby," they say.
Even when volunteers have been known in the church or community for a long time, the church should do a background check, said the Rev. Joy Thornberg Melton, author of the book, "Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church," required reading under the conference mandate. "We're not working to protect against stranger danger, but people we know," she said.
Dennis assured her churches the safe sanctuary policy is to help churches protect their children in every way possible. "I'd like to see the name changed to "Child Protection Form," she said. "It's much more positive sounding."
Many churches Dennis works with think they lack sufficient staff to implement the requirement for a second adult in the classroom. She suggests parents take turns over the weeks to be the second adult, rather than having to have a second Sunday school teacher in the room.
The requirement for background checks is also off-putting to many small churches, "because of budget," Dennis said. She guides them to sources that are not expensive, suggests they start with staff background checks, then work down through the teachers and other volunteers. She then tells the church to put it in as a budget item next year.
Sherry Perrine, the Director of Christian Education at Wesley Freedom UMC in Eldersburg, has helped the church implement a comprehensive safe sanctuaries plan.
"An important reason it's worked for us," she said, "is because we had the backing support of the pastor."
Perhaps the most important part of a church being able to move forward on the safe sanctuaries policy is the mind-set, Perrine said. "Our mind-set is that we can provide healthy ministry for everyone."
Even before the annual conference required it, Wesley Freedom had the basic components in place. Two members of the Safe Sanctuaries Committee, Cheryl Wilhelm, a lawyer, and Jennifer Pickwell, developed the overall plan. They prepared a power point training tool, and use it to train all volunteers and staff.
"Every member of the SPRC also takes the training," Perrine said, "modeling it for others."
Components of the plan include making a covenant with each person who is working at the church, getting permission for background checks and doing background checks every four years. They have windows in classroom doors or leave the doors open when people are inside, another tenant of the policy.
"I encourage churches to "˜just jump off the pier,' to begin to put the protections of Safe Sanctuaries into place, even in advance of a detailed policy," Burkert said. She noted there are excellent samples of local church policies in Melton's books. "It's important just to get started."
Though most charge conferences are over, churches that have had difficulty implementing the policy (i.e., to have a plan in place) have until the end of the year. District Superintendents and Guides will offer assistance.
Implementing the policy provides additional benefits "“ financial and legal "“ to the church as an institution. Insurance companies often charge less if a church has a safe sanctuaries plan. If a church is sued because of alleged abuse on the church property, lawyers can make or strengthen the case when the policy is in place. Most lawsuits in sexual abuse cases are for negligence and having a safe sanctuaries policy in place is usually convincing evidence that a church was not negligent.
If a church is not in conformity, McCarthy said, "when someone is abused, the church, not the conference, will be responsible."
"If we will become truly safe sanctuaries, we will protect both the vulnerable and those who serve them, and we can be places of healing and hope," Burkert said.
Safe Sanctuary Guidelines
• Require all volunteers to submit written applications;
• Do background checks every four years, even when volunteers have been known in the church or community for a long time;
• Require and follow up on three personal (not business) references;
• Windows are in all doors where children and youth meet or doors are kept open;
• Two unrelated adults are in every classroom;
• Don't put children in charge of children; and
• Use a sign-in in the nursery and pre-school.
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