Safeguarding God's Children

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A Theology of Safeguarding God’s Children

The work of Safeguarding God’s Children is directed toward the restoration of right relationships in community, through truth telling, reconciliation and our baptismal covenant call to respect the dignity of every human being.
What theological principals are involved?

1. The Baptismal Covenant, we are called to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves; we are called to respect the dignity of every human being. Every human being has value and dignity which comes directly from God’s creation of male and female in his own image and likeness. Christians believe this is God’s re-creation of us in Christ. There is sanctity to our creation, a promise of the fullness of life that the church is called live.

2. Our children deserve the best care and teaching the Church can provide. The church is called to love shelter, protect and defend children within its own community, while fostering community beyond the family unit. Safety becomes one of the most fundamental principles to be in authentic community, a promise of safety in relationships.

3. Because redemption and forgiveness are so central to the gospel the church is equipped to respond to issues of misconduct. The work of faithful listening and responding calls the church to give a high priority to seeking truth and truth telling. The importance of remembering and telling are critical for a ministry of healing and reconciliation. Reconciliation is understood as a thoroughgoing change or transformation, it is a process not an event.

4. Healing is a part of our salvation. Ultimately understood as the reconciliation between humanity and God, a healing or re-whole-ing of community’s original turning away from God. The goal of safe guarding god’s children is to establish processes by which conditions are created in which God can bring about reconciliation in the wounded community so that the church is strengthened for mission in the world.

5. The church is called to give high priority to the quality of planning for children and the preparation and support of those who minister with them.

Then Jesus took the children into his arms, placed his hands on each of them and blessed them. (Mark 10:16)

Code of Conduct for Protection of Children and Youth

Relationships among people are at the foundation of Christian ministry and as such are central to the life of the church. Defining healthy and safe relationships through policies and codes of conduct is not meant, in any way, to undermine the strength and importance of personal interaction in our ministries. Rather, it is to assist in more clearly defining behaviors and practices that allow the church to more fully demonstrate its love and compassion for children and youth in sincere and genuine relationships.

Relationships in ministry should, ideally, always be experienced as caring and without intention to do harm or allow harm to occur. This Code of Conduct has been adopted by St. John’s Episcopal Church to help the church create safe environments for children and youth and for those who minister to them. All Church Personnel are asked to carefully consider each statement in the Code and within the Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse before agreeing to adhere to the statements and continue in service to the church.

• Church Personnel agree to do their best to prevent abuse and neglect among children and youth involved in church activities and services.
• Church Personnel agree to not physically, sexually or emotionally abuse or neglect a child or youth.
• Church Personnel agree to comply with the policies for general conduct with children and youth as defined in these Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse.
• All Church Personnel agree to comply with the Guidelines for Appropriate Affection with children and youth.
• In the event that Church Personnel observe any inappropriate behaviors or possible policy violations with children or youth, church personnel agree to immediately report their observations.
• All Church Personnel acknowledge their obligation and responsibility to protect children and youth and agree to report known or suspected abuse of children or youth to appropriate church leaders and state authorities in accordance with these policies.
• Church Personnel understand that the church will not tolerate abuse of children and youth and agree to comply in spirit and in action with this position.

General Definitions

A. Church Personnel
For the purposes of this policy, the following are included in the definition of Church Personnel when they are functioning in their respective roles for the church:
1. All clergy whether stipendiary, non-stipendiary, or otherwise who are engaged in ministry or service to the church.
2. All paid personnel whether employed in areas of ministry or other kinds of services by the diocese, its congregations, schools or other agencies.
3. Those who contract their services to the diocese, its congregations, schools or other agencies.
4. Volunteers, including any person who enters into or offers him or herself for a church related service, or who actually assists with or performs a service, whether or not they have been selected or assigned to do so. Volunteers include members of advisory boards, vestries, Bishop’s Committees, and boards of directors.

B. Children and youth
A child is defined as anyone under the age of 12 years. A youth is defined as anyone who is at least 12 years old, but not yet 18 years old. A youth may also be an individual who is 18 years old or older, but still in high school.

C. Regularly or Occasionally Work With or Around Children or Youth
For the purpose of this policy, the following are included in the definition of Church Personnel who regularly work with or around children or youth:
1. All clergy whether stipendiary, non-stipendiary, or otherwise who are engaged in ministry or service to the church.
2. All paid or volunteer Church Personnel whose work regularly takes them throughout the facility or grounds or who have keys giving them access to the buildings on the grounds.
3. All persons who supervise or assist with supervising children or youth, other than church school teachers, in ministries, programs or activities more often than occasionally.
4. All persons who provide transportation to children or youth without other adults in the vehicle more often than occasionally.
5. All vestry members or other members of similar decision-making groups who have the authority to approve the creation of ministries, programs or activities for children or youth.
Examples of Church Personnel who regularly work with or around children or youth: include, but are not limited to:
• Children's’ or youth choir directors
• Organists who work with children or youth
• Lay youth ministers
• Volunteer youth directors
• All Church Personnel who work or assist in the nursery more than four times a year
• All Church Personnel who work in the nursery if they are the only person over 21 present at any time
• All staff, whether volunteer or paid, at church camps
• Adults who participate in overnight activities with children or youth more than twice a year

For the purpose of this policy, the following are included in the definition
of Church Personnel who occasionally work with or around children or youth:
1. Church school teachers.
2. All persons who supervise or assist with supervising children or youth in ministries, programs or activities infrequently, generally no more than three times a year or for one program or activity during a year that lasts less than a month (i.e. assisting with preparation for the Christmas pageant, or teaching one “unit” of Church School for a month).
3. All persons who provide transportation to children or youth without other adults in the vehicle infrequently, generally no more than three times a year.
4. All persons who work or assist in the nursery four or fewer times a year, whether on an emergency basis or otherwise.
5. Adults who participate in overnight activities with children or youth once or twice a year.

D. Types of abuse.
1. Physical abuse is non-accidental injury, which is intentionally inflicted upon a child or youth.
2. Sexual abuse perpetrated by an adult is any contact or activity of a sexual nature that occurs between a child or youth and an adult. This includes any activity, which is meant to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the adult, child or youth.
3. Sexual abuse perpetrated by another child or youth is any contact or activity of a sexual nature that occurs between a child or youth and another child or youth when there is no consent, when consent is not possible, or when one child or youth has power over the other child or youth. This includes any activity which is meant to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of any of the children or youth.
4. Emotional abuse is mental or emotional injury to a child or youth that results in an observable and material impairment in the child or youth’s growth, development or psychological functioning.
5. Neglect is the failure to provide for a child or youth's basic needs or the failure to protect a child or youth from harm.
6. Economic exploitation is the deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful temporary or permanent use of a child or youth's belongings or money.

Safeguards for Children and Youth

A. Screening and Selection
1. Any and all Church Personnel who regularly work with or around children or youth shall be screened and selected using at least the following:
a. A standard application completed by the applicant that includes an authorization for the release of information to conduct background checks and the Code of Conduct (Appendix C).
b. Criminal records check in any state where the applicant has resided during the past seven years, and other states, if any, as determined by the church.
c. Sexual offender registry check in any state where the applicant has resided during the past seven years.
d. Individual interview with the applicant.
e. Reference checks of persons outside the congregation who know the applicant, preferably who know how the applicant works with children.
f. Driving or Motor Vehicle records check if the person may be transporting children or youth.

2. Any and all Church Personnel who occasionally work with or around children or youth shall be screened and selected utilizing at least the following:
a. A standard application completed by the applicant that includes an acknowledgment for the release of information to conduct background checks and the Code of Conduct (Appendix C).
b. Individual interview with the applicant.
c. At least one Reference Check of a person or persons outside the congregation who know the applicant, preferably who know how the applicant interacts with children.
d. Driving or Motor Vehicle records check if the person will be transporting children or youth.
3. All information gathered about an applicant will be carefully reviewed and evaluated to make a determination, in consultation with others as necessary, of whether or not the person is appropriate to work with children or youth.
4. Church Personnel who work with or around children or youth must have a personnel file that is kept where other church records are kept.
5. Criminal records checks and sexual offender registry checks will be conducted every five years for Church Personnel who regularly work with or around children or youth.
6. To the extent possible, no person will be permitted to supervise an immediate family member when working with or around children or youth. For the purpose of this policy, immediate family member is defined as spouse, partner, child, parent, sister, brother, similar in-law relationship, stepchild, stepparent, stepsibling, grandparent, or co-habitant.
7. Church Personnel who transfer within the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and apply for or are asked to or who do undertake a position working with or around children or youth are required to undergo the same screening and selection process in Section A above. This requirement may be met through a transfer of a copy of their personnel file to the new congregation, school, agency, or program together with completion of a new application, individual interview and reference checks with the congregations, schools, agencies or other programs for which the applicant has worked with or around children or youth since the screening was last done as shown in the applicant's personnel file.

B. Education and Training Requirements
1. Three hours of child abuse prevention education and training is required for all church personnel who regularly work with or around children or youth before they start their work with children or youth or, if that is not possible, one hour of child abuse awareness training before they start their work and the rest of the training within three months of starting.
2. One hour of child abuse awareness education and training is required for all church personnel who occasionally work with or around children or youth before they start their work with children or youth.
3. Church Personnel who are responsible for screening, selection and supervision of others in programs for children and youth are required to complete an additional three hours of specialized education and training in screening, selection and monitoring every two years.
Added paragraph: 4. The preferred training at St. John’s Episcopal Church is “Safeguarding God’s Children”, produced by the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

C. Monitoring and Supervision of Programs
The monitoring and supervision of programs and activities involving children or youth is important for safeguarding children and youth and involves several aspects. One aspect involves having structural guidelines or standards for the programs and activities for children and youth.
These include such things as who approves new programs, how many adults need to be present and the like. In addition to setting structural guidelines and standards, church leaders must make sure the structural safeguards are followed. Programs and activities have to be monitored and supervised to do that.
Another aspect of monitoring and supervision is that supervisory personnel and others monitor and supervise the behavior of adults, youth and other children with children and youth so that inappropriate behaviors and interactions can be detected and stopped. Some behaviors and interactions are potentially harmful to children or youth in and of themselves. Examples include providing alcohol or drugs to children or youth or actually having sexual contact with a child or youth. Other behaviors and interactions are not necessarily harmful in and of themselves but are the same behaviors and interactions known to be used by those who abuse children or youth to “groom” them or their parents for eventual abuse or which provide the privacy child molesters need in order to abuse children or youth. Examples of those behaviors and interactions include holding children over the age of three on the lap, transporting a child or youth alone, and the like. The structural guidelines and standards are covered in both this Monitoring and Supervision section and in the following section, General Conduct for the Protection of Children and Youth. The behaviors and interactions of persons with children and youth that need to be monitored and supervised are covered in the section on General Conduct for the Protection of Children and Youth and in the Guidelines for Appropriate Affection.
1. Every program for children and youth must have established ratios for adults and children. Compliance with the established ratio is required at all times, including activities that occur off church premises.
2. Church Personnel are prohibited from being alone with a child or youth or multiple children or youth where other adults cannot easily observe them.
3. Church Personnel over the age of 21 must directly supervise Church Personnel under the age of 18 and be physically present during all activities.
4. An up to date list of approved congregation-sponsored programs for children and youth will be maintained in the church office or other place where church records are kept.
5. Church Personnel are not permitted to develop new activities for children and youth without approval from the rector or canonical equivalent. Requests to develop new activities should be submitted in writing to the rector. The rector will consider whether the plan for a new activity includes adequate adult supervision.
6. Each program will develop age-appropriate procedures to ensure the safety of children and youth using restrooms and showers or baths.
7. When supervising or assisting private activities such as dressing, showering or diapering infants or children, Church Personnel will remain in an area observable by other adults or work in pairs.
8. At least two unrelated Church Personnel must supervise activities. When both boys and girls are participating, male and female adults must be present.

D. General Conduct for the Protection of Children and Youth
The following guidelines are intended to assist Church Personnel in monitoring and supervising behaviors and interactions with children and youth to identify and stop those that may be inherently harmful to children or youth, that are the type used by child molesters to groom children, youth and their parents, or that may create the conditions where abuse can occur more easily. These guidelines should also be used to make decisions about interactions with children and youth in church sponsored and affiliated programs. They are not designed or intended to address interactions within families. When exceptions to these guidelines must be made, they should be reported to the supervisor of the Church Personnel making the exception as soon as possible.
1. All Church Personnel who work with children or youth must agree to comply with the St. John’s Episcopal Church Guidelines for Appropriate Affection (Appendix A).
2. No person will be allowed to volunteer to regularly work with children or youth until the person has been known to the clergy and congregation for at least six months.
3. Programs for infants and children under six years old will have procedures to ensure that children are released only to their parents or legal guardians or those designated by them.
4. Church Personnel are prohibited from the use, possession, distribution, or being under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or the misuse of legal drugs while participating in or assisting with programs or activities specifically for children or youth.
5. Parents or guardians must complete written permission forms before Church Personnel transport children and youth for a church sponsored activity or for any purpose on more than an occasional basis.
6. Church Personnel will respond to children and youth with respect, consideration and equal treatment, regardless of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, culture or socio-economic status. Church Personnel will portray a positive role model for children and youth by maintaining an attitude of respect, patience, and maturity. They will avoid even the appearance of favoritism.
7. One-to-one counseling with children or youth will be done in an open or public or other place where private conversations are possible but occur in full view of others.
8. Church Personnel are prohibited from dating or becoming romantically involved with a child or youth.
9. Church Personnel are prohibited from having sexual contact with a child or youth.
10.Church Personnel are prohibited from possessing any sexually oriented materials (magazines, cards, videos, films, clothing etc.) on church property or in the presence of children or youth except as expressly permitted as part of a pre-authorized educational program.
11. Church Personnel are prohibited from using the Internet to view or download any sexually oriented materials on church property or in the presence of children or youth.
12. Church Personnel are prohibited from discussing their own sexual activities, including dreams and fantasies, or discussing their use of sexually oriented or explicit materials such as pornography, videos or materials on or from the Internet, with children or youth.
13. Church Personnel are prohibited from sleeping in the same beds, sleeping bags, tents, hotel rooms or other rooms with children or youth unless the adult is an immediate family member of all children or youth in the bed, sleeping bag, tent, hotel room or other room. It is acceptable to have multiple adults sleep with all the children or youth participating in one open space such as a church basement or camp lodge.
14. Church Personnel are prohibited from dressing, undressing, bathing, or showering in the presence of children or youth.
15. Church Personnel are prohibited from using physical punishment in any way for behavior management of children and youth. No form of physical discipline is acceptable. This prohibition includes spanking, slapping, pinching, hitting, or any other physical force. Physical force may only be used to stop a behavior that may cause immediate harm to the individual or to a child, youth or others.
16. Church Personnel are prohibited from using harsh language, degrading punishment, or mechanical restraint such as rope or tape for behavior management.
17. Church Personnel are prohibited from participating in or allowing others to conduct any hazing activities relating to children’s or youth ministry or camp activities.

Responding to Problems

A. Reporting Inappropriate Behaviors or Policy Violations with children or youth
1. When Church Personnel observe any inappropriate behaviors, behaviors that are inconsistent with the Guidelines for Appropriate Affection, or which may violate any provision of this Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse, they must immediately report their observations. Examples of inappropriate behaviors or policy violations would be seeking private time with children or youth, taking children or youth on over-night trips without other adults, swearing or making suggestive comments to children or youth, or selecting or using staff or volunteers without the required screening.
2. Such inappropriate behaviors or possible policy violations that relate to interactions with children or youth should be reported in one of the following ways:
a. A telephone call or meeting with the rector, if the person is not the rector;
b. A telephone call or meeting with associate rector if the person is the rector;
c. A telephone call or meeting with the senior warden if the rectors are not available;
d. Submit a Notice of Concern (Appendix B), signed or unsigned, to the rector or associate rector.
3. All reports of inappropriate behavior or policy violations with children or youth will be taken seriously.

B. Reporting Suspected Abuse of Children or Youth
1. All Church Personnel are required by this policy to report known or suspected abuse of children or youth to the appropriate state authorities.
2. Failure to report suspected abuse of children or youth may be a crime. Reports may be made confidentially or anonymously. Every state provides immunity from civil liability for persons required to report suspected abuse in good faith and without malice. Simply stated, “in good faith” means that the person submitting the report believes what he or she is reporting to be true.
3. Reports of suspected or known abuse that involve Church Personnel may be reported in the following ways:
a. A telephone call or meeting with the rector, if the person is not the rector;
b. A telephone call or meeting with associate rector if the person is the rector;
c. A telephone call or meeting with the senior warden if the rectors are not available;
d. Submit a Notice of Concern (Appendix B), signed or unsigned, to the rector or associate rector.
4. It is the policy of St. John's Episcopal Church, Carlisle, to abide by the Child Protective Services Law, Act 124, of July 1995, which mandates the reporting of any suspected child abuse, defined as any recent act or failure to act by an individual which causes non-accidental serious physical injury, non-accidental serious mental injury, serious physical neglect, imminent risk of serious physical injury, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation of a minor (children and youth under age 18). It is also the policy of St. John’s Church to conform to relevant policies of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania with respect to Sexual Misconduct and Child Abuse.
Furthermore, it is the policy of St. John's Church to protect the identity of the reporter, the minor or victim, the suspected perpetrator, and the families involved in these allegations, and to provide for their pastoral care throughout an investigation.
a. Any clergy person, church worker, or volunteer who has "reasonable cause to suspect" that a child is being abused or that sexual misconduct has occurred shall report his or her suspicions to the Rector immediately, and shall provide all available information.
b. If the Rector is unavailable or is involved in the allegation, the report shall be made to the Associate Rector or, if unavailable, to the Senior Warden, who is then responsible to carry out the reporting and resolution policies set forth in this document. In the event that the Rector is involved in the allegation, the Associate Rector shall have all responsibilities assigned to the Rector in this policy; in the absence of an Associate Rector, the Senior Warden shall obtain the Bishop’s guidance for meeting the Clergy responsibilities of this policy.
c. The Rector will be the sole reporter and spokesperson for St. John's Church. For the protection of all parties, all other clergy, vestry persons, church school leaders, youth leaders, and other church workers shall be expressly instructed to refrain from any and all comment to the parish, the public, the media, and one another and to direct any inquiries to the Rector.
d. The Rector may call the Cumberland County Office of Children and Youth (240-6120) in order to discuss whether or not the suspicions warrant an official report. Or the Rector may call the Childline for the Central Region the hotline for the Department of Public Welfare, Office of Children, Youth, and Families to report the suspected abuse. Within 48 hours of the call, the Rector will file a written report (CY47), with the assistance of the individual who brought forth the suspicions.
e. The Rector shall inform the alleged perpetrator that a Childline report has been made. To protect the investigation, the Rector shall share no details of the allegations. The person under suspicion shall be instructed to immediately suspend any contact with children or youth of St. John's Episcopal Church, formally or informally. A certified letter containing the same information shall be mailed to the suspected perpetrator.
f. The Rector will work with the Cumberland County Office of Children and Youth Services to determine the mental, spiritual, and physical health needs of the minor who has been named as victim, as well as the minor's family members. The family shall be instructed to suspend all contact with the alleged perpetrator for the duration of the investigation.
g. The Rector will work with the alleged perpetrator to find a suitable spiritual and/or pastoral counselor, and will advise him or her to consider securing legal counsel for the duration of this investigation.
h. The Rector will notify the Bishop, the Vestry, and the church's insurance agency of the alleged incident, protecting the identity of all parties concerned.
i. Detailed documentation of the handling of the incident shall be kept by the Rector and held confidential.
j. In the event that a Childline investigation originated elsewhere, but involves St. John's clergy, a church worker or volunteer, the above procedures numbered c, e, f, g, h and i will continue to apply.
5. The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and St. John’s Episcopal Church Parish will cooperate with any investigation by state authorities to the fullest extent appropriate and inform authorities that a concurrent internal investigation will be directed by the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

Appendix A - Guidelines for Appropriate Affection

St. John’s Episcopal Church Parish is committed to creating and promoting a positive, nurturing environment for our children’s and youth ministries that protect our children and youth from abuse and our Church Personnel from misunderstandings. When creating safe boundaries for children and youth, it is important to establish what types of affection are appropriate and inappropriate, otherwise that decision is left to each individual. Stating which behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate allows Church Personnel to comfortably show positive affection in ministry, and yet identify individuals who are not maintaining safe boundaries with children or youth. These Guidelines are based, in large part, on avoiding behaviors known to be used by child molesters to groom children or youth and their parents for future abuse. The following guidelines are to be carefully followed by all Church Personnel working around or with children or youth.

1. Love and affection are part of church life and ministry. There are many ways to demonstrate affection while maintaining positive and safe boundaries with children and youth.
Some positive and appropriate forms of affection are listed below:
• Brief hugs.
• Pats on the shoulder or back.
• Handshakes.
• “High-fives” and hand slapping.
• Verbal praise.
• Touching hands, faces, shoulders and arms of children or youth.
• Arms around shoulders.
• Holding hands while walking with small children.
• Sitting beside small children.
• Kneeling or bending down for hugs with small children.
• Holding hands during prayer.
• Pats on the head when culturally appropriate. (For example, this gesture should typically be avoided in some Asian communities).

2. The following forms of affection are considered inappropriate with children and youth in ministry setting because many of them are the behaviors that child molesters use to groom children or youth and their parents for later molestation or can be, in and of themselves,
sexual abuse.
• Inappropriate or lengthy embraces.
• Kisses on the mouth.
• Holding children over three years old on the lap.
• Touching bottoms, chests or genital areas other than for appropriate diapering or toileting of infants and toddlers.
• Showing affection in isolated areas such as bedrooms, closets, staff only areas or other private rooms.
• Occupying a bed with a child or youth
• Touching knees or legs of children or youth.
• Wrestling with children or youth.
• Tickling children or youth.
• Piggyback rides.
• Any type of massage given by a child or youth to an adult.
• Any type of massage given by an adult to a child or youth.
• Any form of unwanted affection.
• Comments or compliments (spoken, written, or electronic) that relate to physique or body development. Examples would be, “You sure are developing,” or “You look really hot in those jeans.”
• Snapping bras or giving wedgies or similar touch of underwear whether or not it is covered by other clothing.
• Giving gifts or money to individual children or youth.
• Private meals with individual children or youth.

Appendix B - Confidential Notice of Concern - printable
Appendix C - Reference form - printable
Appendix D - Reference reporting resources - printable

Frequently Asked Questions about Safeguarding God's Children