Brief Summary of the First Baptist Church’s Safe Church Policy
(a complete hard copy is available from the office or by dowloading the PDF at the bottom of this page. Feel free to speak with a member of the Safe Church Policy Team if you have any questions.)
PURPOSE OF THE SAFE CHURCH POLICY
- To provide a safe and secure environment for children and youth and persons with developmental disabilites who participate within the faith community and activities of our church.
- To satisfy the concerns of parents and staff members that we have employed a comprehensive screening process.
- To provide a system which responds quickly and thoroughly to possible violations against the Safe Church policy.
- To reduce the incidence of false accusations against clergy, employees and volunteers.
- To accomplish these goals while maintaining an atmosphere that is highly conductive to carrying out the work of the church in helping children, youth and adults grow in their knowledge of God within a loving, Christ-centered environment.
- To provide a safe and secure environment for the adults with developmental disabilities who participate within the faith community and activities of our church.
INTRODUCTION – statistics about abuse and indicators of sexual abuse
PREVENTION – To benefit children/youth/and adultswith developmental disabilities, through screening process, medical/liability/publicity releases for each child/youth, and monitor facilities during church sponsored activities.
Guidelines for all clergy, staff and volunteers of First Baptist Church will observe when interacting with children, youth, and people with developmental disabilities:
Physical contact, restroom procedures, and guidelines for classroom, overnight events, and all church related activities.
SCREENING – Criminal Background check, employment application, reference check, and interview.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS – The church will provide each new worker (paid or volunteer) with a copy of the Safe Church Policy. Each worker is required to read the Safe Church Policy and sign the acknowledgment form. The church will provide periodic training to staff and volunteer workers on Safe Church Policy, especially when any revisions of the policy occur.
REPORTING – Steps to complete when child/youth/person with developmental disability reports victimization to: Services to Children and Families – Yamhill County; McMinnville Police Department; Community Developmental Disabilities Program.
RESPONDING – set guidelines for the Safe Church Ministry Team and Church Board for handling abuse allegations at the time of reporting, when criminal proceedings have concluded, Safe Church Ministry Team, our responsibility to the child, youth, or developmentally disabled individual after abuse has been established, our response to the offender, and Oregon Law.
FORMS – YOUTH Registration form, Children’s Registration form, Children’s and Youth Ministry Personal Interview form, Children’s and Youth Ministry Volunteer Reference Check, First Baptist Church Children’s and Youth Ministry Safe Church Policy Acknowledgement form, People with Developmental Disabilities Ministry Personal Interview form, First Baptist Church People with Developmental Disabilities Ministry Volunteer Reference Check, First Baptist Church People with Developmental Disabilities Ministry Safe Church Policy Acknowledgement form.
SAFE CHURCH POLICY TEAM – A Safe Church Ministry Team monitors the policy and is appointed by the Church Board. Members include an appointed member of the board who serves as convenor, pastor, children’s ministry coordinator, youth ministry coordinator, appointed rep for FBC ministry to persons with developmental disability. Policy is reviewed each year.