OVERVIEW OF OUR SAFE SANCTUARIES POLICY
In order to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, youth and vulnerable adults in our programs and activities, Milford United Methodist Church has developed a policy for ensuring a “safe sanctuary.” This policy is part of an initiative that has come from our Greater New Jersey Annual Conference for all churches to address this issue.
We are called to make our church a safe place and to create a community of faith where all can grow safe and strong. The purpose of our Safe Sanctuaries policy is to put procedures in place to prevent the opportunity for abuse of children, youth and vulnerable adults, to protect anyone working with these individuals from false accusations and to have a procedure for reporting concerns about issues of safety.
This policy applies to all persons, including volunteers, lay persons or clergy who have any contact with children, youth, and vulnerable adults in any activity or event sponsored by our church.
All volunteers who have direct contact with children have been screened. We are using a two-person rule so that whenever reasonable, there will be two supervising adults present at any church activity or program. Any youth volunteers are partnered with an adult. Parents and others who have not gone through the volunteer screening process are always welcome to participate in activities along with approved volunteers who will be responsible for the direct supervision of the children. In keeping with our “open door” policy, any meetings or activities involving children and youth are being held in rooms with windows in the doors or with doors open.
There are procedures in place for any person to report concerns. Volunteers are to report to the person in charge of an activity. Concerns can also be brought to a member of the Response Team. Currently these persons are Pastor Linda Hale, Martha Dubensky, Pam Houskeeper, Mark Moglia, and John Bell.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs.” (Luke 18:16.) Our church is a community of faith, a safe and secure place where our children and youth can experience God’s love through the care and compassions of adults they can trust.
