|More

 

Text

Translate

Disclaimer

This translation is not completely accurate as it was automatically generated by a computer.
Powered by

By Fred Koenig and Barbara Dunlap-Berg*

7:00 A.M. EST Oct. 7, 2010 | (UMNS)

In 1996, General Conference delegates passed a resolution requiring all conferences to adopt policies to safeguard children and youth. Graphic courtesy of the Alabama-West Florida Conference.

Once upon a time, when you needed a Sunday school teacher, a youth group volunteer or a camp counselor, you just recruited someone. When they said, “Yes,” your job was done.

Times have changed. Stories of child abuse make the headlines, and churches are not exempt.

In 1996, General Conference delegates passed a resolution requiring all conferences to adopt policies to safeguard children and youth. Through the program, churches train and certify persons as safe workers with children and youth in United Methodist ministries.

Safe Sanctuaries policies include such things as screening and checking references for paid employees and volunteers; preventing abuse, recognizing signs of abuse and reporting incidents of abuse; making sure insurance coverage is adequate; and developing building usage policies. For the full list, go to http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.5709303/k.8829/Getting_Started.htm

Conferences varied in how quickly they established their new policies.

“From the beginning, Missouri was one of the stellar conferences with leaders who were committed to working hard to keep children and youth safe,” the Rev. Joy Melton said. An attorney, she wrote the first of four Safe Sanctuaries books 12 years ago.

The Rev. Joy Melton
View in Photo Gallery

The Missouri Annual (regional) Conference Safe Sanctuaries certification process involves a self-disclosure application, an application fee, background screening, personal references, a reference from the applicant’s pastor and an online training. The process requires recertification every four years.

Online training proves popular

Suzanna Edwards participated in her first training several years ago when she and her family attended Manchester United Methodist Church near St. Louis. Then they moved to Rolla, where Edwards serves as church secretary, Christian education chair and children’s ministries coordinator.

The training has been helpful, she said. “We encourage many in our congregation to participate. It protects children and adults.” People learn how to recognize potential problems, deal with situations that may arise, recognize signs of child endangerment and avoid the appearance of impropriety.

“In today’s world, you have to be extremely careful … about not placing children or adults in situations that potentially could be construed as inappropriate,” the mother of four daughters, ages 11 to 19, added.

Already, 50 staff and volunteers at the Rolla church are certified. That’s one-sixth of the congregation’s average attendance.

About 13,000 people in the Missouri Conference are Safe Sanctuaries certified. Each year, about 700 new camp counselors, 500 new adult chaperones for the annual youth rally and more than 300 adults on mission trips involving youth need certification.

Originally, the Missouri Conference offered training several times a year in various locations, but in 2007, it introduced online training. As recently as three years ago, the certification process took about eight weeks. Now, said Nancy Cady, Safe Sanctuaries administrator, “if everything is clear, we can certify someone in one to two weeks.”

Joy Melton is the author of “Safe Sanctuaries, Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth.” A UMNS photo courtesy of Joy Melton.
View in Photo Gallery

If a youth event is on the agenda, for example, and there are too few male chaperones or the ratio of adults to teens is not adequate, online training and certification can speed the process. “By having a larger pool of volunteers from which to draw,” Edwards said, “more people can participate.”

A response to God’s call

The Missouri Conference still offers one to two Safe Sanctuaries live trainings per month, for areas with limited Internet access or for people who prefer not to use a computer. A registered trainer uses PowerPoint to present the information the same way it is offered online.

This Sunday, United Methodist and other congregations will celebrate Children’s Sabbath, an annual event sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund. The day reminds communities of faith to strengthen existing efforts for children, discover new opportunities and respond to God’s call to nurture, protect and advocate for all children.

Providing safe sanctuary for children and youth is one response to that mandate.

“If (the training) can make a difference in the life of one child,” Edwards said, “then it’s worth it.”

For more information, go to www.moumethodist.org.

*Koenig is editor of publications for the Missouri Conference. Dunlap-Berg is internal content editor for United Methodist Communications.
 
News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5489 or newsdesk@umcom.org.