The Local Church has established a Safe Sanctuary policy to protect children, youth, and vulnerable individuals. The policy requires training for all staff and volunteers working with those groups. It outlines procedures for screening volunteers, guidelines for supervising children and youth, safety protocols for transportation and technology use, and response plans for any suspected abuse incidents. The overall goal is to demonstrate the church's commitment to protecting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of all individuals.

1. Safe Sanctuary at
The Local Church

2. Why does The Local Church require Safe Sanctuary
training?
● In 1996 The United Methodist Church adopted a resolution to reduce the risk
of abuse in the church. Tragically, churches have not always been safe
havens for children, youth, and other vulnerable individuals.
● We are called to open our doors to all and be The Church to everyone.
● A central tenet of the Christian faith is the inherent value and worth of all
children, youth, and adults. We need to protect those particularly vulnerable to
abuse and neglect.
● Having Safe Sanctuary procedures in place protects our staff and volunteers.
● Liability for our church is reduced.

3. Types of Abuse
● Physical Abuse: deliberate, intentional bodily harm
● Emotional Abuse: spoken and/or unspoken violence or emotional
cruelty
● Neglect: endangerment of health, safety, welfare through negligence
● Sexual Abuse: sexual contact without consent
● Ritual Abuse: physical, sexual, or psychological violations which are
inflicted regularly, intentionally, and in a stylized way
● Spiritual Abuse/Neglect (older adult): failure of a church to provide for
the spiritual well-being, particularly of those who are homebound or
living in nursing facilities
● Financial Abuse and Exploitation (older adult): Illegal and improper
use of an older adult’s funds, property, or assets

4. Be Aware of Evidence of Abuse
● Physical signs: bruises, unexplainable injuries, destructive behavior toward
self
● Emotional signs: depression or withdrawal, lack of self-esteem
● Neglect: inappropriate dress, poor physical hygiene, unsanitary living
conditions
● Sexual abuse: unusual vocabulary, promiscuous behavior, difficulty walking or
sitting, torn/stained undergarments
● Spiritual abuse/neglect: being ignored by the pastor/church members
● Financial abuse: cashing checks, forging signature, improper use of
guardianship, conservatorship, or power of attorney
Be aware of abrupt changes in behavior

5. Volunteer/Staff Selection
All volunteer and paid staff who work with children, youth, and other
vulnerable people at The Local Church will be:
● 21+ years old. Exceptions apply for approved youth helpers.
● At least 5 years older than the oldest child/youth they will be
supervising.
● A regular attendee at The Local Church for at least 6 months. Rare
exceptions may be made in consultation with the pastor for special
situations.

6. Volunteer/Staff Selection
● Complete/sign an application and related waivers giving TLC permission to
check references and background information.
● Provide the names and contact information of 3 personal references.
● Undergo a criminal background check if they will have leadership
responsibility for children/youth/vulnerable people.
● Re-screening will occur every 3 years.
● Individuals who have been convicted of physical or sexual abuse or neglect
may not work in any church-sponsored activity or program for children, youth,
or other vulnerable people.
● All applicants must be interviewed for suitability for the position they desire to
do.

7. Ministry Guidelines for Supervising Children and Youth
● At least 2 non-related adults (including at least 1 screened adult) will always
be present.
● Children/youth will be checked in/out of church-sponsored activities by their
parent/guardian or people authorized by the parent/guardian. Include
emergency contact information and allergy information.
● Participants will have access to a telephone/cell phone when groups are away
from the church facility.
● One-on-one interactions with children/youth will be with an open door or
visible/easily accessible to all.
● All classroom and office doors will have a window that is kept free from
adornment. Otherwise doors should remain open when the room is occupied.

8. Ministry Guidelines for Supervising Children and Youth
● If the 2 adult rule cannot be observed, a screened, designated roamer will
regularly check on groups with only one adult.
● In the case of toileting needs, encourage independence as much as possible.
In the event a child or vulnerable person needs restroom assistance, a
screened adult may assist after obtaining consent from the child/person. The
restroom stall door must remain open.
● For overnight, church-sponsored events, 2+ screened adults must be present
at all times. This must include at least 1 male and 1 female adult if the group
is mixed gender.

9. Transportation
● No youth should drive to/from events.
● An adult volunteer should not transport a child, youth, or vulnerable adult
alone.
● Drivers of church vehicles should be approved and covered by the church’s
insurance company.
● Drivers should go through the same screening process as all other
paid/volunteer staff.
● Exceptions to these policies may be made with written consent from the
parent/guardian.

10. Safety in Technology
● Volunteers/staff shall never initiate a connection (e.g. friending, following) on
social media.
● If a child/youth initiates a connection, the person’s parent/guardian shall be
notified.
● If an adult volunteer/staff receives a private message from a
child/youth/vulnerable person that seems to be questionable, the adult
volunteer should immediately end the conversation in the virtual space and
offer an opportunity to converse in person in compliance with earlier
guidelines for one-on-one conversations. The ministry supervisor and/or
parent/guardian should be made aware of the incident immediately.

11. Safety in Technology
● Adult leaders should post photos on social network sites only with prior
permission from a parent/guardian. When posted, photos must not be tagged
with names or location indicators. All photos must be appropriate and in
keeping with the spirit of the ministry event.
● All in-person protection policies apply to online platform meetings (e.g. Zoom,
Skype, Messenger). For example, 2 unrelated adults should be present in the
virtual room just as they would be in a physical room.
● An official church account should be established and used for online activities
instead of using personal accounts.
● Communication about online meetings should be shared with
parents/guardians as well as with children/youth/vulnerable adults.
● Adult leaders/participants should use their real names as usernames.

12. Safety in Technology
● Attendance of online meetings should be documented.
● All electronic communications shall be documented and retained.

13. Response Plan
If a suspected incident of child abuse or neglect occurs or is revealed to a
volunteer/paid staff person at a The Local Church activity, the adult in charge of
the activity will:
● Ensure the immediate safety of the child, youth, or vulnerable person
● Call the ministry supervisor or pastor in charge. The person who receives the
call shall create written documentation that includes the date, time, and nature
of the incident.
● Call the appropriate county/state hotline: Chatham County Department of
Social Services 919-542-2911 (emergency) or 919-542-2759; Child Protective
Services Helpline 980-314-3577 (980-31-HELPS).

14. In Conclusion
The Local Church’s purpose for establishing this Child, Youth, and Vulnerable
Person Protection Policy and accompanying procedures is to demonstrate our
total and unwavering commitment to the physical wellbeing, emotional safety, and
spiritual growth of all our children, youth, and vulnerable people.
We uphold our congregational covenant that we will “nurture children and youth in
the Christian faith and life and include them in our care.”
We renew our baptismal pledge to surround children, youth, and other vulnerable
people with a “community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust
of God, and be thus confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life
eternal.”