Safe Church Policy and Practices

June 20, 2008

Dear Family,

On May 21, 2008, Church Council approved and adopted a set of Safe Church practices and policies aimed at ensuring that our church continues to be a safe place for children, youth, and the adults who work with them—on staff and as volunteers. 

No event or incident led to us beginning this work.  Instead, we were prompted by our desire to be proactive and by insurance companies soon requiring that such policies be in place in all churches.

The policy is the result of over eight months of work by a dedicated team of FCC staff and members of the congregation.  It has been approved by FCC legal counsel as well as by the legal counsel of the Connecticut Conference of the UCC.  The full version of the Safe Church Practices and Policy document is currently available in the Church office and can also be accessed online at www.uccdarien.org/fccsafechurch.pdf.

In brief, the document consists of three main components.  First, it sets forth a number of requirements and guidelines for the various adult staff and volunteers—Church School teachers, Youth Ministry volunteers (mentors to confirmands and youth group volunteers), Junior Choir volunteers, and CareNet ministers.  Second, the Safe Church Policy and Practices document defines sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, physical and verbal abuse—the key behaviors that are prohibited by church policy.  Finally, the document describes the steps for how complaints for these situations will be handled.

Highlights of some of the requirements include:

• All volunteers involved in direct ministry with our children, youth, and one-on-one with adults will be required to complete a Volunteer Application and Disclosure Form.  These forms will only be viewed by our clergy and will be kept confidential.
• Church School teachers, mentors of confirmands, and CareNet ministers will need to be members of the church who have regularly attended for six or more months.
• Volunteers attending youth group functions or mission trips, or helping with junior choir may be a member or friend of the church. 
• Volunteers attending overnight youth mission trips will be subject to a criminal background check (paid for by the church).  Results of background checks will be kept confidential and seen only by our clergy.
• The FCC staff will receive CPR and First Aid training.

A number of guidelines will also be in place in the new program year to ensure everyone’s safety while at church or church-sponsored events.  These guidelines will be communicated and reviewed as we begin our new program year in September.

We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to read the document in its entirety and to ask questions of any of the committee or FCC staff.   We hope that you will join us in supporting this important work of creating and maintaining a safe church for all of us to love.

Blessings,

Rev. Larry Wood  Senior Minister	Karen Brennan  Chair, Safe Church Committee  Chair of the Board of Christian Education
Safe Church Committee Members
Dennis Hanlon Church Administrator	Wendy Mulligan Former Minister to Youth
Ray Hodil Former Chair of the Board of Deacons	Susanne Palmer Christian Education Board Member
Ellen Kirby Church School Director	Beth Viergever Board of Deacons Member
Ella Long CareNet Coordinator	Shannon Wall Associate Minister
Teri Manning Director of the Nursery School	John Wygal Former Chair of the Board of Stewards

 

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