Ministry Safe Policy

Welcome

As part of our commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for our children and youth, all volunteers and staff who work with minors are required to read and acknowledge our Ministry Safe Policy.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this important step. Your understanding and cooperation are essential in maintaining a safe, trusted space for every child in our care. Together, we’re building a community where families can grow in faith with confidence and peace of mind.

POLICY STATEMENT:

Trinity Church’s purpose for establishing this policy is to demonstrate our strong and unwavering commitment to the physical and emotional safety and spiritual growth of all who enter, with special regards to children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

STATEMENT OF COVENANT:

In covenant with all Global Methodist congregations, we commit to comply with this policy for reducing the risk of abuse/neglect of all who enter Trinity Church, with special regards to children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

We pledge to engage in the ministry of the Gospel in ways that assure the safety and spiritual growth of all.

We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of volunteers;

• we will implement prudent operational processes in all programs and events;
• we will educate our volunteers and staff with children, youth, and vulnerable adults regarding the appropriate policies and methods;
• we will have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements Pennsylvania State;
• we will have a clearly defined response planned for media inquiries in the event an incident occurs.

In all of our ministries, this congregation is committed to demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ so that each “person will be built up in the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13)

POLICY

1. Trinity Church has a zero-tolerance policy for physical/emotional abuse/neglect. Trinity church has a zero tolerance for abuse and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of persons in its ministries/programs. Any mistreatment or abuse by an employee or volunteer will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service. Furthermore, Trinity Church will fully cooperate with law enforcement.

 2. Trinity Church has zero tolerance for abuse, mistreatment, or sexual activity among persons within the ministries/programs. Trinity is committed to providing all persons with a safe environment and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of anyone. Conduct by people that rises to the level of abuse, mistreatment, or sexual activity will result in intervention or disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal from the ministry/program.

 3. Trinity Church will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, Trinity Church will take the necessary steps to eliminate such behavior.

 4. Each staff person and volunteer must read TC-AD-006, Abuse and Neglect Policy, and sign the Participation Covenant Statement prior to employment or volunteering.

 5. All volunteers must obtain all PA required clearances and a National Sex Offender Registry Check clearing them to work with children, youth and vulnerable adults

6. Two (2) unrelated volunteer leaders must be in every room during any children’s, youth or vulnerable adult function.  This includes, but is not limited to, Sunday School, nursery during church services, youth group, and Vacation Bible School.

7. All rooms must have an unblocked interior window or open door to provide visibility.

DEFINITIONS

Abuse: The use of something to bad effect or for a bad purpose; treatment of a person or animal with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.

Neglect: The failure to care for properly.

Conduct: The manner in which a person behaves; the action or manner of managing an activity or organization.

Sexual Activity: Refers to a wide range of physical and psychological actions that involve sexual arousal, desire, and satisfaction.

Sexual Abuse: Abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another.

Mistreatment: The action of treating a person or animal badly, cruelly, or unfairly.

Intervention: The action of coming between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events

Disciplinary Action: Responding to an employee or volunteer’s misconduct, unsatisfactory performance, and break of rules.

Bullying: The seeking to harm, intimidate, or coerce someone perceived as vulnerable.

Disruptive: The act of causing a disturbance or problem, which interrupt an event, activity, or process.

Eliminate: Completely remove or get rid of something; exclude someone from consideration.

Code of Conduct

Trinity Church’s Code of Conduct outlines specific expectations of staff, volunteers and individuals in the church for all ministries and programs.

Abuse or Mistreatment

Trinity’s top priority is keeping all persons safe with special regard to children, youth and vulnerable adults. Any form of abuse, mistreatment, verbal or emotional abuse, inappropriate sexual activity, or bullying of or between employees, volunteers, members, constituents, visitors or guests of any age, race or religion is prohibited.

Use of abusive language, obscene or profane language, including racial, religious or sexual references directed at other people will not be tolerated.

It is important to treat others as you would like to be treated.

Appropriate Verbal Interactions for Children and Youth:

Appropriate jokes • Encouragement • Praise

Inappropriate Verbal Interactions for Children and Youth:

Name-calling • Bullying • Ridicule or Humiliation • Discussing sexual encounters • Cursing • Hazing • Off-color or sexual jokes • Shaming • Belittling • Derogatory remarks • Harsh language that may frighten, threaten, or humiliate other consumer • Derogatory remarks about another consumer or his/her family • Inappropriate games like Truth or Dare and Never Have I Ever

Appropriate Physical Interactions for Children and Youth:

Side hugs/ Shoulder-to-shoulder or “temple” hugs/ Pats on the shoulder or back/ Handshakes/High-fives and hand slapping/ Verbal praise/ Pats on the head when culturally appropriate/ Touching hands, shoulders, and arms/ Arms around shoulders

 Inappropriate Physical Interactions for Children and Youth:

Full-frontal hugs • Kisses • Showing affection in isolated areas • Lap sitting • Wrestling • Piggyback rides • Tickling • Exposing oneself • Any type of massage given by or to a consumer • Any form of affection that is unwanted by the consumer or the staff or volunteer • Compliments relating to physique or body development • Touching bottom, chest, or genital areas • Hitting • Spanking • Shaking • Slapping • Unnecessary restraints • Viewing or showing others pornographic materials

 Personal Relationships

Appropriate personal relationships between youth are encouraged. However, Trinity strongly discourages romantic relationships between youth participants while in programming. Youth are not permitted to hold hands, sit on others’ laps, use full-frontal hugs, or kiss other youth participants while in programming. There should never be, under any condition, a romantic or otherwise personal relationship between a youth participant and an employee or volunteer.

 One-on-one Interactions

Most abuse occurs when an adult is alone with a child, youth or vulnerable adult, or when a child, youth or vulnerable adult is alone with another child, youth or vulnerable adult. Trinity aims to eliminate or reduce these situations and prohibits private one-on-one interactions. If you observe one-on-one interactions between employees or volunteers and a child, youth or vulnerable adult, you should report it immediately to:

1. The Program or Ministry Director/Supervisor
2. The Church Administrator
3. The Pastor
4. Anyone on the Leadership Council

 Electronic Communication

All communication between employees/volunteers and a child, youth or vulnerable adult must be approved by the parents/guardians and must be in an open electronic environment. The “Rule of Three” must be observed in all electronic communications between children, youth and vulnerable adults and employees/volunteers. For example, there should be two employees/volunteers included in text messages and emails with a child, youth or vulnerable adult. Direct, private messaging between a child, youth or vulnerable adult and employees/volunteers is not allowed.

Youth will comply with the organization’s policies governing the use of personal mobile communication devices. Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Possession and/or use of alcoholic beverages, drugs and tobacco products while on the property of Trinity Church is strictly prohibited. Youth will not be permitted to participate in any church ministry or program while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or illicit substances. Parents/guardians will be notified as appropriate.

Weapons

We want Trinity Church to be a safe place for all. Weapons and items that may be considered weapons are prohibited with the exception of authorized security personal. Parents/guardians, and/or the authorities will be notified as appropriate.

 Violence

Trinity Church seeks to provide a safe environment for individuals in our community. Violence and threats of violence will not be tolerated on our grounds, in the church building, in other facilities being utilized by any of our groups or ministries, or during Trinity Church sponsored activities and events. Employees and Ministry Volunteers are available to assist in the resolution of differences.

 Disruptive Behavior

We take pride in the appearance of our church property and we always want to ensure all people are safe. Inappropriate or disruptive behavior is not permitted in our church or on the property. This includes, but is not limited to, graffiti, littering, spitting, or throwing objects that could intentionally or unintentionally harm others or cause disorder.

Bullying

Trinity Church will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of one person by another person. Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional, is repeated over time, and involves an imbalance of power or strength. Bullying can take on various forms including:

1. Physical bullying – when one person engages in physical force against another person, such as by hitting, punching, pushing, kicking, pinching, or restraining another.

2. Verbal bullying – when someone uses their words to hurt another, such as by belittling or calling another hurtful name.

3. Nonverbal or relational bullying – when one person manipulates a relationship or desired relationship to harm another person. This includes social exclusion, friendship manipulation, or gossip. This type of bullying also includes intimidating another person by using gestures.

4. Cyberbullying – the intentional and overt act of aggression toward another person by way of any technological tool, such as email, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings (including blogs).

Cyberbullying can involve:

1. Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images.

2. Posting sensitive, private information about another person.

3. Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad;  

4. Intentionally excluding someone from an online group.

5. Hazing – an activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers that person regardless of that person’s willingness to participate.

6. Sexualized bullying – when bullying involves behaviors that are sexual in nature. Examples of sexualized bullying behaviors include sexting, bullying that involves exposures of private body parts, and verbal bullying involving sexualized language or innuendos.

Anyone who sees an act of bullying, and who then encourages it, is engaging in bullying. This policy applies to all persons at the church including but not limited to, employees, and volunteers.

 

Reporting

Because our church is dedicated to maintaining zero tolerance for abuse, it is imperative that everyone actively participates in keeping others safe. In the event that you observe any suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and/or policy violations, it is your personal responsibility to immediately report your observations.

Examples of Suspicious or Inappropriate Behaviors Between Employees/Volunteers and Persons at the church with special attention to children, youth and vulnerable adults:

• Violation of any abuse prevention policies outlined by the organization
• Seeking private time or one-on-one time with a child, youth or vulnerable adult 
• Buying gifts for individual child, youth or vulnerable adult
• Making suggestive comments to anyone in the church or church property
• Picking favorites

 

People are encouraged to report concerns or complaints about any suspicious or inappropriate behaviors they observe at the church or on church property to:

1. The Program or Ministry Director/Supervisor
2. The Church Administrator
3. The Pastor
4.  Anyone on the Leadership Council