Getting Our House in Order
Steps to becoming a Safe Sanctuaries Church...

1) Purchase and read the book
Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church by Joy Melton (Discipleship Resources)
Safe Sanctuaries for Youth: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in Youth Ministries by Joy Melton (Discipleship Resources)

2) Attend a training event
Training events will be offered in each district throughout the late summer and fall, 2005 and beyond. An updated training event schedule will be available at the NC Conference Children’s Ministry website (see websites list in this brochure).
Please note: if the scheduled date for your district is not convenient then consider attending a training event in another district.
Who should attend?
Two or more of the following: Pastor, staff working with children/youth, lay leadership with direct responsibility for children/youth ministry, trustees, staff-parish relations committee members, nurture/education chairperson, Sunday School Superintendent, lay leader, etc.

3) Create a Safe Sanctuaries Task Force for your local church to study, assess, evaluate your local church situation
Research issues related to abuse of children/youth.
Evaluate the practices of your church related to the care and supervision of children and youth.
Educate the congregation about abuse.

4) Develop a policy statement for your local church
Consider the baptismal covenant and our calling as children of God. For a sample policy statement see the books for Safe Sanctuaries by Joy Melton (step 1 above)

5) Develop and adopt and implement safe sanctuaries procedures and practices in your ministry with children and youth

Such procedures/practices would include:

-recruiting and screening practices

-applications, references, background checks,
consent forms

-position descriptions and requirements

-covenant statements

-use of facilities

-appropriate discipline

-ratio of adults to children/youth

-insurance coverage

-transportation issues

6) Prepare a response plan for “not if but WHEN...”
Consider NC reporting requirements and make plans to go beyond that to extend God’s grace to all involved.

7) Report to Charge Conference
A safe sanctuaries reporting form will be included in the online data collection for charge conferences, fall-2005.

8) Celebrate! You’ve done all you can to make all God’s children safe in your church!