Child Safety Guidelines For Local Churches

Child Safety Guidelines for Local Churches deals with the sensitive subject of child sexual abuse and what churches can do to protect children under their care while at the same time minimizing their own liability. Prevention and training are critical elements in developing a structure that ensures the safety of children while they are in God's house. Sadly, many churches are unprepared to combat the possibility of the unthinkable happening to one of their precious little ones. By not taking reasonable precautions, they not only endanger the welfare of their youngsters, but are subject to charges of gross negligence and significant financial judgments against their congregations. The author outlines numerous steps that any congregation can take to protect both the children and churches they serve.ROGER MCNAMARA is a veteran pastor, missionary, and church planter with more than forty-six years of experience in local church ministry in Latin America and the United States. He has started and worked in half a dozen churches over the past four decades, and now serves as the Church Planting Training Specialist for Baptist Mid-Missions. In this capacity, he works with churches and church planters throughout the United States and Canada teaching, training, and mentoring church leaders. He also serves in a number of leadership positions within the Baptist Mid-Missions' TEAM NORTH AMERICA as well as the registrar for the School of Church Planting. He has published two other books and several leadership training manuals.

Child abuse scandals in the church shake our faith in our fellow neighbors, and sometimes even our faith in God. We cannot afford to ignore the issue, content to hope and pray that our children will be safe. Rather than waiting until something drastic happens and lamenting about it, churches can take active steps to put safeguards in place for their ministry. Safe Kids is a manual designed to help churches structure the safest possible environment for their children's ministry. This manual provides: Forms and procedures to screen volunteersIdeas for structuring the church building to keep nurseries and Sunday school classrooms safeInstructions for training children's workersInformation you must know to identify potential predatorsPolicies for reporting suspected child abuseAnd much more!Safe Kids is the essential handbook for keeping children safe within the walls of the church

The Only Resource of Its Kind Is Now Two Bestsellers in One! Tragically, churches have not always been safe places for children or youth or vulnerable adults. With this in mind, attorney, pastor, and author Melton outlines a process for developing policies and procedures to recognize and reduce the risk of abuse in the church. Safe Sanctuaries combines and expands information from two of her earlier groundbreaking books, which focused, separately, on children and teens. "Safe Sanctuaries is the most helpful resource I have found dealing with this troubling topic," says one minister. "Straightforward yet non-threatening, the information is helpful for all denominations and congregations of faith." Practical guidance is provided in developing and implementing a substantive, holistic action plan of abuse prevention: recruiting, screening and working with volunteers training models for all who work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults suggestions for congregational response to unthinkable allegations of abuse order of worship celebrating the adoption of "Safe Sanctuaries" policies Melton's transformative, relevant, and foundational resource will train leaders in what they need to know to stay safe and keep the vulnerable in their care safe. This revised edition now features updated and timely information about protecting young people from online predators.

For 25 years Plan to Protect(R) has been the premier leader in safeguarding for churches in Canada. This edition, Plan to Protect(R) A Safeguarding Guide for Children, Youth and Adults, Church Edition continues to provide you the most updated research, best practices and templates to safeguard your church and the vulnerable sector you serve. Not only does it include the policies, procedures and templates for safeguarding children and youth, which we are well known for, but this version of the manual also includes: The voice of the victim -Updated best practices -General Protection Policies and Procedures for the entire Church -Updated Child and Youth Protection Procedures -Adult Protection Procedures (including power differentials, misconduct and sexual harassment) -Documentation Management -Restorative Justice for Offenders -Whistleblower -New case studies -Updated forms and templates What are people saying about Plan to Protect(R)? "I was abused within a church. Despite what happened to me, I love the Church and serve it in a full-time capacity. It breaks my heart to hear and see how 'open' the Church feels to predators, but I have hope for the present and future of the Church because of Plan to Protect(R). Things are not as they used to be because sexual abuse has become acceptable to talk about, and we work hard to prevent and protect. We know what to do if allegations are made. The Church must become a safe place for the vulnerable, and this will only happen as the whole body of Christ takes action. Please, Church, protect the vulnerable and victims among us." -Rachel (pseudonym for a victim-survivor of abuse) "Plan to Protect(R) is a great witness to the love of Jesus Christ for all humanity by showing churches and other ministries how to protect the most vulnerable among us." -Rev. John Pellowe, MBA, DMin, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Centre for Christian Charities "Churches and faith-based charities have come a long way in the past 30 years in understanding the risks and potential for abuse, molestation, bullying, and harassment within their own programs and ministries. We have been encouraged by the leaders who have spearheaded the implementation and maintenance of effective abuse prevention by holding their standards high, both for the protection of those in their care, and to reinforce their positive testimony with a message of grace, love and hope they provide to the communities they serve. Plan to Protect(R) has been instrumental in leading the way in this remarkable progress by providing effective prevention plans, valuable resources, hands-on assistance, and a "made-in-Canada" solution to safeguard Christian ministries from abuse claims. We applaud Plan to Protect(R), Melodie Bissell, and her staff for their unwavering commitment to churches and Christian ministries across Canada with this latest comprehensive and practical 2022 version of their prevention plan, and truly hope that it will continue to guide leaders for the vigilant protection of the most vulnerable." -Kenneth A. Hall, President, Robertson Hall Insurance Inc. "Plan to Protect(R) is a valuable source of important and up to date information and strategies that will assist churches and child focused organizations in providing safe and caring environments for children. Our children deserve nothing less!" -Don Hepburn, former child protection worker, Supervisor and Senior Manager with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto. (Retired)

Churches are supposed to be a safe haven, but many deal with the tragic reality of child sexual abuse. This guide, supported by a multidisciplinary team of child abuse experts, helps churches and faith communities formulate policies and procedures to protect children and address possible abuse in their ministries.

The church has always been regarded as a safe haven - a spiritual sanctuary where people can come to worship God free from worries about violence or unethical behavior by those involved in church ministry. But our culture is changing, and church leaders can no longer assume that "it won't happen in my church." Like the rest of society, churches need to ensure the safety and security of their facility, staff, and worshipers. This book provides a wealth of practical information on preparing for and responding to the challenges of a dangerous world. Robert Cirtin draws on more than two decades of law enforcement and investigative experience, and with his team of professionals outlines a "how-to" approach full of specific proactive steps churches can take to protect themselves and reduce the risk of costly lawsuits. Church Safety And Security is a must-have resource for anyone participating in or preparing for church leadership. Topics covered include: * Utilizing background screening to protect your congregation. * Safety and security issues for church-run preschool and day care programs. * Preparing for and responding to medical emergencies. * How to deal with issues pertaining to child abuse. * Legally mandated responsibilities of church staff members. * How to utilize security/surveillance cameras in the church facility. * Organizing a church security officer program. * Effectively coping with intruders. * Responding to violent acts when they occur. * How to conduct a thorough investigation. If you are a pastor, associate pastor, preschool director, church school principal, deacon, elder, vestryperson, or denominational leader - read this book, then read it again! Make it required reading for every leader in your church. Protect your congregation, your property, and your reputation in the community by doing all you can do to hire the right employees, to prevent physical and sexual misconduct for which your church may be liable, and to reduce the legal and financial impacts of such misconduct. This book will teach you what to look for, and how to take action today to protect the people God has given you to shepherd. Tim Duncan Associate Pastor, Anglican Church of the Resurrection St. Louis, Missouri Church Safety and Security: A Practical Guide is a valuable resource. Bob Cirtin has the unusual but important background mixture of service in full-time church ministry as well as being a certified officer of the law and an expert investigator. He has personal experience with every source of danger for the local church and has developed effective safeguards and defenses. His strategies are clear, simple, easy to implement, and will protect any congregation in the event of an unfortunate occurrence. This book is a must for every church office and library! Terry Raburn Superintendent, Peninsular Florida District Council Assemblies of God This is a book written for our changing times, when the security of our churches must become a priority. Written by professionals who have a strong Christian influence in their lives, this book is a great tool for the security program of your church. Jack L. Merritt Sheriff, Greene County, Missouri Retired Capt., Missouri State Highway Patrol Robert M. Cirtin is an assistant professor and director of the criminal justice program at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He is also the president of Robert Cirtin Investigations, a company providing investigative and consulting services to churches, businesses, and government agencies. A former police officer and Missouri state investigator who has also served in full-time ministry, Cirtin is a frequent guest lecturer on a variety of safety and security topics. He is a graduate of Central Bible College and Lincoln University.

On Guard offers churches eight strategies for preventing child abuse and three for responding to it, helping to move church staff and leaders beyond fearful awareness to prayerful preparedness.