Church Safeguards
Let the little children come unto Me, says Jesus. (Mt19:14) He also has dire words to those who would bring any harm to children: it would be better if those who harm children had a millstone tied around their neck and they be cast into the sea, than to cause these little ones to stumble. (Lk17:2)
Daily we pray for the Lord’s kingdom to come, His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. As we pray this we acknowledge that what takes place here below is not always as it is in heaven. Of all places, the Church is to be the one place where heaven is on earth. Yet even here, at times, we find evil at work. As a parish we are not blind to such things. More than that, we have policies and procedures in place to safeguard our church from evil. These policies are proactive in one aspect; they also provide clear procedures to follow if reports of harm or abuse are made. The following is a brief summary of our church safeguarding policies and procedures. These are by no means the extent of our policies; they are a summary to provide an at-a-glance perspective. Our fully policies and procedures are also linked below. One of the most effective means of safeguarding the church is to build awareness which is why this summary, and our full policies, are here provided. That said, the adage see something, say something is a simple yet effective first step, for darkness hates the light. So let us be a people of the Light.
Emmanuel Anglican’s Simplified Church Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
Child Abuse Defined
Child abuse refers to an action or failure to act by a parent, caregiver, or person in a position of trust which is not accidental and which harms or threatens to harm a child’s physical or mental health or welfare. In general, abuse occurs when a person in a position of power and/or trust uses that position to exploit or violate someone who is more vulnerable.
Safeguarding Team & Responsibilities
For Emmanuel Anglican Church, the safeguarding team is the Parish Council. It is the Councils’ responsibility to ensure these policies and procedures are maintained and followed. They are also a first point of contact for any reports of harm or abuse. With the Rector, the Parish Council, volunteers, and ministry leaders, all congregants are responsible to report to the Rector any allegation of misconduct (or directly to the Bishop if the allegation involves the rector); and report to relevant law enforcement authorities in conformity with applicable WA law. All adults are ethically obligated to report abuse. Anyone who suspects a criminal act does not need to ask permission of the church or diocese before contacting law enforcement.
The Five-Step Child Protection Process
1. Screening
Everyone involved with ministry to children and youth, including volunteers, staff, interns, and third-party contractors must be screened. Employees, interns, and volunteers need to be screened (and re-screened) every two to three years and have signed the agreement to comply with the Child Protection Policy which is kept in a secure place.
2. Training
Those who work with children or youth must be trained to recognize the warning signs of predatory grooming behavior, potential abuse, and become familiar with safe practices and procedures for reporting suspected abuse. Our church uses training provided by Protect My Ministry.
3. Interacting
There are guidelines for communications, one-to-one interactions, social media, photography, physical interaction, restroom use, first aid and medication, illegal drugs, media sources, virtual environments, release of children, and transportation.
4. Monitoring
All children’s activities are to be supervised by two or more screened and trained adults. All meetings and interactions with children are conducted in a room with the door open at all times.
5. Responding and Reporting
If misconduct occurs, or there is reason to believe that it has occurred, follow the correct reporting protocols. Below is a truncated description of how to respond and report.
Responding to the Victim
When there is a suspicion or report of abuse, respect the child’s privacy by finding an appropriate non-threatening, yet still observable, place to talk. If possible, a staff member, other trained volunteer, or responsible adult should join in to listen to the child’s account. Remember the Two Adult rule. Limit discussion about the information to the child’s parents and appropriate church and legal authorities as discussed below. Do not discuss the information with, or in the presence of, other people who do not need to know what happened.
Reporting to Authorities
Immediately notify the Rector (or the Bishop, if the allegation involves the Rector). All allegations of abuse will be investigated by a qualified investigator. Immediately follow WA’s reporting laws regarding who and where to report. See childwelfare.gov
Release of Information
The Bishop and Chancellor will assist the church in preparing a statement to convey appropriate news to members of the church and to others, as appropriate. Identify a single person to respond to all inquiries. Maintain confidentiality of the allegation and investigation to protect the privacy of those involved.
Home Groups and Off-Site Church Events
This policy applies to all church events, including church-organized home groups or off-site church events, as the local church should exercise control over all its events.
Full Policies & Procedures
You can find, read, and review our full policies and procedures in the following two documents. Rather than creating our own, the parish council has elected to utilized our diocese’s policies and procedures for our parish.