Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

Rock Spring is moving to formalize a Safe Church policy to ensure that the church is a safe place for all.  A Safe Church Task Force has written a draft policy, which is posted here.  The Boards of Christian Education, Deacons and Personnel all recommended that the Church Council forward this policy to the congregation for its consideration.  Council has voted to do so, and now a series of listening sessions will be held to receive feedback from the congregation.  Following those sessions, the Task Force will create a final draft for a congregational vote, to be held no later than the first Sunday of June.

To download the Safe Church Draft Policy, Please click on the link below:

Safe Church Draft Policy

STEPS TOWARDS FORMALIZING A CHURCH-WIDE SAFE CHURCH POLICY

I. INTRODUCTION TO SAFE CHURCH

Since 2007, the Board of Christian Education and the Safe Church Task Force (comprised of representatives from Personnel, Deacons and Christian Ed) have been working to draft a Safe Church policy and supporting documents that match our congregational needs and legal requirements.  A draft proposal was adopted by the Task Force in July, 2009.  The three Boards and the Church Council have recommended that this draft policy be put forward to the congregation for discussion and a vote on its adoption.  It is available for review on the church website under the Board of Christian Education (http://www.rockspringucc.org/church-life/christian-education/safe-church/).

What is a Safe Church Policy?

A Safe Church policy puts a system in place to ensure that the church community is the safe place it is intended to be.  It ensures that a church knows who its volunteers are and that safe practices are employed to minimize opportunities for inappropriate behavior.

Why do we need a Safe Church Policy?

• It is the right thing to do.  As a community of Christian faith, Rock Spring should be a sanctuary – a place of refuge, hope and safety – a sacred space where anyone who enters is safe in God’s hands. Deciding to take steps to prevent child and other abuse is an important step in making a true sanctuary of our church community. There is evidence that simply adopting a policy goes a long way towards deterring abusive behavior.
• Following a best-practices review by the Insurance Boards and our liability carriers, the UCC recommended in 2003 that all churches develop a Safe Church policy that respects the ministry needs of each church. (See http://www.ucc.org/ministers/safe/ )
• Adopting a Safe Church policy is the next step in living into Rock Spring’s 2004 Resolution to be a place of Support for Survivors of Clergy Abuse. (For more information, see http://www.rockspringucc.org/about-us/beliefs-and-philosophy/support-for-survivors-of-clergy-abuse/)
• At the 2008 Annual Meeting, the Congregation charged the Board of Christian Education with developing a Safe Church policy.

Brief Summary of the Proposed Policy

The proposed policy states that, “Sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and verbal and physical abuse of parishioners or others by anyone engaged in paid or volunteer ministry on behalf of RSCUCC is unethical behavior and will not be tolerated within this congregation. Moreover, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and verbal and physical abuse between individuals in non-ministerial relationships will not be tolerated on church property or at church-sponsored events.”  To enforce this policy, the following steps will be taken.  First, all authorized ministers and pastoral interns will undergo a thorough, UCC-mandated background check.  All volunteers and staff who regularly work with children will submit a self-disclosure document and undergo a limited criminal background check.  Second, the Safe Church policy provides guidelines for supervision of children’s and youth activities, including requiring the presence of 2 adults during such activities.  Third, the policy provides clear procedures for reporting, investigating and resolving allegations of misconduct.

It is important to note that the background checks will be held in confidence, and the reports will be kept in a secure file. Use of an online system will ensure that a volunteer’s personal information (e.g., Social Security number) is not kept on file by the church.  If the background check is returned with an item of concern, the individual will be contacted by the Safe Church team, and a mutual and positive resolution will be sought.

Analysis of the Policy

Benefits:  Adoption of this policy will help to ensure a safe environment for all in our church family, including those most vulnerable.  The policy seeks to create and maintain a community of faith and ministry in which its members, friends, staff and volunteers can worship and work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation or intimidation.

Precedent:  It is our understanding that all Potomac Association churches with active children/youth programs have a policy in place (25 out of 32 churches).  Some specific examples include Cleveland Park Congregational UCC-Washington, DC; First Congregational UCC-Washington, DC; Bethesda UCC-Bethesda, MD; Christ Congregational UCC-Silver Spring, MD; Rockville United Church-Rockville MD; Little River UCC-Annandale, VA; and Emmaus UCC-Vienna, VA.

Risks/Costs of the policy:  The policy will require additional volunteers and oversight. There is a financial cost for doing background checks.  Clergy-level background checks cost $140.  The cost for volunteer background checks is $18. The costs are currently being paid out of the CE budget.

What has been accomplished to date?

The Board of Christian Education piloted the background check system for our current teachers for the 2009-2010 year. (Participation was optional.)  We have partnered with Oxford Document Management Services, the same provider used by the UCC for mandatory pastoral background checks.  All teachers willingly participated in the background check. They found the system to be user-friendly and helped the Task Force identify system redundancies to refine the process. Additionally, we have encouraged teachers to operate classes with two adults* in the room, in anticipation of adoption of a Safe Church Policy.  Pastoral Interns also tested the system, completing a “clergy-level” background check.  (*Adult is defined as any confirmed member of the church or any friend of the church over 21 years of age.)

II. NEXT STEPS

During winter/spring 2010, the Safe Church Task Force, in partnership with Council, will host a series of listening sessions to field questions and comments on the policy. The first listening session will be held on March 7^th at 12:30 PM in Carpenter Hall.  Dates for additional sessions will be announced.

After input from the listening sessions has been compiled, the Safe Church Task Force will finalize a Safe Church Policy that will be brought before a special congregational meeting (to be held no later than the first Sunday in June) to affirm the policy. If adopted, the policy will go into effect in September 2010.