View the Proposed Safe Sanctuaries Policy

What is Safe Sanctuaries? Safe Sanctuaries is the name commonly given by United Methodist Conferences and local churches to their individual efforts to make conference, district, and local church programs safe and welcoming for children, youth and the vulnerable. It encompasses the efforts made to reduce the risk of abuse, especially to children and youth, and to protect the adult workers, paid or volunteer, who interact with members and visitors in any church activity on site or away from the church building. Why do we need a Safe Sanctuaries Program? The physical and emotional safety, as well as the spiritual growth of all God's children, is important. We are committed to the well being of each child, youth, and adult entrusted to us. We believe that we as a church must take reasonable steps to love and protect our children and youth while they are involved in programs and activities provided in and by our church. In addition, we must take reasonable steps to love and protect those adults who work with our children and youth. Both the Western New York Conference and our insurance company highly recommend that a Safe Sanctuaries Policy be in place. Last year the Church Council authorized creation of a task force whose purpose was to create a "Safe Sanctuaries Policy" which would outline procedures to reduce the risk of abuse as well as procedures to follow should an incident occur. The Safe Sanctuaries Task Force, comprised of co-chairs Fred Parker and Pastor Karen Woodworth, along with Dan and Dorothea Prine, Jeannine Canaan and Kathy Rosier, have met twice a month for several months, ironing out a policy that would fit Geneseo UMC. That policy has been presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the Church Council. The last step in the process is to present it to the congregation for approval, which will happen at the Church Conference to be held on June 29, 2010. We feel that it is very important for you, the members of Geneseo UMC to read the policy prior to the Church Conference. We encourage you to study the Safe Sanctuaries Policy and bring your questions to the church conference or contact one of the members of the task force.

 

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Last updated June 15, 2010