The Christian Education Committee is committed to creating an atmosphere of welcome and trust for all children participating in its ministries, and to ensuring their safety with adult volunteers. The following procedures are established to help meet this goal, as well as to protect St. John’s Church from liability and adults from misunderstandings or intentional false allegations:

1) All adults volunteering within the children’s ministries of the Board of Christian Education of St. John’s UCC will be approved by the Christian Education Committee for their role. The Christian Education Committee reserves the right to exclude individuals from serving in its children’s ministries and to remove individuals from serving when it deems necessary for the sense of safety and wellbeing of children and/or their parents.

2) If requested by the Christian Education Committee of St. John’s UCC, all adults volunteering within the children’s ministries of St. John’s UCC will undergo a background check to establish that they do not have any legal record of child sexual abuse.

3) All adults volunteering within the children’s ministries of the Christian Education Committee of St. John’s UCC will review this policy and sign a statement of understanding and commitment before working directly with children.

4) All adults volunteering within the children’s ministries of the Christian Education Committee of St. John’s UCC will participate in training regarding safe child issues, including safe touch and reporting procedures, before working directly with children.

5) An adult volunteer is not to be alone with any minor in the course of children’s ministries unless they are in clear view by other persons present in the area.

6) Two adults shall be present with any group of children engaged in children’s ministries apart from the participation or presence of other adults.

7) The term “adult” in this context refers to any person in a leadership role with children, even if they are younger than 18 years of age.

8) Complaints alleged against adult volunteers or concerns of abuse or neglect of children noted by adult volunteers shall be handled in as confidential a manner as possible while following the requirements of law.

9) Because of its legal ramifications, this policy shall be approved by the Board of St. John’s UCC as well as the Christian Education Committee of St. John’s UCC.

I attest that I have read and understood the above policy and will abide by it in my role as adult volunteer for children’s ministries with St. John’s United Church of Christ.

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Name of adult volunteer signature date