Northshore United Church of Christ
Safe Church Policy
September, 2016
Safe Church Policy Prohibiting Abuse, Exploitation and Harassment
As a community of Christian faith, Northshore United Church of Christ (NUCC) is committed to creating and maintaining programs, facilities and a community in which members, friends, staff and volunteers can worship, learn and work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation or intimidation. All persons associated with NUCC should be aware that the church is strongly opposed to Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Harassment and that such behavior is prohibited by church policy. It is the intention of the church to take action in an attempt to prevent and correct behavior that is contrary to this policy and, if necessary, to discipline those persons who violate this policy.
Ministerial Conduct
Consistent with our understanding of the calling of all believers, all Authorized Ministers, employees, elected and appointed lay leaders, and authorized volunteers are ministers to the congregation.
It is important that every minister to the church be adequately prepared and educated for the ministry in which they serve others, and to understand the ways in which their use or misuse of authority may impact others.
It is the policy of NUCC to encourage its authorized Minister to nurture safety within Ministerial Relationships by being attentive to self-care, education, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and the importance of referring those in need to supportive and helpful resources.
Sexual Exploitation or Sexual Harassment of parishioners or others by anyone engaged in ministry on behalf of NUCC is unethical behavior and will not be tolerated within this congregation.
Requirements for Commencing and Continuing Ministry
- Before beginning their duties, all ministers will submit a disclosure form similar to the sample attached here as Form A.
- Before beginning their duties, all ministers will be personally interviewed and/or references checked to assess the suitability of their character and qualifications for the position they seek.
- The church will conduct a registered sex offender review for each minister by searching their name on the Department of Justice website at www.nsopr.gov. This registered sex offender review will be repeated on an annual basis for all ministers.
- Authorized Minsters of the church will attend all boundary workshops required by Pacific Northwest Conference or will attend at least one workshop on this topic every three years, whichever is more frequent.
Additional Requirements for Child and Youth Ministry
NUCC is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment in which young people can learn about and experience God’s love.
In order to promote this, we have established the following guidelines in addition to the general requirements for ministry to the church.
- We expect that those who volunteer to work with minors will have been members of NUCC for at least six months or, if not members, regularly and frequently associated with NUCC for at least a year
- All volunteers who regularly work with children and youth will complete and submit:
- Children/Youth Volunteer Application and Self-Disclosure Form
- Volunteer Driver form, if indicated
- Before beginning their duties, all prospective ministers/employees will undergo a background check, including but not necessarily limited to inquiries of references and a criminal history verification by a third party vendor.
- All ministers, volunteers and employees who regularly work with children and youth will receive orientation regarding safe church policy and procedures.
- It is the policy of this church to provide adequate supervision and safeguards for youth activities. In situations where participants are not readily visible to each other, there will be no fewer than two unrelated adults present with children. When utilizing high school and young adults in Christian Educations classes, youth programs and off-site activities there shall be at least a five year separation between these young adults and the minors in the group. However, such assistance does not alter the requirement that at least two unrelated adults be present.
- Overnight Rule: Any and all adult chaperones supervising overnight stays at NUCC or on congregational sponsored trips shall have been cleared to do so by the Christian Education Ministry Team or other designated official. At least one adult male and one adult female will be present at all times.
- No bullying. No bullying of any kind will be tolerated, and this includes the use of the Internet, electronic communication devices and cyber-bullying.
- Leaving and Locking: At least two adults, including the staff person locking the door, will remain until the last child is picked up. We avoid situations where one adult and one youth or child are left at the facility’s door waiting to be picked up by parents at the end of an evening activity. Parents are expected to respect concluding times.
- Drugs, Tobacco, Alcohol. The use of any drugs, tobacco or alcoholic products at congregation sponsored youth events is not permitted.
- Transportation: Staff, adult leaders, or teachers cannot transport minors between the congregation facility and home, except with expressed permission of the minor’s parents. Transportation for field trips, to activities, or events is by groups and requires a consent form.
- Written consent of one parent or guardian of a minor will be required for all activities off the church property, and any overnight activities.
Definitions
Minister: a person authorized by the church to carry out its ministry. Ministers include elected or appointed leaders of the church, employees, and volunteers, as well as Authorized Ministers.
Authorized Minister: a person who holds ordained ministerial standing or has been commissioned or licensed by a Conference or an Association of the United Church of Christ or region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). An Authorized Minister is one type of minister within the meaning of this policy.
Ministerial Relationship: the relationship between one who carries out the ministry of the church and the one being served by that ministry.
Sexual Exploitation: sexual activity or contact (not limited to sexual intercourse) in which a Minister/minister engaged in a ministerial relationship with another takes advantage of the vulnerability of the person being served by causing or allowing that person to engage in sexual behavior with the Minister/minister.
Sexual Harassment: repeated or coercive sexual advances toward another person contrary to his or her wishes. It includes behavior directed at another person with the intent of intimidating, humiliating, or embarrassing the other person, or subjecting the person to public discrimination. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition or circumstance of instruction, employment, or participation in any church activity.
- Submission to, or rejection of, such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for evaluation in making personnel or church-related decisions affecting an individual; or
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance or participation in church activities or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or church environment.
Prohibited sexual harassment includes unsolicited and unwelcome contact that has sexual overtones, particularly:
- Written contact, such as sexually suggestive or obscene letters, notes, e-mails, or invitations;
- Verbal contact, such as sexually suggestive or obscene comments, threats, slurs, epithets, jokes about gender-specific traits, sexual propositions;
- Physical contact, such as intentional touching, pinching, brushing against another’s body, impeding or blocking movement, assault, coercing sexual intercourse; and
- Visual contact, such as leering or staring at another’s body, gesturing, displaying sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, posters, or magazines.
Sexual harassment also includes continuing to express sexual interest after being informed directly that the interest is unwelcome and using sexual behavior to control, influence, or affect the career, salary, work, learning, or worship environment of another. It is impermissible to suggest, threaten, or imply that failure to accept a request for a date or sexual intimacy will affect a person’s job prospects, church leadership, or comfortable participation in the life of the church It is forbidden either to imply or actually withhold support for an appointment, promotion, or change of assignment, to suggest that a poor performance report will be given because a person has declined a personal proposition; or to hint that benefits, such as promotions, favorable performance evaluations, favorable assigned duties or shifts, recommendations or reclassifications, will be forthcoming in exchange for sexual favors.
Procedures for Handling Complaints of Sexual Exploitation or Harassment
I. General
A. The Safe Church Committee, with no less than two members, one male and one female, will be established each year in preparation for the possibility of hearing complaints under this policy. The Safe Church Committee will be familiar with the terms of this policy, as well as the established procedures of the church for dealing with a complaint.
B. Several approaches may be taken in addressing incidents of alleged sexual exploitation or harassment:
1. The complainant can attempt to resolve the matter directly with the respondent, the individual accused of sexual exploitation or harassment.
2. The complainant can report the incident to an Authorized Minister, in an effort to resolve the matter informally.
3. If an informal resolution of the complaint does not seem wise, appropriate, possible, or does not succeed, the complainant may request that the Safe Church Committee institute formal proceedings which shall include the following steps:
The Safe Church Committee shall advise the Minister and Moderator of the receipt of all complaints and shall keep them apprised of ongoing steps and actions taken. If either the Minister or Moderator is the subject of the complaint, this notice requirement shall not apply to that person.
The Safe Church Committee shall gather statements or other information from the individuals involved in the alleged exploitation or harassment and from others who may have pertinent information, such as qualified professional consultants, and present such information to the Minister and Moderator or Council appointed Pop-Up Ministry.
The Safe Church Committee or Council appointed Pop-Up Ministry shall make determinations and take actions appropriate to resolve the matter. These may include:
a. finding that sexual exploitation or harassment has occurred, and that the appropriate body of the church is called upon to take action accordingly; such action may include one or more of the following:
(i) a formal reprimand, with defined expectations for changed behavior;
(ii) recommending or requiring psychological or psychiatric assessment, counseling and/or treatment;
(iii) probationary standing, with the terms of the probation clearly defined;
(iv) Dismissal from employment or authorized ministry position by, affiliation with, or membership in, the church.
b. finding that sexual exploitation or harassment did not occur.
- The Safe Church Committee may seek the advice of legal counsel or others to advise it in performing its functions.
C. A written summary of the Safe Church Committee proceedings in such cases will be maintained.
D. The person(s) toward whom the inappropriate behavior is directed need not be the complainant. Moreover, neither consent nor acquiescence will excuse or exonerate inappropriate behavior. At any time the church may initiate or proceed with the formal complaint process.
E. In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment or exploitation, consideration shall be given to the record of the alleged incident(s) as a whole and to the totality of the circumstances, including the context in which the alleged incident(s) occurred.
F. Any person bringing a sexual harassment or exploitation complaint or assisting in investigating such a complaint will not be adversely affected in terms and conditions of employment or church membership or affiliation, or otherwise discriminated against or discharged.
G. If the complainant or respondent is not satisfied with the disposition of the matter by the Safe Church Committee, he or she has the right to appeal to the Moderator or to the Vice Moderator if the Moderator is the subject of the complaint, who shall refer the matter to the NUCC Church Council. The subject of any such appeal to the Council shall be limited solely to whether the procedures of this policy were followed. The matter will not be reconsidered on the merits and the decision of the Council will be the final resolution of the matter. If the Council determines that the procedures of this policy were not followed, it will refer the matter back to the Safe Church Committee to complete the processing of the complaint in accordance with these procedures.
II. Child Abuse
Apart from any legal requirements, NUCC will make a report to appropriate authorities, including but not limited to the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) if at any time the church has reasonable cause to believe that a minor may be an abused or neglected child. Any Minister/minister/employee of the church who becomes aware of facts or circumstances that child abuse or neglect has occurred or that there exists a substantial risk that child abuse or neglect may occur in the reasonably foreseeable future shall immediately report the matter to the Minister and Moderator so that the church may take appropriate action in a timely manner. The Washington State Child Abuse Hotline currently is: 1-866-ENDHARM (1-866-363-4276*) if you:
- suspect abuse or neglect of a child
- suspect abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult
Call 9-1-1 if a child or adult is in an emergency situation.
III. Clergy
Apart from any disposition of the matter by the church, all allegations of behavior which call into question the fitness for ministry of any Authorized Minister will promptly be forwarded to the Committee on Ministry of the Pacific Northwest Conference (PNCUCC) of the United Church of Christ.
The PNCUCC may be contacted at: (206) 725.8383 and/or email: pncucc@gmail.com.
NUCC Safe Church Committee Report