Redeemer
Church desires to provide a safe and caring environment for
our children and to protect those who work with our
children.
As a
volunteer, it is important that you understand and agree
with the statements and procedures listed herein.
As a
parent, we want you to know we are doing our best to ensure
the safety of your children.
If you
have any questions or concerns, please
contact one of the
staff pastors
at Redeemer Church at 863-3323.
Redeemer Church, desiring to provide a safe and
caring environment for our children and to protect
those who work with our children, has adopted the
following guidelines and precautions.
This policy will apply to all persons who volunteer
or are paid to work with preschoolers, children, and
students (grades 6 and under) in all areas of the
life and ministry of Redeemer Church, Hamilton,
Ohio. For brevity, the age groups from birth to
grade 6 shall be referred to as "children."
Policy 1.0 Screening of workers with children
All persons volunteering or enlisted to work with
children will be required to complete a Screening
Form For Children’s & Youth Ministry Workers
prior to working with children.
All persons being paid to work with children shall
complete both an Application For Employment
and a Screening Form For Children’s & Youth
Ministry Workers.
All workers, paid and volunteer, shall be
interviewed prior to working by a Staff Pastor.
Written notes of the interview may be kept in a
confidential file within the church office.
The Screening Form For Children’s & Youth Ministry
Workers and Applications for Employment will be reviewed
by the responsible supervisory staff member(s). A
designated staff member shall use reasonable diligence
in contacting the references as listed on the forms.
Written notes of the reference discussions shall be kept
in a confidential file within the church office.
Only persons who have regularly attended Redeemer
Church for three (3) months or more will be eligible
to teach or lead as volunteers with children.
Exception: Volunteers may work in teaching and
leadership roles who are members of another church
of like faith and doctrine in our geographic area,
providing they meet the following requirements: 1)
Provide a letter of reference from their current
pastor; and 2) Have been a member of that church
longer than six (6) months.
All new volunteers will enter a mentoring
program for a period not to exceed six (6)
months. During this time, the volunteer will
minister to children only at church sponsored
events and in the presence of an approved
children’s ministry worker. At the end of the
mentoring period, the volunteer will either be
released into ministry according to here
described guidelines or be asked to serve in
ministry area’s other than children’s ministry.
All forms and written notes from interviews
shall be maintained in the church office. Only
the staff pastors will have access to the
volunteer's information. The staff pastors and
the Elder Board shall have access to paid
workers information.
Volunteers and paid workers who desire to
review their information may do so by
scheduling an appointment with a staff
pastor.
1.7 Criminal Background Check
A staff pastor may perform a criminal
background check on all paid workers or have
such criminal background check performed by
an independent outside consultant or agency.
Any person who is deemed not eligible to
serve as a volunteer in children’s ministry
may appeal to the Sr. Pastor and/or Elder
Board by scheduling an appointment.
1.9 Summary of Screening Process.
a. Potential worker completes a Screening
Form For Children’s & Youth Ministry
Workers. (plus Application for Employment if
paid).
b. Interview by a staff pastor.
c. References are checked.
d. Optional Criminal Background Check.
e. Placement or redirection to another
ministry area.
2.0 Supervision of volunteers and workers
Two adults will be present during any church
activity where children are participating.
In a Sunday School or similar teaching
environment, it is acceptable to have
individual groups/classes with one adult
leader/teacher, provided that another adult
is present in the general area.
Any church activity where minors are
present will be canceled (or postponed)
until the two adult rule can be met.
Parents or guardians are not to leave
children for activities until two adults
are present.
Church sponsored programs and activities
will require parental permission for
children to participate. Allowing
a child to attend an activity or event
away from the church facilities requires
a permission/medical release form to be
completed.
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Volunteer workers must be at least
twenty one (21) years of age to
provide transportation to and from
church sponsored events.
Any exception to the two adult rule
would be after the worker/volunteer
has received consent from the
child's parent/guardian and notified
a staff pastor of such a meeting.
The church staff shall, for all
ministries in which children are
involved, implement appropriate
procedures and continuing education
concerning this policy and concerns
about child abuse in general.
3.0 Reporting Process
3.1 Inappropriate Behavior
If a volunteer sees any questionable,
suspicious, or inappropriate behavior or
if a volunteer suspects any type of
child abuse, the volunteer should
immediately and CONFIDENTIALLY report it
to the person in charge of the program
or activity. If that is not possible, it
should be reported to a Staff Pastor.
The need for the strictest of
confidentiality must be stressed. Upon
receiving such a report, the person in
charge of the program or activity should
immediately and confidentially report
the situation to the Staff Pastor
responsible for that area of ministry.
Any inappropriate activity
concerning the supervision
process should be reported
to the person in charge of
the program or activity. The
issue will be assessed and
corrected immediately.
If a Staff Pastor receives a
report of suspected improper
action or suspected child abuse
or they themselves suspect an
improper action or suspect child
abuse, they shall take all steps
necessary to report any
suspected child abuse to the
proper state and county
authorities. The Staff Pastor
shall use reasonable judgment in
interpreting and reporting such
suspicions.
If an allegation or suspicion of
child abuse involving a
volunteer or paid worker in a
ministry involving children
comes to the attention of a
Staff Pastor, said Pastor shall
take reasonable steps to
confidentially suspend said
volunteers contact with any
children in ministries of the
church until the allegations
have been properly investigated
by the appropriate government
agencies. In the absence of such
an investigation, the church
staff and members of the Elder
Board shall review the
suspicions or allegations and
make a judgment regarding the
suspension or restoration of the
volunteer.
If an allegation or suspicion of
child abuse involving a
volunteer or paid worker in a
ministry involving children
taking place at the church comes
to the attention of a Staff
Pastor, said Pastor shall
promptly report such suspicion
or allegation to the church's
insurance company, the church's
legal counsel and shall enlist
whatever other professional
assistance appropriate or
necessary to assure that the
situation is dealt with
professionally.
In the case of allegations of
child abuse during a program,
activity or event of the church
the church staff shall promptly
and confidentially notify the
parents or legal guardian of the
child involved.
In the case of
allegations of child
abuse during a program,
activity or event of the
church the Pastoral
Staff and appropriate
church leadership shall
take all reasonable
steps to reach out to
the possible victim
and/or the accused and
their families to
provide them grace,
love, and support
through the difficult
situation.
In the case of
allegations of child
abuse during a program,
activity or event of the
church the Pastoral
Staff shall designate a
spokesperson for the
church to deal with
handling inquiries from
the media, from the
congregation, and to the
extent possible, from
the appropriate
authorities.
3.9 Reporting
Process Summary
(Involving
Volunteers or
Employees)
a.
Individual
reports observation
or suspicion to
Staff Pastor.
b. Staff
Pastor reports
observation or
suspicion to proper
state and county
authorities.
d. Volunteer
or employee is
suspended from
contact with
children pending
investigation.
e. Elders are
informed of the
general details of
the case.
f. A
spokesperson for the
case is designated.
g. Staff
Pastor notifies the
insurance provider,
legal counsel.
h. Pastoral
care extended to
both victim and
accused.
i. Civil
Authorities
investigate.
j. If
there is no
investigation,
church staff and
Elders review the
suspicions or
allegations, render
a judgment.
3.10 Reporting
Process Summary
(Involving
Suspected Abuse to a
Child)
a.
Parents
are questioned
regarding the
suspicion.
b. If there is
reasonable cause,
Staff Pastor reports
observation or
suspicion to proper
state and county
authorities.
c. Elders are
informed of the
general details of
the case.
d. A
spokesperson for the
case is designated.
e. Pastoral
care extended to the
family.
f. Civil
Authorities
investigate.
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