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Safe Church Policy of Trinity Episcopal Church

  1. “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another ....” Ephesians 4:25
  2. Purpose of this policy: 
    To help TEC maintain itself as a safe and wholesome place for persons of all ages especially by
    1. Establishing public guidelines for the response of the congregation and its leaders to allegations of
      1. child abuse (including sexual abuse and molestation) or neglect
      2. sexual misconduct, sexual harassment or physical or emotional abuse by or among church employees, members or friends of the congregation, volunteers in church programs, and or participants in programs using our facilities
      3. sexual, physical or emotional mistreatment of elderly persons, handicapped persons, or persons who are members of other vulnerable groups, by church employees, members or friends of the congregation, volunteers in church programs, and or participants in programs using our facilities.
    2. Assuring that our guidelines are consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the policies and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Episcopal Church USA.
  3. Adoption:
    After review by Diocesan “safe church” resources this policy will be presented to the Vestry for formal adoption by TEC.
  4. Publication:
    The policy, as adopted, will be presented annually from the pulpit by the rector senior warden or other person having canonical or pastoral authority for the parish, posted in parish buildings, printed annually in the Parish Annual Report, included in materials provided to Church School and Youth Group parents, reviewed with Youth Group members, and acknowledged by signature on hiring and annually thereafter, by parish employees, church school teachers, nursery workers, youth leaders, and other volunteers.
  5. Implementation
    1. Training:
      TEC will follow diocesan misconduct awareness training requirements, including but not limited to participation by all paid staff and all volunteers having supervisory contact with children or youth.
    2. Leaders of organizations using parish facilities
      will be asked to acknowledge annually, in writing, the receipt of a copy of our Safe Church Policy, provide a copy of their organization’s equivalent policy, and declare that their policies are in compliance with those of TEC.
    3. Confidentiality:
      the confidentiality of persons making complaints, victims of misconduct, neglect, abuse or harassment, and alleged perpetrators will be respected to the extent allowed by law.
    4. Maintain a Safe Church Panel
      to help in reporting complaints or allegations of misconduct to relevant authorities for examination outside the parish, serve as a council of advice in shaping the parish’s public response to allegations of misconduct, and to review and revise this policy as needed.
      1. Membership:
        The Rector, a Warden, two persons designated by the Vestry, and, if possible, contact appointed by Diocesan Authority.
      2. Members of the Safe Church Panel
        will be identified to the parish, through posters including pictures and contact information, as persons to receive concerns about or allegations of misconduct within the life and ministry of TEC.
      3. Responsibilities of Safe Church Panel Members
        1. maintain current contact information for one another, for protective service agencies and diocesan authorities so that this information can be communicated to any person who may wish to make a complaint.
        2. be prepared to communicate promptly with the Rector and other members of the Panel, except any member of the panel who is implicated in a complaint, should an allegations or suspicions of misconduct come to their attention.
        3. create a contemporaneous written record using the prescribed format (see attached). and maintain a copy this record, in a secure file, for future reference by members of the panel, diocesan authorities, or legally constituted authorities.
    5. Standards for Reporting Misconduct by the Safe Church Panel or other parish leaders
      1. Lay leaders and lay and clergy staff members of TEC will act as if they are mandated reporters under Massachusetts law. 
      2. Allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect of any kind involving minors or other groups protected under law (eg, senior citizens and developmentally disabled individuals) will be reported promptly to the relevant social service, protective service or police authorities for investigation, and to diocesan Authorities.
      3. Lay or clergy staff members who  become aware of, or come to suspect, criminal behavior toward children, will report their suspicions to the relevant social service, protective service or police authorities for investigation.
      4. Allegations of misconduct towards adults, including sexual abuse or harassment, and emotional abuse  by parish clergy, staff members, or parish leaders will be referred to Diocesan authorities for investigation and response. 
      5. Adults alleging criminal behavior toward themselves, or whom parish leaders suspect to have been subjected to criminal acts, will be offered pastoral support in seeking assistance and services from relevant community agencies, and or reporting such acts to the relevant authorities for investigation.
      6. No staff member or volunteer in TEC will be disciplined for filing a good faith report of suspected abuse or neglect with the relevant social service, protective service or police authorities.
    6. Institute and maintain, so far as possible, within our parish life the following “safe church” principles:
      1. Open classrooms and venues:  Parents or guardian are welcome to visit church school classrooms or youth event venues at any time.
      2.   Avoiding Isolation: 
        1. Enlist the whole parish in discouraging children form wandering unsupervised in our Church building during or after parish functions.
        2. Limiting situations in which individual child or youth is alone with an individual adult for extended periods of time.  Exceptions will be discussed with a Safe Church Panel member and, where an exception is proposed, with the parents or guardians of the child or youth involved.
      3. Require volunteer drivers to certify that they have a valid driver’s license, that they have not been cited for driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs within five years, that they have at least the minimum level of insurance required by the state in which their vehicle is registered, and that (to the best of their knowledge and belief) their vehicle is in safe and legal operating condition.
    7. Hiring:
      1. The parish will follow diocesan policies on calling clergy staff.
      2. References will be checked on prospective non-clergy employees.
      3.   Prospective employees will be asked to certify in writing that they do not have histories of misconduct within the meaning of this policy.

    File:  Safe Church Draft 20020823

    This policy was first included in the Parish Report for the year 2002.

    Copyright © 1998- Trinity Episcopal Church

    last revised and validated