Suggestions becoming necessities in securing children and ministries

One out of every seven churches will be sued, according to recent research. It could be for a variety of reasons, but one of the top issues facing churches today is child abuse prevention.

"If you or someone in your church is accused of molesting a child, it is hard for the church to recover from that accusation. It will damage your church's reputation," said Keith Hamilton, specialist in GBC church financial services.

"And you don't have to be guilty for this to harm you and/or your church," he said.

But there are some steps every church should take - from a financial planning viewpoint - to reduce the likelihood of being sued or losing a lawsuit regarding child abuse.

 

Distribute meaning of abuse in writing

Any volunteer or paid worker who works with children 18 years old or under, should be given the legal definition of child abuse in writing, along with the church policy on reporting child abuse. A sample definition is "... a child whose physical or mental health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm by acts or omissions of his/her parent or other person responsible for his/her welfare."

 

Adopt "two adult" rule

The church should adopt the "two adult" rule, which requires a reasonable number of adult workers to be present in each situation involving the supervision of children and youth, but with a minimum of two workers at all times.

"This includes youth workers that youth might visit in their home. Youth should not be present with just one adult even in a home," Hamilton said.

If there are not enough workers to have two to each Sunday School classroom, then someone should walk the halls and look in on rooms throughout the sessions.

 

Leader supervision and unannounced visits

Leaders should supervise on an ongoing basis and also make unannounced visits into classes or other program sites.

 

Applications on file

Every paid and volunteer worker should have an application on file with the church. That application should include relative questions pertinent to working in a children or youth ministry, as well as current address, former churches, references, prior instances of child abuse or accusation and general experience working with children and youth.

Also, a legal release should be on file in the church office giving the church permission to conduct a criminal background and reference check.

 

Check references

Check references for all paid and volunteer workers who will be with children or youth. This check includes references listed on the application plus former churches of membership. It is always helpful to ask references for additional references.

 

Criminal background check

A criminal background check should be conducted on all paid employees and volunteers who have contact with children 18 years old or under.

Hamilton recommends a nation-wide criminal background check through the local sheriff's office or an Internet web site such as www.screenchurchstaff.com or www.volunteerselect.com. Both of these web sites include a one-time set up fee, plus a fee for each check.

Every volunteer can be checked free of charge on the GBI sex offender registry, found at www.state.ga.us/gbi.

 

Interview by ministry supervisor

Each volunteer and paid worker should be personally interviewed by the ministry supervisor. Documentation of that interview, along with applications and other personnel documents, must be kept confidential and in a secure location.

 

Adopt an identification system

Adopt an identification system so that adults who drop off a child are the same adults (or that adult's designee) who picks up the child. This reduces the possibility of kidnapping and liability. This is most important in larger churches.

 

Comply with Georgia's child abuse reporting statute

Keep church leaders informed of any suspicion of child abuse and report that suspicion to the appropriate authorities.

 

Church Financial Services team provides an integrated ministry of legal, insurance, retirement, investment, and tax matters for the local church and its staff. They also provide a free publication, called "Tax-Fax," in VantagePoint, the quarterly GBC publication. "Tax-Fax" includes information about topics such as church incorporation, estate planning, insurance checklists, tax laws for ministers, handling the church's money and other relevant topics.

To have "Tax-Fax" emailed to you, send a notice to khamilton@gabaptist.org. For more information, see www.churchfinancialservices.org or call (770) 936-5295 or 1 (800) RING-GBC.

Your church's giving through the Cooperative Program is vital to the missions and ministries of the GBC and the Southern Baptist Convention.

For more information or to order free educational materials on the Cooperative Program, contact the GBC Cooperative Program office at ahill@gabaptist.org or (770) 936-5240 or at 1 (800) RING-GBC.

 

You and your church may send Cooperative Program gifts to:

Dr. J. Robert White
Executive Director
Georgia Baptist Convention
2930 Flowers Road, South
Atlanta, GA 30341-5562