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Christian Education Policy and Protocol
for
Central Baptist Church of Southbridge, MA
Updated April 14, 2010Introduction
Children are an integral part of our ministry, for Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes a child welcomes me." (Matt. 18:5) How we teach, minister to, and treat chidlren will significantly influence their response to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His church. God calls us to make our church a safe place, protecting children and other vulnerable persons from abuse. God calls us to create communities of faith where children and adults grow in a safe and healthy environment.
Tragically, churches have not always been safe places for children. The problem cuts across all economic, cultural, and racial lines. Such incidents are devastating to all who are involved: the child, the family, the local church, and its leaders. Increaslingly, churches are tone apart by the legal, emotional, and monetary consequences of litigation following allegations of abuse.
Purpose of Policy and Protocol
Our purpose for establishing this policy and the accompanying protocol is to demonstrate our absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and youth.
Statement of Covenant
Therefore, as a congregation we pledge to conduct the ministry of the gospel in ways that assure the safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and youth as well as all of the workers with children and youth. We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers; we will implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; we will educate all of our workers with children and youth regarding the use of all appropriate policies and methods (including administering first aid and methods of discipline); we will have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of state law; and we will be prepared to respond to media inquiries if an incident occurs.
Two-Adult Precaution
Our policy is to have two fully screened and fully trained adults (age 18 and above) with each group of children and youth for every church sponsored event.
Screening and Training
Normally six months of regular attendance at CBC is a prerequisite for applying to work with children.
1. CORI Checks
A group of three people will serve as a CORI Check Committee: the Pastor, Christian Education Chairperson, and a Deacon. Information will be retrieved on the church computer only. If/when the individuals change, we will change appropriate passwords with due diligence. The printed reports will be kept in a locked cabinet and accessible only to the CORI Check Committee.
2. Other Forms
Only the interviewers, the Christian Education Committee, and the Pastor will review the following forms.
Christian Education Personnel Form
Reference Form
We will require two references for people who have attended Central Baptist Church for less than two years. Accepted references: 1) church leader in former church; 2) work supervisor, family member (not immediate), or friend.
4. Recommendation to the Board of Deacons
5. Training and Orientation
Topics Covered: safety regulations and guidelines, policy and protocol, classroom procedures, and response to inappropriate conduct.
All forms and information will be kept secure and confidential.
In the event of an accusation the contact people are the Pastor (Stan Bohall), the Christian Education Chairperson (Barbara Jernigan), and two Deacons (Joyce Parent and Kathleen Bond). Also in the event of an accusation, a spokesperson for Central Baptist Church will be appointed by the contact people to respond to possible inquiries from the media. This is necessary to provide an informed, discreet, and diplomatic response and to prevent conflicting stories. Details of an accusation will not be spelled out for the public. Instead, the spokesperson will convey that Central Baptist Church has an established Policy and Protocol to guide us.
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