02.17.15 | Young Peoples Ministry, Administration & Operations | by Christie Latona
The Baltimore-Washington Conference is committed to ensuring that all people involved in local church or annual conference ministries may participate in an environment that is safe and secure. To that end, each church in our Annual Conference is required to have and maintain a current Safe Sanctuary Policy and for local youth leaders and parents to understand the policy and complete the Sexual Misconduct Questionnaire.
We are happy to announce a new e-course which walks through the basics of Safe Sanctuaries and ends with instructions on next steps. This online class is designed to help each local church maintain a current Safe Sanctuary Policy and for local youth leaders and for parents to understand the policy. The class is great for both training your congregation’s Safe Sanctuary team and for helping new volunteers who work with children and youth understand the importance and basics of creating a safe environment for children, youth, vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers at your church.
Those who successfully complete the quiz, will receive a certificate that may be printed and submitted to the local church Safe Sanctuaries team to demonstrate understanding.
Take the free Safe Sanctuaries online training or preview it without having to log in.
If you prefer to review information the old-fashioned way, please use the links below:
Where to begin:
- How to Begin Developing and Updating a Safe Sanctuaries Policy. The 10 steps to begin to develop or update a Safe Sanctuaries Policy from Discipleship Ministries.
- Safe Sanctuaries – The Basics A one-hour free webinar from GBOD that explains the purpose and rules involved in Safe Sanctuaries and the book-Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth by Joy T. Melton.
- Who should be on the team to develop a policy? Recommendations for local churches forming Safe Sanctuaries teams.
- Sample Safe Sanctuary Policy. This is a complete Safe Sanctuaries Policy from Discipleship Ministries.
- Safe Sanctuaries Self Evaluation. A local church self-evaluation form to help assess their needs when developing or updating their Safe Sanctuaries Policy.
- Safe Sanctuaries PowerPoint Training. A PowerPoint that con be used to train volunteers and staff.
- Safe Sanctuaries Questionnaire. Sample form for volunteers to fill out before background check.
BWC Resources on Safe Sanctuaries:
- FAQ: Safe Sanctuary Procedures and Questionnaire
- Safe Children and Youth Procedures. Procedures for Annual Conference
- Addendum to Safe Sanctuaries Policy. Guidelines for Dealing with Registered Sex Offenders
- FAQ on Safe Sanctuary Addendum
BWC Resources on Sexual Misconduct:
BWC Resources on Background Checks:
- Trak-1. For the latest fee schedule for Trak-1, contact your district administrator
- Article on Affordable Background Checks
- Background Authorization