Safe Sanctuaries: Children, Youth, Vulnerable Adults

Recognizing the growing threat of child abuse and its presence even among God’s own people, the 1996 General Conference adopted a resolution on “Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in the Church” which states, “God calls us to make our churches safe places, protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and ritual abuse. God calls us to create communities of faith where children and adults grow safe and strong.” Safe Sanctuaries is the movement and initiative to fulfill this call upon us – to make our churches safe places for the young and the vulnerable and those in ministry with them.

Saint Mark UMC has made it a priority to ensure that the children, youth and vulnerable adults in our community of faith remain safe while in our care.  To that end, we have established our own comprehensive Safe Sanctuaries policy.  Click here to read our Saint Mark UMC Child and Youth Abuse Prevention Policy Summary.

Are you a parent? 

There are two documents you will want to see.  First is the Parent-Child Covenant Form.  Click here to open it.  It will lay out children and youth behavior expectations and includes a conflict resolution covenant statement. 

The second is a Release/Waiver Form to release the church from liability.  It includes permission to transport, permission to administer first aid and medical assistance, as well as permission to permit photos of the child/youth to be used in church publicity. You will have the opportunity to add important health information.  Click here to open the Release/Waiver Form.  

Do you want to volunteer to work with our children, youth or vulnerable adults?

We can not do ministry with our children, youth and vulnerable adults without our volunteers! 

For the safety of our vulnerable disciples and for the volunteers who serve them, we ask those seeking to volunteer to receive Safe Sanctuaries training.  It is as simple as clicking here to watch a training presentation. 

Then, take the training quiz to see how much you have learned.  Click here to take the quiz. 

Appendix A is the Volunteer Information Form that will need to be filled out and returned.  Click here to open that form. 

Appendix B is Volunteer Covenant that we ask you to fill out and sign.  Click here to open.

Appendix C is a form to grant Saint Mark permission to request a background check on you. Click here to open the form.

We ask you to fill out all the necessary forms and submit them to Jens Holley, our Administrative Assistant.  Click here to contact Jens.