Safe Sanctuaries: Policies for Child & Youth Safety in the Church
Christians are called to live according to the gospel of Jesus. All persons are created by God. God intends all persons to have worth and dignity in their relationships. We are a connected body, and when one part of this body is injured physically, emotionally or spiritually, the entire body is rendered less than God intended. The scriptures witness to a God who brings about justice, mercy and grace.
The church has established a set of policies, “Safe Sanctuaries: Policies for Child and Youth Safety in the Church,” as an act of hospitality to those who may be at risk due to their age, size, gender, race, sexual identities and mental and/or physical capacities. The purpose of this policy is to protect all who come to us, to protect both our paid and volunteer staff from potential false allegations of abuse, and to limit the extent of legal liability of First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo. Therefore, this policy, prompted by the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, is designed to minimize the risk of abuse, bullying, and/or neglect to children and youth at First UMC events.