Conference and District policies:
Policy for Protection of Children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities - Otherwise known as the Safe and Sacred Space program. This applies to anyone who works with children, youth or developmentally disabled adults at the conference or district level.
Why Have This Program?
A United Methodist Church General Conference Resolution 3084 specifies an imperative to protect vulnerable people. The resolution directs local churches and conferences to develop an ongoing education/training plan, screening procedures, and safety procedures. General Conference affirmed this resolution in 1996 when originally adopted and reaffirmed it again in 2004 and 2008.
The Safe and Sacred Space Program also brings us into compliance with the National Child Protection Act of 1993. Read the entire document HERE.
Local Church Policies and Models:
Local Church Implementation of the Safe and Sacred Space Program - This petition was adopted by the 2001 Kansas East Annual Conference and requires each local church to adopt their own policy requiring training and certification for persos working in the local church with children, youth and developmentally disabled adults.
Policy for Protection of Children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities - This boiler plate allows a church to fill in the blanks to create a policy for the protection of children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities in the local church.
Local Church Computer and Internet Use policy - This policy provides guidelines for computer and Internet use in the local church.
Social Networking - Sample policy for using Facebook with youth in the church.
Parental Permission to Contact Youth - Sample policy for getting permission from parents to contact youth in the church through electronic means such as cell phone, e-mail and social networking sites. Two sample forms are also available: Parental Permission (Letter to Parents) and Parental Permission (Agreement).
State Laws:
Revised Kansas Code for Care of Children - This law applies to this area of ministry
CyberSafety Training Kit for families and churches
A new training CD developed by the General Board of Disicpleship (GBOD) is now available to help churches and community groups protect children and youth from the perils of the digital world of cell phones and cyberspace.
The CyberSafety for Families Training Kit allows the church to be more directly involved in providing awareness and training around technology to help ensure children and youth are protected as they navigate the Internet world.
The training kit's CD includes a section on "what you need to know first," a planning guide, teaching plans with schedule options, handouts and a slide presentation. Subjects include safety in the high tech world of computers, cell phones, video games and social networking Web sites.
The kit is available for $35 plus shipping from The Upper Room (www.upperroom.org) and Cokesbury (www.cokesbury.com) and also at Cokesbury bookstores nationwide. The kit also is available for check-out from the Kansas Area Resource Center.
If you have questions about Safe and Sacred Space, please contact:
Nancy Brown
Coordinator, Safe and Sacred Space
An Abuse Prevention Program
United Methodist Kansas East Conference
Phone: 913-897-3121
Click to email: Nancy Brown
Terri Arnold
Co-Coordinator, Safe and Sacred Space
An Abuse Prevention Program
United Methodist Kansas East Conference
Phone: 913-897-4396
Click to email: Terri Arnold
Sue Hughes
Registrar, Safe and Sacred Space
Kansas East Conference Office
Phone: 785-272-9111 (in Topeka)
or 877-972-9111 (toll free in Kansas)
Click to email: Sue Hughes