Safe Sanctuaries

Click here for the complete Safe Sanctuaries Policy (as amended Nov.13, 2010)

NEW: Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Policy Agreement - This is an agreement of understanding between local churches and the Boy Scout Units they sponsor and/or host.  This new form will be required and included as part of the 2011 Charge Conference Forms.  
Click here to print a copy.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH the Safe Sanctuaries video (21 minutes) (or click on CLICK HERE TO READ MORE in the gray bar below)

It is our objective to ensure the safety and well-being of all persons, especially children, youth, and other vulnerable persons in all of our churches.

It is the policy of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference that every local church shall:

1. Develop and implement an ongoing education plan for the congregation and its leaders on the reality of child abuse, risk factors leading to child abuse and strategies for prevention.
2. Adopt screening procedures for all workers with children and youth that are in accordance with the current policy of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Camping Board policy in any given year.
3. Develop and implement safety procedures for church activities that will work to limit risks to children and youth.
4. Provide resources for persons who suspect child abuse or who have suffered abuse.

Resources available to local churches for this purpose include:

1. Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church and Safe Sanctuaries for Youth: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in Youth Ministry, both by Joy Thornburg Melton, published by Discipleship Resources, Nashville, TN. These books, together with a video available in VHS or DVD, are available through Cokesbury.
2. Guide developed by the EPA Conference Nurturing Disciples Resource Team in 2002. These VHS tapes and booklets are available from the Conference Office. Contact Jim Wilkin, 610-666-9090 ext. 225 or jim.wilkin@epaumc.org.
3. The Safe Sanctuaries pages of the General Board of Discipleship website (www.gbod.org/ministries/family/safe).

Click here for complete Safe Sanctuaries Policy. (This is a Word doc, so that you may attach your own church's policy.)