Initial Safe Sanctuaries Application

HTMLChurch activities and programs offer a unique setting for ministry to and with children and youth. We acknowledge that a special covenant is created when parents entrust their children and youth to the care of leaders in these settings. We hold each child and youth as a person of immeasurable worth as a child of God. With this understanding, I agree to:

• Respect each child, youth and adult, acting in an appropriate and Christian manner with each person I come into contact;
• Attend training events and prepare myself in advance for the activities(s) where I will work; if unable to attend, I will complete whatever alternative training is offered by the church.
• Follow the directions of the activity leader and policies as outlined in the Safe Sanctuaries Manual;
• Support the United Methodist Church, its Doctrine and Social Creed;
• Be open to personal spiritual growth through this experience;
• Be willing to share my unique gifts while honoring the gifts of others;
• Act only in ways that will offer glory and honor to God and God’s gift of community and creation;
• Live by the understanding that, as a person in authority, it is my responsibility to avoid inappropriate physical contact with children/youth in my care, even if a participant attempts to initiate the contact;
• I will not participate in hazing;
• Refrain from verbal abuse, including put-downs, inappropriate jokes, sarcasm, and racial/other types of slurs;
• Refrain from contacting/fraternizing with children/youth after the activity unless in the capacity of a leader;
• Find alternative methods of discipline, agreeing that under no circumstances will I use spanking, neck or choke holds, ear or hair pulling or any other corporal punishment as a means of discipline (no matter what my personal relationship to children in our program);
• Make it my primary responsibility to minister to the needs of the children/youth and not my own, with Christ as my example;
• Be in prayer for this activity, other leaders and participants attending;
• Accept, respect and be responsive to multicultural diversity;