Top view of hand holding teal ribbon on dark background with copy space. Cervical and ovarian cancer, sexual assault, pcos, ptsd, anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and scleroderma awareness concept.

Churches Taking Strides to Protect Children & Vulnerable Adults

By Sharon Mager & Kris Buckman

CROWNSVILLE, Md. — Protecting children and vulnerable individuals is a top priority for churches in Maryland and Delaware, and Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) churches are taking great strides in making their gatherings safe, says Mark Dooley, BCM/D Associate Executive Director/Director of Missional Impact. Since the increased awareness of the pervasiveness of abuse, the BCM/D has been a leader in abuse protection and prevention, particularly through the creation of its comprehensive Pathways initiative, which provides training and resources to help churches prevent abuse and care for survivors. And churches responded.

BCM/D Children’s & Youth Consultant Kris Buckman is sometimes flooded with requests. And that’s good! “We’ve had numerous requests for workshops for church leadership about prevention and response. We teach them how to set up a system that adequately aims to prevent abuse and leave them with next steps, leading them to either add to what they have already or begin to build a system of protection. They’re always very grateful, and they want to do more.”

During an online introduction training for an African/international church plant, Grace Gospel Church, Pastor Samson Amajeen was very grateful. “This is very good, we are so thankful.” During the call, several pastors from Africa – participating from Nigeria and Cameroon – were on the line and very appreciative, asking for more training. BCM/D Children’s & Youth Consultant Kris Buckman said that some church plants, like Grace Gospel, often start without kids, and it’s a great time to make plans. She said it’s a big deal for parents to know that a church has policies and procedures in place to protect their children. It gives them peace of mind.

Dooley said, “Churches have the desire to do the right thing.” Even those without children are making changes when they begin thinking of the future. “Having policies in place is forward-thinking,” he said.

The BCM/D’s C.A.R.E.  (Crisis Response, Advocacy, Review & Resource, Educate) team members — BCM/D Ready Consultant Keith Myer, BCM/D Executive Director Tom Stolle, Dooley, and Buckman — have been working strategically for the last two years to assist churches in this area. “Kris is a great resource,” Dooley said. “She has been tirelessly visiting churches and following up.”

As a starting point for any church, BCM/D is pleased to provide a BCM/D Recommended sample policies and procedures document (in partnership with MinistrySafe) (SEE BUTTON BELOW)  to assist churches in creating environments that protect children and vulnerable adults. These examples are meant to inform and inspire, and not to be copied or adopted without customization and review. Each church’s context, ministries, facilities, and volunteer capacities are unique. For that reason, no congregation should swap out the generic church name and call these their own policies. Instead, we encourage every church to study these materials carefully, seek counsel from professionals, and adapt them thoughtfully to reflect your ministry setting.
 
Inside these sample policies, you’ll find comprehensive policy examples that cover topics such as volunteer screening, reporting and response procedures, classroom and supervision guidelines, appropriate communication and conduct, and emergency procedures. These examples provide a valuable reference point for building a protection system that fits your church’s size and structure.
 
The BCMD strongly recommends that churches seek to implement the full paradigm explained in the “Pathways” workshop, which includes training, screening, protecting, reporting, and caring. This framework helps congregations develop both a preventative and responsive culture of safety and compassion.

Below are additional ways the BCM/D CARE team has been assisting churches:

  • Workshops: There have been numerous requests throughout Maryland/Delaware for workshops on sexual abuse prevention and response, including setting up systems designed to effectively prevent abuse. These workshops always leave leaders with next steps — to either add to what they already have or to begin building a system of protection.
  • Training: We offer training to volunteers on abuse prevention that teaches attendees the signs and symptoms of abuse, how to respond to disclosures or allegations, and how to protect not only children but also themselves.
  • Sample Documents: In addition to the sample policies and procedures document, we also provide sample applications, reference check forms, and anything they may need to get started or update their current documents.
  • Reviewing: We review policies and procedures documents for BCM/D churches that are either just setting them up or want to improve them, offering suggestions on how they can be improved and updated.
  • Background Checks: We connect churches with reputable background check organizations.
  • Online Training: We direct churches to online training for staff and volunteers in abuse prevention.
  • Funding: We provide funding for churches that may need financial assistance in any of these areas. We want to eliminate any barrier for churches to put these systems in place.
 
We provide these tools as part of our shared mission to protect the vulnerable and to foster trust within our churches. Thank you for your commitment to safety, accountability, and care in the name of Christ.

Through these initiatives, BCM/D churches are creating safer environments for children and vulnerable individuals, giving parents and congregations peace of mind while strengthening the overall ministry of the church. Our team is ready to help your church develop or enhance a strategy to protect children and vulnerable adults within your church. Contact our BCM/D CARE Team for ways that we can assist your church in taking strides to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

Please note: The Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware, Inc. is providing this information for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of any legal advice, tax advice, employment advice, accounting services, payroll services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional consulting, tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation. The information is provided “as is,” with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.

Sharon Mager serves as the BCM/D Stories Editor. Kris Buckman contributed to this article

Feature photo compliments of Citizens Church, Annapolis

BCM/D RECOMMENDED SAMPLE POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *