Skyland United Methodist Church
Safe Sanctuary Policy
Leadership Definition:

A Primary leader is a staff member and/or volunteers who are over Youth and Children
programs. Teachers who assume regular leadership of Sunday school classes, small
groups, and the nursery are considered primary leaders.

A Secondary leader is under supervision of the primary leader and will act as an
occasional or rotating teacher and substitute. VBS or Terrific T’s group supervisors and
assistants are considered secondary leaders.
Policies:

All volunteers and paid workers who will assume primary leadership and responsibility
for a church sponsored program involving children and youth, shall be at least 21 years
old, Safe Sanctuary trained and have a completed background check on file. Secondary
volunteers and assistant leaders must be at least 4 years older than the oldest student
under their supervision.
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All volunteers and paid leaders will need to attend a yearly Safe Sanctuary training
on policies and procedures of SUMC as defined by SUMC.

Youth may assist in instances where there is less than 4 years age difference.
Any person, who may pose a threat to children and youth, as determined by the StaffParish Committee will be prohibited from working with children and youth.

Volunteers (members and regular attendees) must be committed to the mission of
SUMC and be active participants in worship services.

An adult should never be alone with a child or youth. Acceptable procedures of
appropriate adult supervision are as follows:
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1) 2 background checked adults who are unrelated in each classroom. If adults
cannot be unrelated, for instance a married couple co-teaches a small group, it must
be approved by leadership of each program and the pastor and parents must be
made aware.
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Revised September 2011
Skyland United Methodist Church
Safe Sanctuary Policy
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2) 3 in a group. 1 background checked adult must be present in each classroom or
small group. That adult must not be alone with youth or child and must have at
least 2 other people present; either 2 children/youth or 1 child/youth and second
adult. Parents must be made aware.
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All programming must take place in its assigned location(s), with doors unlocked and
doors open, unless there is a window in the door.
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A rotating teacher who moves from classrooms during programming may be
assigned.

Registration materials for activities in which youth and children are off campus shall
require a signed medical release and consent form in order to participate.

At overnight events there will need to be the correct ratio of adults to children/youth
and at least one adult of each gender when both sexes are represented. There should
never be less than two adults for overnight trips. For youth and children there will need
to be 1 adult per every 10 youth/children (1:10).

All drivers should be 25 years of age or older and following all church rules of the
vehicles. All drivers must have a DMV check and be approved by our auto insurance.
Each person in the vehicle shall have a seat belt and no double buckling will be
permitted.
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During trips, all vehicles must follow one of the approved adults supervision rules (2
adults or 3 in a group).
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In the event that a youth drives another youth, there must be prior parental
consent.
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In the event that a driver must take a youth/child home and a 1 on 1 situation
occurs, there must be parental consent. (This situation should only occur in extreme
circumstances and emergencies.)
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Driver should always attempt to keep vehicles in a caravan together.
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Revised September 2011
Skyland United Methodist Church
Safe Sanctuary Policy

If the participants are old enough to understand, they shall make a verbal covenant of
Christian behavior for all trips established by group leader.

If any volunteer or employee of the church suspects that a policy has been broken,
he/she must report the incident as stated in the section that follows “Reporting an
Abuse”.

For nursery volunteering, a youth must at least be in 6th grade. A babysitting class may
be recommended for youth volunteer.

When background checked staff is required to change diapers, they shall do so in an
open area. No volunteer should ever change diapers. When a child (preschooler) is
being supervised in the restroom, the restroom door should be left open, even if just
slightly.

To ensure internet safety for our children and youth, only first names will be used on
any SUMC websites. Parents will have to sign a photography consent form before any
photo or video is used of their children/youth. (This should be found on the medical
release and consent forms.)

Each year, the congregation will be informed of these Safe Sanctuary Policies and
procedures and any changes made to them.
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Revised September 2011