Covenant Church Safe Church Guidelines

    PLEASE NOTE : All volunteers who are helping out with the

    vulnerable sector (children under 18, the disabled or the

    elderly) will need a vulnerable sector police check. Please

    submit your original form to Carolyn Schilstra (admin@covenant-church.ca) or let her know if you need to apply for one.


    DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

     PHYSICAL ABUSE: non-accidental injury inflicted on

    another person.


     NEGLECT: failure to meet the basic needs of someone

    dependent on another for care.


     SEXUAL ABUSE: any experience forced on one person by

    another which may or may not involve physical contact.



     EMOTIONAL ABUSE: any attempt to control another

    person’s life.


     HARASSMENT: any interaction with a person that makes

    them feel attacked, demeaned, intimidated or manipulated.


     SPIRITUAL ABUSE: the exploitation, coercion, or control of

    a person by a leader with spiritual authority.


    Reporting Abuse


     abuse of a child under the age of sixteen must be reported

    to Family and Children’s Services.


     abuse of an adult will be reported to the Pastor who will

    inform the Chair of Council and the Safe Church Team.



    Gen Alpha, GEMS, Cadets, Youth


     those working with children & youth will use positive

    techniques of guidance, such as redirection, positive

    reinforcement and encouragement rather than competition,

    and criticism.


     they will have age-appropriate expectations and establish

    an environment that minimizes the need for discipline.


     they will refrain from any behaviour that could be considered

    abusive.


     they will make sure that the children and youth in their care

    are always supervised.


     they will not use, possess or be under the influence of

    alcohol or drugs while working with children or youth.


     they will monitor bathrooms at all times.


     any one-on-one meetings must be pre-arranged with the

    consent of the leaders and the parents.


     when transporting children or youth there will always be

    two adults or other people in the vehicle.



    CHILDREN’S WORSHIP


     All children in Children’s Worship (CW) should be toileted

    before CW starts. If a child needs to go to the toilet during

    CW, a parent will be notified and will need to come to take

    their child to the toilet. Children over the age of 6 can go to

    the toilet on their own.



    NURSERY VOLUNTEERS

     only assigned nursery attendants are to be in the nursery.


     no married couples or parent/child volunteers will be

    scheduled at the same time, in the same room.


     only parents or designated care-givers can sign a child

    in/out of the nursery.


    FRIENDSHIP

     volunteers are not to help with the personal care of the

    participants.


     volunteers are not expected to transport the participants

    and to and from the meetings.


     volunteers are not expected to deal with any behavioural

    issues.


    PASTORAL MINISTRY WORKERS

    (including ministers, elders, deacons and pastoral care workers)


     try to meet in public places if possible or ensure that a third

    person is present at any visits or meetings.


     all pastoral ministry workers need to report all pastoral

    visits to their respective co-ordinating bodies.



    Download the Full Policy
    Request a Vulnerable Sector Check
    Complete the Safe Church Training

    Services Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

    Christ’s Family Transforming Lives and Culture

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