Our Example and Calling
When Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children away from him, he was quick to respond, "Let the children come to me." Jesus taught that children were to be included and provided for within the community of faith. 

Today, the Church (of which Christ Presbyterian Church seeks to be a faithful representative) may be the only place where some children find the unconditional love and care they so desperately need to grow and thrive. As Christians, we take our responsibilities to our children seriously.

These Policies and Procedures are designed to safeguard, to the greatest extent practicable, the physical safety, emotional well-being, and spiritual development of the children and youth of Christ Presbyterian Church. They are also meant to foster an environment that empowers individuals to disclose when they have been abused. Additionally, these guidelines provide clarity about who must respond to disclosures and how they are expected to do so. 

These efforts are based on our knowledge of the widespread problem of sin and abuse throughout our world, and the understanding that children are among the most vulnerable members of our community of faith. 

All staff, volunteers, and paid caregivers working with minors will receive training in the signs of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, and the steps to report any and all suspected child abuse. One does not have to be physically present or witness the abuse to identify suspected cases of abuse, or even have definite proof that a child may be subject to child abuse or neglect. Rather, the law requires that a person have a “reasonable suspicion” that a child has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. The appropriate agencies will investigate any reports of abuse. See below under Responding to Abuse.

Physical signs of molestation may include: 

It is important to note that children often disclose abuse in less direct ways. If comments from a child or behavioral changes in a child raise concerns about abuse, it is wise for supervising adults to pay attention and look further. 

If a child discloses potential abuse to someone, it is appropriate for that person to ask open-ended questions such as: “What happened next?” or “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?” or “Who did this?” They should not ask leading questions like “Was it _____ who did this to you?” or “Did he/she touch you in this place?” Formal interviews should only be conducted by a trained professional. See “Responding to Abuse” Section below.

The Safeguarding Team is responsible for equipping the community of CPC for effective prevention and response. Currently, our Safeguarding Team is comprised of four to six members and includes women and men. The team should include the Children’s Director and a pastoral staff member.

Duties of the Safeguarding Team:

1. Application
CPC shall use the following tools for screening of pastors, officers, staff, childcare workers, and children’s and youth volunteers:

3. Approval
Following submission of a Children’s or Youth Ministry Application, the Children’s or Youth Director, pastor, or other staff member will review the application, check references, and perform a background check. No volunteer will be approved for Children’s Ministry service without approval of the application and background check, which is subject to discretion of Christ Presbyterian Church staff, taking into account the following non-exclusive criteria: 

4. Training
All staff, leaders, paid childcare workers, and volunteers 18 years and older must receive training in child abuse prevention and response given by outside experts. For children’s and youth volunteers, training will be provided on an annual basis as part of continuing education. Pastors, officers, volunteers, and paid childcare workers should also hear regular internal briefings on our policy. People coming into membership will be asked to read, understand, and abide by our Child Safeguarding Policy.

Any minor wishing to serve in the Children’s Ministry in any capacity must have parental consent and age-appropriate training in maintaining healthy boundaries. He/she should serve in a space observable by two supervising adults.

Adult-Child Interactions
All adult-child interactions should be public and open. Most abuse happens in situations involving one adult and one child. We strive to eliminate these situations because they are high risk. This does not mean there cannot be any private conversations between an adult and a child. However, these conversations need to take place in an open and observable area. All activities involving children should have open visibility (window in the door or door left wide open). Married couples shall count as one adult. 

Show Respect in Physical Touch
By God’s design, appropriate touch is an important way for us to understand that we are loved. 

Appropriate touch is observable by other adults and consented to by the child. If a child does not welcome touch, no touch should occur, except if needed to keep the child or others out of immediate physical danger. Any resistance by the child should be immediately respected. 

Stay in visible and accountable spaces: No one should be alone with a child who is not their own child.

Because healthy, caring touch is valuable to children but unhealthy touch is abusive, the following guidelines should be followed:

In all relationships, be considerate of others and give them appropriate space: Notice the body language of others and be aware of your impact on others.

Electronic Communications with Minors
Adults working or volunteering with children and youth are not to have private, electronic communication with children or youth. This includes but is not limited to:

Adults working with children must always communicate with the parents of a child rather than the child. If an adult working with youth (Ages 11-17) wishes to communicate with a student via the methods above, it must always be done in a group message or phone call where a parent is present and can witness the conversation. For instance, if an email or text message is sent to a youth student at CPC, it must also be addressed to one or both of the parents of said student. Any communications must be sent to a group rather than to individuals, or messages should be communicated through parents or guardians. All communications with children/youth and parents must comply with our code of conduct and applicable CPC Child Protection policies. Electronic communications generally should be brief. More extended conversations should happen in person.

A primary goal of Christ Presbyterian Church is to guard the safety of all children in its care. To this end, it is the policy of CPC to report any and all child abuse and child sexual abuse to staff and appropriate governmental authorities in an expedient manner consistent with these policies and procedures and otherwise in accordance with all applicable laws. In responding to abuse, CPC will always prioritize the safety and needs of the victim(s) and other vulnerable persons. 

Responding to Boundary Violations
CPC takes all policy violations and concerns related to respect and safety seriously. Any person who witnesses or learns of a violation of this policy is encouraged to inform a member of the Safeguarding Team as soon as possible. Furthermore, any concerns related to vulnerable persons should be brought to the attention of a member of the Safeguarding Team. The Safeguarding Team will document all concerns or policy violations, including those between two adults, adults and minors, and two minors, and collaborate on any appropriate response and accountability. They will inform the Session of any concerns about boundary violations or possible abuse. 

Reporting Abuse
Volunteers, staff, or members of our community may have reason to suspect a child is being abused – either by a parent or guardian, someone in the church community, or someone outside of the community. In all cases, if an individual has reason to suspect abuse may be occurring, the following must occur as soon as possible.

The individual reporting the alleged abuse and any others who are aware of the alleged abuse should show discretion and care when sharing information, sharing only with the leadership and Safeguarding Team, so that they can take action necessary to care for the vulnerable, and cooperating fully with authorities involved in the investigation. Any victim has a right for their privacy to be respected as much as possible. At times, it may be necessary for CPC to share certain information in order to safeguard other vulnerable persons and allow for any other potential victims to come forward.

Further Response Protocols
Whenever possible, the Safeguarding Team should refer the victim(s) to local expert help, such as STESA (Standing Together to End Sexual Assault),  and/or national organizations such as The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE), The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Hotline (RAINN - 1-800-656-4673), or SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).

The Safeguarding Team shall coordinate further appropriate response including but not limited to:

When survivors choose to disclose abuse, they need our utmost support. 

This support will include: 

Our support will recognize our limitations. We will not offer therapeutic, legal, or other professional advice, but will focus on personal support and empowerment. 

We will be careful to avoid causing further harm, and under no circumstances - even when the abuse is alleged and not proven - will we: 

When coordinating a response to abuse, the Safeguarding Team should designate a support liaison from the Safeguarding team or leadership team who will reach out to offer support to the victim and their family and to coordinate needed support. CPC will facilitate connecting the victim and their family with mental health support and trauma treatment as needed. Financial support for this treatment may be made available if needed.

CPC is committed to holding admitted or convicted offenders we believe are repentant to a high standard of accountability. Known offenders who demonstrate evidence that they are not repentant are extremely dangerous and are not welcome in our church. Jesus welcomed sinners, but he did not command us to welcome wolves among the sheep. Known offenders who wish to have any connection to our church must be willing to undergo a process designed to assess their individual situation, ongoing repentance, and what safeguards are appropriate. Offenders must agree to accept whatever accountability and safeguards our leadership, in consultation with experts, deem appropriate. Offenders must be willing to agree to this before the process of assessment begins. No assessment will begin if the victim(s) of the perpetrator are still in our church as any victim should be free to worship without their perpetrator present.

If a convicted sex offender asks to attend worship on Sunday, church gatherings either on or off church property, be included in the membership of the church, or otherwise participate in the activities of CPC, experts must be contacted to assess the situation and give counsel on how to best proceed. In any case, inclusion or participation in any of the above events or programs is not permissible for a convicted sex offender without prior expert assessment, approval by CPC's Session, and communication to said offender regarding the parameters of their involvement. Any adult who is a convicted or admitted sex offender who attends group activities shall agree to have their name known to the congregation and shall abide by all accountability and safeguards. Any offender who evidences deception, minimization, excuses, victim blaming, or other indicators they are not repentant shall not be allowed any connection to our church. 

No one who is convicted of or who has admitted to abusing a child may work with children or vulnerable persons in the ministry of our church, have direct contact with children or youth in our church (on of off church property), or hold any position of power or trust, even if it is not directly connected to ministry to children. 

The safeguards shall address accountability on and off church property and will involve communication with appropriate persons such as family, friends, employers, counselors, and parole/probation officers. The safeguards shall be reviewed as needed, and at a minimum every year, by the Session in consultation with the Safeguarding Team.

When a known offender is judged to be repentant and has some connection to the church, those who have responsibility to minister to him or her will have specific training. We will communicate God’s gospel of grace and put wise boundaries in place for accountability.

ABUSE: In general, child abuse occurs when a person in a position of power and/or trust (e.g. parent, caregiver, pastor, supervisor, other adult, older child, etc.) uses that position to exploit or violate someone who is more vulnerable. That exploitation or violation can take a variety of forms such as emotional, financial, physical, sexual, spiritual, etc.

CHILD, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND/OR MINORS: Any person under 18 years of age involved in programs provided at or sponsored by Christ Presbyterian Church. High school students who have turned 18 are still considered minors and should be protected under this policy.

CPC: Christ Presbyterian Church

ADULT VOLUNTEER: Any person at least 18 years of age who serves in Children’s Ministry at a church-sponsored activity or program.

STUDENT VOLUNTEER: Any person, under the age of 18, who supervises children at a church-sponsored activity or program. 

INTERN OR PAID WORKER: Any worker who is paid by Christ Presbyterian Church or hired as an intern and serves in any CPC ministry to children and youth. Paid Workers and interns who are not members of Christ Presbyterian Church agree to submit to the leadership and government of CPC as it pertains to their service. 

STAFF: Part-time and full-time CPC ministry employees, including but not limited to administrative staff employees, pastoral staff, and other similarly situated employees. 

BACKGROUND CHECK: All paid workers and volunteers will need to approve a background check through a reputable third-party that includes a Sex Offender registry check, Global Watchlist check, National Criminal Records check, and Country Criminal Records check (for unlimited counties). In addition, according to CA law, all paid workers and regular volunteers who work more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year must undergo a request for all convictions or arrests pending adjudication from the California Department of Justice by conducting a search that includes use of fingerprinting. 

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: Child Sexual Abuse is any sexual activity with a child by a person known or unknown to the child. California Law defines Child Sexual Abuse as any sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental, emotional, or physical welfare as well as failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent sexual conduct harmful to a child. A person who compels or encourages a child to engage in sexual conduct commits abuse, and it is against the law to make or possess child pornography or to display such material to a child. The abuser may be an adult, adolescent, or another child. Child Sexual Abuse may be violent or non-violent, involving touching and non-touching aspects. It is an exploitation of a child’s vulnerability and powerlessness. The relationship between the abuser and the child, or consent by the child are irrelevant to a determination of whether Child Sexual Abuse has occurred. It is extremely difficult for a child to report Child Sexual Abuse, in part because very young children may not understand that a particular activity is not normal or accepted. Child Sexual Abuse is criminal behavior.

CHILD PHYSICAL ABUSE: Child Physical Abuse is defined as any non-accidental physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child, that is inflicted by any person who has responsibility for the child or as otherwise defined by applicable local, state or federal law. Such injury is considered Abuse regardless of whether the caregiver intended to hurt the child. 

CHILD NEGLECT: Child Neglect is the continued failure to provide a child with the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, shelter, hygiene, medical attention, or adequate supervision, to the extent that the child’s health, safety, and/or development is, or is likely to be, jeopardized or as otherwise defined by local, state, or federal law. Neglect can also occur if a person responsible for the care of a Minor fails to adequately ensure the safety of a child where the child is exposed to extremely dangerous or life-threatening situations.