Safety Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults

Staff and Volunteers

Paid staff and volunteers will be at least 5 years older than the age of the children and youth with whom they are working. Anyone not meeting these requirements may assist paid staff and volunteers but will not be left alone with children, youth or vulnerable adults.  

Six Month Hospitality Rule for Volunteers  

Volunteers for St. Mary’s programs or activities for youth, children or vulnerable adults should have the opportunity to become acquainted with our missions and ministries by regularly participating in the GUMC congregation for at least six months before applying to be a volunteer.  

Reference and Background Checks 

Paid staff and volunteers will complete a statement of commitment to this policy and will consent to reference and background checks. Reference and background checks will be conducted on all paid staff and volunteers with re-screening occurring at least every 3 years.  

Training

St. Mary’s volunteer and paid staff, including clergy, will be given the opportunity for training about child safety polices, procedures, and child abuse issues on a regular basis, through Ministry Safe. 

Two Adult Rule  

At least two adult paid staff or volunteers will be present at St. Mary’s activities or programs for children and youth. One of these adults may be a “roamer” who moves between activities in a monitoring role.  

Clear Visibility Rule  

When St. Mary’s activities or programs for children or youth are conducted indoors, the room door will be kept open or, if closed, a window in the door will provide clear visibility into the room with two adults inside. *Godly Play and Nursery doors will be closed and locked on Sunday evenings for safety and security purposes. 

Parent or Guardian’s Responsibility

Parents or Guardians are responsible for the safety of their children and youth at all times other than when the children and youth are participating in a St. Mary’s sponsored program or activity for children and youth.  

Persons on the Sex Offender Registry

Our church contains significant vulnerable populations; therefore, it is our expectation that anyone on the sex offender registry who wishes to attend in-person service at St. Mary’s must inform one of our pastors or a member of the leadership team of their status on the registry. 

Reporting Incidents of Abuse or Suspected Abuse of a Child, Youth or Vulnerable Adult 

St. Mary’s will take all reports of abuse or suspected abuse of a child, youth or vulnerable adult seriously. 

Under Tennessee law, any person who knows of or reasonably suspects that abuse has occurred is required by law to report it to appropriate authorities, which include the Department of Children Services for children under age 18 (1-877-237-0004) and the Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services Division for adults age 18 or older (1-888-277-8366). In the case of suspected abuse, this is the first step of action.

If any recipient of this policy, including paid staff or volunteers, receives a complaint of or knows or suspects that abuse has occurred in a St. Mary’s program or activity, that person should first ensure the immediate safety of the child, youth, or vulnerable adult; this would include calling 911 in the case of an emergency situation. 

The responsible person should immediately report the situation to the St. Mary’s staff member responsible for that program or activity, Reverend Flo or Fr. Danny, or a member of the parish council. If the appropriate agency has not yet been contacted, the St. Mary’s staff member who has been notified will immediately contact the appropriate agency and, if available, will include the reporting person on that call. 

If paid staff or a volunteer is engaged in the abuse or suspected to be engaged in the abuse, that person will be immediately removed from contact with children, youth and vulnerable adults in St. Mary’s activities or programs until the reported incident has been resolved.

No Retaliation Whistleblower Policy

It is contrary to the values of St. Mary’s for anyone to retaliate against anyone who in good faith reports suspected abuse, suspected ethics violation, or a suspected violation of law, such as a complaint of discrimination, or suspected fraud, or suspected violation of any regulation governing the operations of St. Mary’s. An employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment and disciplinary action by their presiding Bishop/ecclesiastical board.

Rev. Flo and Fr. Danny’s bishop is Reverend Edward Vaughan.