Kris Buckman

For some churches, reporting abuse is an area of the unknown. Many times church leaders or volunteers don’t know whom to call to report, when to call, who makes the call, and who else needs to know a call has been made. But reporting is the first and most crucial step for churches to take when abuse is disclosed, observed or suspected.

Having solid policies and procedures in place at your church, first and foremost, protect those you’re serving – children, youth and vulnerable adults. Second, they protect those that serve them – volunteers, staff and the church at large. Once your plans are developed, being intentional about following them is imperative for the protection of everyone involved. If your church already has policies and procedures in place, now is a good time to review them, and make sure they are current, and that they are being followed by staff and volunteers. Policies and procedures can only protect everyone if followed and adhered to. Here are four ways to ensure your policies and procedures protect everyone.

Proper screening and training coupled with solid policies and procedures that your staff and volunteers adhere to and abide by create a strong hedge of protection around those your church serves and those who serve them.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We are committed to helping every church become a safe place for children and youth and offer many resources to help your church prevent and respond to sexual abuse within the church.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We are committed to helping every church become a safe place for children and youth and offer many resources to help your church prevent and respond to sexual abuse within the church.

COLUMBIA, Md. (BP) – April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. At the BCM/D, we are committed to helping every church become a safe place for children and youth. We offer many resources to help your church prevent and respond to sexual abuse within the church. We encourage you to visit the Pathways page on our website to learn more about how you can reduce the risk of sexual abuse within the church.

It’s critical that churches implement a thorough screening process for anyone that will have access to children and youth. A thorough process ensures candidates are suitable and compatible with your church’s policies and procedures.