PASTOR’S CHECKLIST FOR ALLEGED CHILD ABUSE

Not “If It Happens” but “When It Happens”

IMMEDIATELY
• Familiarize yourself with state reporting laws and other related issues.
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information: http://childwelfare.gov/
• Determine whom you will call when you get the report of child abuse. Write the names and telephone
numbers somewhere for quick reference. The numbers to have:
o State Children and Family Service Agency
Juvenile judge
Law enforcement agency (this is usually not a “911” call)
o District Superintendent
o Spokesperson for the Congregation (a legal or public relations professional, or someone
designated by the Annual Conference; not the pastor)
o Insurance Agent
o Congregational or conference attorney
o Professional Counselor (not the pastor nor a church staff person)
• Commit to the following action plan:
o Have a process for reporting child abuse.
o Enlist/educate key people on staff and in congregation by asking: “In what ways is our
church vulnerable to child sexual abuse? Other child abuses?” Consider situations and
settings. Ask it in every setting until the whole congregation thinks this way.
o Implement emergency procedures where needed.
o Establish Task Force to propose policies and procedures.
o Continually educate the congregation.
o Follow and enforce the procedures. No one “slides.”
o Review procedures at least annually.

WHEN ABUSE OCCURS

• Assure child’s safety. The safety of the victim must be the church’s primary concern.
• Notify parents
• Remove accused abuser from further involvement with children or youth. Treat accused abuser with
dignity, not hostility.
• Notify child protective services or law enforcement agency.
• Notify District Superintendent.
• Notify church’s insurance agent.
• Notify church’s attorney.
• Keep written record of the steps taken by the church in response.
• Work in close communication with designated spokesperson.
• Deal with congregation honestly, concisely, but do not give unnecessary details, place blame,
interfere with victim or accused person’s privacy, and do not violate any confidentiality concerns.
• Cooperate fully with the investigation conducted by law enforcement or child protective services.
• You may want to see a professional counselor to work through your own feelings.

WHEN THE PASTOR RELOCATES

• Make a list of the names and phone numbers of people to contact in the event of child abuse for the
new pastor. Let those people know there will be a pastoral change in your congregation.
• Give a copy of the policy and procedures to the new pastor. It may be helpful to write an “executive
summary” of the main points for quick reference and provide a note stating when the next review is
scheduled.
• Immediately when you get to your new appointment become familiar with the local reporting
requirements and the congregation’s Safe Sanctuaries policy and procedures. Make a quick
reference call list. Continue the staff and congregational education program. If no policy exists, go
back to the beginning.
© 2006 Terry B. Carty, The General Board of DiscipleshipPage 1 of 3
Permission is given to reproduce this form for congregations developing Safe Sanctuaries Policies and procedures.
FIRST STEPS FOR THE PASTOR WITH TASK FORCE
• Work with the group who has attended the training and others they recommend to set a strategy to
identify a congregational spokesperson and for forming a Safe Sanctuaries Task Force 5 to 10 people
(other people can be involved short term to work on fine points of developing procedures for specific
ministries). The Task Force should be a selected group, not simply ex-officio. One way to do this
would be to submit suggestions to the Committee on Lay Leadership and ask them to recommend
Task Force membership for election by the Administrative Council. The pastor should be a regular
participant in the Task Force.
• Call a meeting of all church staff (including key volunteers in positions of responsibility with children
and youth) and teach them about how to report an incident or disclosure of child abuse. Ask: “In what
ways is our church vulnerable to child sexual abuse? Other child abuses?” Ask for their suggestions
for Task Force members.
• Consult with your church’s insurance agent to determine the company’s requirements and
recommendations of policies and procedures. It would be good to ask the Trustees to meet with the
insurance agent about coverage and safety recommendations.
• Talk with the person who will be the spokesperson in the event of an incident. Provide that person
with copies of resources. Encourage that person to consult with other legal and public relations
authorities.
• Talk with appropriate leaders in the congregation. Ask them “the vulnerability question.”
o Chair of Administrative Council
o Lay Leader
o Staff-Parish Chair
o Trustees Chair (perhaps whole committee)
o Member of Annual Conference
o United Methodist Women and Men leaders
o Those who are influential in the congregation even if they don’t hold office
• As staff persons, church leaders, and the pastor become aware of “vulnerabilities,” they should
analyze them to determine the level of risk. In case of extreme risk or impending danger, temporary
procedures can be implemented until the Task Force completes its work toward more permanent
procedures. Any temporary procedures should be developed in collaboration with those who have a
stake in the ministry; e.g. pastor, teachers, staff, parents, child. In such instances, the basic safety
procedures cited in Safe Sanctuaries should be used when possible.
• Order materials for training leadership and educating the congregation.
Recommended: Safe Sanctuaries book, $15 [www.Cokesbury.com or
www.upperroom.org/bookstore/] and Reducing the Risk Resource Kit and Online Membership, $50
[www.reducingtherisk.com].
• Train the Task Force
• The Task Force should first develop a strategy for educating the congregation.

TASK FORCE FOLLOW THROUGH

• Set a timetable to draft policy and develop procedures. (See Checklist for Developing Safe Sanctuary
Policy and Procedures in the Safe Sanctuaries book.)
• Create congregational education and discussion venues.
• Develop policy statement of “what” (keeping children safe) and “why” (theological statements). Should
be simple and memorable so congregation can remember it.
• Test the policy statement before presenting it to any groups for approval.
• Develop implementation procedures. Let appropriate people and ministry groups recommend
procedures specific to their areas (i.e. Parents, teachers, youth leaders, staff, weekday programs,
sports organizers, Vacation Bible School leaders, etc.).
• Test procedures by practice or by consulting appropriate people. They must be practical to be
effective. Remember that the goal is to minimize vulnerability to child abuse.
• Provide progress update to the appropriate groups.
• Take the Policy Statement to the Administrative Council for approval. The implementation procedures
should be presented for information only. The policy should identify the committee in the church that
© 2006 Terry B. Carty, The General Board of DiscipleshipPage 2 of 3
Permission is given to reproduce this form for congregations developing Safe Sanctuaries Policies and procedures.
 has the authority to change and implement new procedures as ministry grows and conditions change.
There should be at least an annual review.

© 2006 Terry B. Carty, The General Board of DiscipleshipPage 3 of 3

Permission is given to reproduce this form for congregations developing Safe Sanctuaries Policies and procedures.