Getting Started: Recommended Practices for Creating a Safety Culture
A safer and healthy congregation depends on effective leadership to ensure that hazards are identified and that effective physical and administrative protections are established and maintained. The active engagement of leadership and staff is essential to the establishment and implementation of an effective safety program.
As congregants, we trust that our leadership will:
Recognize that although common safety programs have been geared towards religious education programs, all areas of safety should be incorporated into the process.
Be accountable for the safety of the congregation
Strengthen systems
Guide their safety team and staff to set safety goals and objectives
Identify unsafe conditions
Establish and communicate policies
Provide needed resources including money, materials, methods, staffing, and time; and they must motivate the congregation through active participation in and support of the ministry of safety
Assess and continuously improve the safety culture
We trust that our staff will:
Share responsibility for the safety and security of the congregation
Participate in ongoing professional development
Promote all safety policies
Implement safety procedures without prejudice
Provide adequate education and training to their constituents
Assess and continuously improve the safety culture.
We trust that our volunteers will:
Share responsibility for the safety and security of the congregation
Understand they serve as a representative of the church
Be willing and able to fulfill their safety responsibilities
Participate in the required safety training for their role
Abide by all safety policies
Follow safety procedures without prejudice
Communicate any and all safety concerns or incidents to their supervisor
We trust that the parents and guardians of minors will:
Share responsibility for the safety and security of the congregation
Be familiar with the congregation’s safety policies, and support the children’s and youth ministry leaders as they implement them
Bring any concerns about the safety of children or young people in ministry activities to the person responsible for children’s or youth ministry in the congregation
Communicate to appropriate staff members any particular physical needs, allergies, mental health needs, or safety regarding their child
Indicate consent regarding toileting, transportation, electronic communication, attendance, photography, medication, etc., both annually and situationally for specific events
We trust that the whole congregation, including our children and youth, will:
Share responsibility for the safety and security of the congregation
Be familiar with the congregation’s safety policies and support the staff and leadership as they implement them
Bring any concerns about safety to the person responsible for that area of ministry in the congregation
Live a covenant of right relations
Be involved in ongoing education and practice