Safe Congregation Policies Protect Children, Adults

As the Roman Catholic church struggles to come to terms with issues of sexual misconduct, many UU congregations have adopted or are adopting "safe congregation" policies to safeguard children and adults.

The Rev. Pat Hoertdoerfer, the children, families, and intergenerational programs director for the UUA's Department of Religious Education, estimates that 75 percent of our congregations have such policies. That's a change from a decade ago when, at most, 20 had such a policy.

Incidents of child molestation or other sexual abuse are extremely rare in our congregations, says Hoertdoerfer. Oftentimes a policy is inspired by members of the congregation who are active in scouting or other groups where such policies are commonplace. A policy may also grow out of a parent's concern about children being alone in the classroom or on field trips with one adult or the discovery that a convicted pedophile has become part of the congregation.

When sexual misconduct touched First UU Church of Nashville, TN (383 members), in the early 90's, the congregation developed a policy called Honoring the Children. It includes a six-month waiting period before visitors and new members may teach children's RE and requires two adults in each classroom and child care situation. Each RE volunteer has to sign a background check release. The policy also created a Safe Congregation Panel to investigate claims.

The policy is thorough and is the result of hard work by the congregation, says current minister, the Rev. Mary Katherine Morn. "When new people come it's very important to us to be able to describe our policy to them. It conveys how very seriously we take children's programming and the safety of our children. And they seem reassured."

The UUs of Clearwater, FL (220), has had a child safety policy since 2000 and it's become an automatic part of congregational life, says coordinator of religious education Barbara Czech. It's reviewed by teachers annually. They and parents are asked to sign a covenant that includes reference to the policy. "We review it once a year, but beyond that we don't need to refer to it that often. It's just there."

Hoertdoerfer hopes UU congregations are heeding the news about the Roman Catholic church. "Previously many thought they didn't need a safe congregations policy. But as we hear more and more about the scandal involving Catholic priests we need to make sure our own communities are safe."

RESOURCES

UUA resources for creating safe congregations, on the UUA Web site, include the following:

• A handbook, Creating Safe Congregations, Toward an Ethic of Right Relations, edited by Patricia Hoertdoerfer and William Sinkford. Cost is $30 through the UUA Bookstore (800 215-9076). Item 5331.
• Safety/Abuse Clearinghouse Resource Packet includes the pamphlet Honoring the Children: What We Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse, sample safety policies, and contracts for religious education volunteers. Contact Hoertdoerfer at (617) 948-4362.
• A sample Safe Congregations policy is also available from First UU Church of Nashville, 1808 Woodmont Blvd., Nashville TN 37215.
• Many districts have Safe Congregations Teams. Districts also have a guidebook, Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in Your Church.