wfn.org | Resource developed to help reduce risk of child abuse in church

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 3, 1998	CONTACT: Linda Green,(615) 742-5470, Nashville, Tenn.
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By Kathy Manor*

Nashville, Tenn. (UMNS) -- A new resource designed to reduce the risk of
child abuse in the church has just been released by Discipleship
Resources, a publishing arm of the United Methodist Board of
Discipleship here.

Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church, by Joy
Thornburg Melton, provides guidance to help churches develop policies
and procedures for reducing the risk of child abuse and offers
strategies for conducting safe ministries.

Citing statistics from the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect,
Melton reports that more than two million incidents of abuse and neglect
are reported each year in the United States.

Congregations are often reluctant to admit that child abuse could occur
within their walls, but she points out that child abuse can take place
anywhere. 

The risk for churches is especially high, Melton says, because churches
are relatively trusting organizations and have historically been
reluctant to screen volunteers and employees. Further, churches provide
frequent opportunities for adults to develop close personal
relationships with children.

Churches should not shy away from ministries with children and youth,
Melton says, but they should work to assure that all ministries are
conducted safely.

Safe Sanctuaries defines the scope of child abuse, outlines the
different types of abuse, notes the indicators of abuse, discusses the
legal requirements for reporting abuse, and provides guidelines for
screening and hiring workers.  The book also outlines basic procedures
of safe ministry with children and youth and outlines a congregational
plan for responding to allegations of abuse.

Sample forms are included for screening workers, doing reference checks,
and reporting suspected abuse.  A training session plan for people who
work with children and youth is outlined and a bibliography of suggested
resources is included.

Melton, a Christian educator and a lawyer, is an ordained deacon in the
North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.  She has
worked for the last several years with her conference on strategies for
child abuse risk reduction.

Safe Sanctuaries (order number DR220) is available for $15.95 from
Discipleship Resources on the Internet at
http://www.discipleshipresourcees.org or by writing P.O. Box 1616,
Alpharetta, GA 30009-1616; phone: 1-800-685-4370; Fax: 770-442-9742.
# # #

	*Manor is a staff member of the United Methodist Board of
Discipleship

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/