Delegates
raise their hands in praise during opening worship on April 22. A
UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin.
Safe Sanctuary Policy to be Presented to Administrative Council for Adoption:
At the 2007 Meeting of The Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church it was mandated that every church within the Conference would develop a Safe Sanctuary Plan to deal with the problem of Child Abuse within the life of the church. The churches were to develop their plan in the coming year and report its implementation at the 2008 session of the Annual Charge Conference. As a resource to the local church the Conference recommended the book, Safe Sanctuaries- Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church by The Rev. Joy Thornburg-Melton, Esquire and brought Rev. Melton into the Conference to do a training seminar of which senior staff at John Wesley attended. Following the training, a committee consisting of the Senior Pastor, Program Director, Lay Leader, Administrative Council Chair, Staff-Parish Relations Chair, a representative of the Trustees, and our Health & Welfare Chairperson was convened to develop such a policy for John Wesley to be approved and Implemented by the Administrative Council.
The necessity for having such a plan, while being brought about by modern day circumstances that have both made notorious headlines in the media and (in addition to the horrendous harm done to innocent children) have resulted in huge settlements being adjudicated against churches, organizations, and individuals, nonetheless, also have a Biblical and Theological mandate as well. This Biblical and Theological Mandate is spelled out in chapter two of Rev. Melton’s book, “For each baptism, our pastor begins the service by reading Jesus’ words, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs’ (Matthew 19: 14). The parents and the congregation are examined as to their willingness to raise the child (ren) in the way that leads to faith, the child is named and baptized, and then the child is presented to the congregation. At this point, the congregation assumes a holy responsibility as it replies, ‘With God’s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal’ (The United Methodist Hymnal, p. 44).”
Based upon the above Biblical and Theological Mandate and with the knowledge that, “Child abuse is criminal behavior and is punished severely in every state… (as) child sexual abuse exploits and harms children by involving them in sexual behavior for which they are unprepared, to which they cannot consent, and from which they are unable to protect themselves” (Safe Sanctuaries p. 13-14). John Wesley’s Task Force has developed a plan with the following over-arching thesis: “The child victim is never responsible for causing the abuse, and the child victim is never to be blamed for the abuse. The child victim is never capable of consent to abusive behavior, either legally or morally. Child sexual abuse is always wrong and is solely the responsibility of the abuser” (Safe Sanctuaries p. 14).
The final report of the task force will be presented for adoption by the Administrative Council at its June 2008 meeting. If adopted, the plan will have a direct effect on our Professional Staff in terms of hiring & screening practices and training & continuing education and upon our volunteers who work with children & youth in terms of recruiting, screening, training & orientation. The plan will also detail how the church will respond in the event of an incident as well as set up a system of basic procedures to be followed where children & youth are involved, including the use of the church by outside groups. Finally, it calls for an ongoing annual review to assure that it is working and in compliance with Conference policies and State Law.
If the plan is approved by the Administrative Council in June, Staff will plan trainings over the summer and offer them in September so that we may report our full compliance at our Charge Conference this fall. Once adopted, copies of the plan will be available from the church office and posted on the church’s web site.
Rev. Jewell
Summary of the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church:
By
J. Richard Peck*
May 6, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas
(UMNS)
The 2008 United Methodist General Conference opened its
legislative session on April 23 with a Communion service celebrated
at a wooden table fashioned from trees destroyed by Hurricane
Katrina.
For the next 10 days, delegates heard stirring
speeches and sermons offered from a pulpit made of the same
hurricane-damaged trees—taken from the historic Gulfside
Assembly retreat center in Waveland, Miss. Both the pulpit and the
Communion table served as reminders of physical and spiritual storms
and the common faith that links members of the 11.5 million-member
church.
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Summer Calendar:
June:
Sunday, June 1: 10 A. M. Worship & Summer Sunday School Start- Holy Communion in Worship
Monday, June 2: Missions Committee- 7 P. M.
Tuesday, June 3: Safe Sanctuaries Task Force- 7 P. M.
Sunday, June 8: Worship Committee after Morning Service
Monday, June 9: Finance Committee- 7 P. M.
Thursday, June 12: Trustees- 7 P. M.
Monday, June 16
Thru Friday, June 20: Vacation Bible School
Monday, June 23: Administrative Council- 7 P. M.
Sunday, June 29: “Peace with Justice” Sunday
July:
Friday, July 4: INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY- OFFICE CLOSED
Sunday, July 6: Holy Communion
Tuesday, July 8: Trip to Hershey Park
Sunday, July 20: Ice Cream Social after Church
Sunday, July 27: Chapin Baptism in Worship
August:
TO BE ANNOUNCED