GUM Church Facebook, Photo, and Child Protection Policies

 

FACEBOOK POLICY

When using and posting to the GUMchurch Facebook Group page, please keep the following in mind:

 This group is for members and friends of GUM Church.  Please consult the following guidelines before posting to the group.

 The purpose of the group is to share information, ask questions and educate people about GUM Church and events at the church.

 This is a public forum.  Before posting, ask yourself:  Is this something I would publicly share before 325 people in church on Sunday?  If the answer is no, reconsider your post.

 When sharing prayer concerns or other personal information, please only share those from your own family to protect privacy. All others should go through the church office first.  Helpful concern may also violate someone's privacy.

 Personal conversations are best reserved for the Face Book messaging app.

 General concerns about the church, its policies, vision, mission, committee decisions, etc, should be addressed directly to church leaders.  Such concerns may be directed to the pastor, the governance board, staff-parish relations committee, trustees, etc.

 Constructive and thoughtful discussion is encouraged. Obviously, everyone will not always agree on everything. Everyone is encouraged to be thoughtful and respectful. Personal disagreements and arguments between individuals should be conducted face to face or by using the messaging app.

 There are some subgroups of this group. Groups such as church and society, and the choir are not necessarily open groups.  If you seek admission to those groups you may have to contact the person(s) who run those groups.

 The group moderators, in consultation with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, reserve the right to delete comments deemed inappropriate and / or remove from the page those who do not follow these guidelines.

 

Photo Policy

Please fill out the following form if you do not want you or your child's photo posted on this website, newsletters, or GUMchurch's social media accounts.

YOUNG DISCIPLES MINISTRIES CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BROADER POLICY

As Christians, we are called to live in accordance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As created image bearers of Jesus Christ, each person deserves inherent dignity and worth. We are each connected to one another as part of the body of Christ, and when one part is injured, physically, emotionally or spiritually, the entire body is rendered less than God intended. The purpose of the Child Protection Policy for Georgetown United Methodist Church (GUMC) is to protect children, youth and vulnerable people from abuse, bullying or neglect to the best of our ability. We also seek to protect both our paid and volunteer staff from potential false allegations of abuse and to limit the extent of legal liability of GUMC.

REQUIREMENTS

  1. All individuals who serve must be at least 14 years of age to be a helper, and 18 years of age to be a leader.

  2. All Leaders and Helpers will be required to fill out an application to serve, including permission to run a criminal background check, Church history and references.

  3. Applicants will be approved or denied serving opportunities based on the results of said application and checks.

  4. No one will serve who has admitted to being a perpetrator of physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

  5. No one will serve who has been convicted of, pled guilty or no contest to any crime arising out of any act or conduct involving abuse or sexual misconduct.

TRAINING

  1. All individuals seeking to serve with Children, Youth or vulnerable populations will be required to attend a training outlining best practices in regards to the Young Disciples Ministry Child Protection Policy.

  2. All individuals will renew their training every 3 years.

GUIDELINES

  1. All events sponsored by GUMC involving children, youth and vulnerable adults will be staffed to meet the standards of this policy.

  2. The Two Care Provider rule will be in effect for all programs involving all children under the age of 13.

  3. The Rule of Three can be implemented with youth over the age of 13, if absolutely necessary. The Two Care Provider rule will remain best practice for all programming.

  4. Digital communication and Social media will be outlined by a stringent communication policy which will prohibit one on one communication between adults and minors, transmission of explicit material, cyber bullying, and the sharing of information of minors within the program

    except in the case of emergency.

  5. All persons/groups using the Church facilities will take sole responsibility for implementing appropriate screening and supervision of all children, youth and vulnerable adults within their care.

REPORTING

  1. Mandatory reporters, as defined by the state of Michigan Child Protection Law, will report according to state procedures. They will report directly to the centralized Intake via phone, immediately. They will also immediately make a verbal report to the Director of Young Disciples Ministries of GUMC. A written report will also be submitted within 72 hours.

  2. Non mandatory reporters will make an immediate verbal report to the Director of Young Disciples Ministries of GUMC. A written report must follow within 72 hours

  3. The Director of Young Disciples ministries will immediately contact local or state authorities and make a verbal report to the Senior Pastor.

  4. If the perpetrator is present, they will immediately be isolated from all children.

  5. If a staff member is involved, the Senior Pastor will be notified immediately.

  6. If the Senior Pastor is involved, the District Superintendent will be notified immediately.

  7. All matters will remain confidential within the chain of command listed above, to ensure the privacy of the child and the accused.

  8. All investigations will be conducted by local or state level law enforcement.

CONCLUSION

As Christians, we are called to live the example of Jesus Christ. While the vast majority of those who work with our programs are of the highest moral and spiritual character and are deeply committed to the needs of those they minister to, the reality is the potential for abuse, bullying, and neglect is present. We understand that these steps may seem burdensome and over the top to some. Yet, if we take our responsibility to tour children, youth, and vulnerable adults seriously, then all workers and volunteers must be treated in the same manner. This policy is to offer Radical Hospitality to all those who may be at risk due to their age, size and mental and/or physical capacities who enter the doors of Georgetown United Methodist Church. Thank you for your understanding and participating as we work to make our programs safe and secure for all those that participate. If you would like to view the document in its entirety, please contact Kerri@gumonline.org.

Georgetown United Methodist Church welcomes all people because Jesus welcomed all people, and we value living like Jesus as much as believing in Jesus. We embrace all people and treat each as having sacred worth. We welcome everyone into the life and ministries of our congregation, unlimited by ethnicity, faith history, family make up, gender identity, national origin, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic condition or any other identification.