Child, Youth and Vulnerable Adult Protection
The Church has a God-given responsibility to nurture and protect His people, especially those who are most vulnerable and in need of protection. Thus, caring for children, youth and vulnerable adults is a sacred trust.
As the body of Christ, we have a spiritual mandate to protect those most vulnerable and to ensure the welfare and safety of all people at our churches. With a special emphasis on training and awareness in September, C4SO helps our clergy and churches safeguard children, youth and vulnerable adults from any form of misconduct throughout the year.
We ask our Rectors to:
- Obtain and maintain sexual misconduct insurance coverage.
- Adopt policies and procedures that comply with terms and conditions set forth by their insurance carrier in respect to sexual misconduct.
- Work with their Congregation Coordinator to adopt the C4SO Child, Youth and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy.
- Work with their Congregation Coordinator to comply with the C4SO Implementation Guide for the Protection of Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults in Local Congregations.
- Work with their Congregation Coordinator to ensure that all staff, volunteers, interns and fellows at their church have completed MinistrySafe Training or an alternate, comparable program.
- Submit a compliance form by September 30.
All C4SO clergy must complete MinistrySafe Training, which is required every two years. If a clergy person is due to renew their training, they will receive an email with a training link from MinistrySafe. Complete the training by September 30.
Child abuse, in practical terms, refers to an act committed by a parent, caregiver or person in a position of trust (even though he/she may not care for the child on a daily basis) which is not accidental and which harms or threatens to harm a child’s physical or mental health or welfare. Each state has its own definition of what constitutes “child abuse” under civil and criminal laws, and each C4SO church should be familiar with the relevant laws and legal definitions in its jurisdiction. Many of the state laws include the following terms to define the actions of “child abuse” and “child neglect”:
- Physical abuse
- Neglect (both physical and mental)
- Sexual abuse/exploitation
For specific definitions of child abuse and reporting procedures in your state, review the state-specific reporting instructions.
A vulnerable adult is any person aged 18 or older who has substantially diminished capacity to protect themselves from harm or exploitation due to physical or mental disability, illness, age-related frailty, social isolation or life circumstances.
Example: A 72-year-old woman who lives alone, is experiencing early-stage dementia, and relies on church volunteers for transportation and companionship. She may be particularly vulnerable to emotional manipulation, financial exploitation or spiritual coercion.
Types of Abuse – Abuse may be physical, emotional, financial, sexual, spiritual or involve neglect/ self-neglect. Abuse can occur in relationships of trust or dependence, including church relationships. Church leaders, volunteers and members should be aware of these common types of abuse:
● Physical Abuse: Intentional infliction of pain, injury or physical coercion. Examples include hitting, pushing or inappropriate use of restraints.
● Emotional or Psychological Abuse: Use of threats, humiliation, isolation or verbal attacks to control or belittle a person. Often harder to detect but equally harmful. ● Sexual Abuse: Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, sexual harassment or exploitation. This includes inappropriate comments, touching or coercion.
● Spiritual Abuse: Misuse of religious influence to manipulate, control or exploit another person. This can involve using Scripture or faith as a weapon or means of intimidation.
● Financial or Material Abuse: Illegal or unauthorized use of a person’s money, property or resources. Includes fraud, theft or pressure to give money or assets.
● Neglect: Failure to provide necessary care, assistance or supervision, resulting in harm or risk of harm.
● Self-Neglect: When a vulnerable adult is unable to care for their own basic needs, health or safety and refuses assistance
C4SO helps congregations create a positive and healthy environment for children, youth and vulnerable adults through a five-step approach, managed by a Congregation Coordinator appointed by the Rector.
The five steps include:
- Screening
- Training
- Interacting
- Monitoring
- Responding and Reporting
Learn more about these five steps in the Implementation Guide for Congregation Coordinators.
MinistrySafe equips you with the resources to create a complete child safety system.
We’ve made MinistrySafe training easily accessible to C4SO churches and those serving in them.
How to use MinistrySafe:
- Contact your local Congregation Coordinator to receive your personalized link to MinistrySafe training.
- Once your email arrives, click the link at the bottom of the email.
- Watch the online videos and take the quiz. This will take about two hours or less.
- Once you’ve passed, you will receive an email certificate of completion.
That’s it! MinistrySafe will automatically update your training status and date of completion. Your Congregation Coordinator will be notified once it is completed.
Please note that some C4SO churches offer training through an alternate, comparable program. Please contact your Rector and/or Congregation Coordinator with questions or concerns. Your Rector is your point of contact if you’re unsure as to the name of your Congregation Coordinator.
Consult your state-specific child abuse reporting instructions.
Sex Offenders Groom Churches Too
What to do and say when a young person discloses sexual abuse
How to Spot Sexual Abuse in Your Church
Draw the Line: Relational Boundaries for Safe Youth Ministry
Saprea: Sexual Abuse Healing and Prevention Resources
Caring for Victims of Sexual Abuse
Pastoral Care, Confidentiality, and Sexual Abuse
Helping People Heal from Sexual Abuse
These are suggested resources that you may find helpful. They are independent sources whose opinions may not reflect or represent the views or position of C4SO.
September is Child and Youth Protection Month.
Deadline: September 30
Rector Compliance Form
January is Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Month.
Deadline: January 31
Clergy/Rector Compliance Form
April is Clergy Professional Development Month.
Clergy Training: The Connection Between Temperament and Leadership Malpractice
Complete training by May 11.
Clergy Compliance Form
Questions about Child and Youth Protection? Contact Eric Vinson, C4SO’s Director of Operations.