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Safe Sanctuaries

We take protecting our children, youth and vulnerable populations seriously.
Keeping First Church Safe

What is Safe Sanctuaries?

Every United Methodist congregation has Safe Sanctuaries policies and procedures designed to keep everyone — especially children, youth and other vulnerable populations — safe. We strive to make our church a place where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can freely experience God’s love and community. These policies have three main components:
  • We screen volunteers and staff to ensure they are good fits to supervise children and youth. We want our leaders to represent Christ well to those they care for. On top of background checks, we take time to get to know people before they start serving with us (especially with minors, the elderly or disabled individuals).
  • We do everything in our power to prevent abuse, assault, misconduct, and other harm. We train our staff and volunteers to keep individuals they supervise safe and to watch for warning signs of abuse or other threats to one’s wellbeing. Practicing our clearly defined policies and procedures guards our children and youth from bad situations. Plus, these procedures protect our staff and volunteers from suspicion or false accusations of wrongful behavior.
  • We have procedures to respond to incidents promptly and effectively. Our volunteers and staff are trained to spot signs of abuse or other inappropriate behavior and to report it immediately. We want to protect those at risk of harm, document any legal violations with the necessary authorities, and minister to the needs of victims and our church family.
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Protecting our Vulnerable Populations

Safety and Security

Unfortunately, churches are not always safe places for children, teens and other groups who are particularly vulnerable to abuse. There are countless stories of individuals who have suffered abuse and exploitation within the church, and the trauma continues to affect survivors, their families and their congregations for years to come. In order to love one another as Jesus commanded and allow everyone to fully experience fellowship with God and one another, we must go out of our way to protect those in our congregation and community. We take several measures to ensure everyone’s safety and security on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. From enforcing volunteer-to-child ratios and offering parent pick-up tags, to conducting prevention trainings and maintaining social media policies, we hope to welcome children, youth and adults into a safe environment where they can flourish.
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Leading the Way

Staff and Volunteer Requirements

Everyone at First Church is expected to adhere to our Safe Sanctuaries policies. Our staff and volunteers who work with children and youth also complete additional requirements and trainings in order to stay up-to-date on changing laws and continually ensure the safety of our congregation and community.

All of our staff and volunteers who work with children and youth maintain up-to-date clearances on file in our office, as required by Pennsylvania state law. These individuals also complete MinistrySafe training every five years. This training specifically designed to prevent child sexual abuse within the church. Additionally, every member of our program and administrative staff complete boundaries training through the Susquehanna Conference every four years. This training explores relational dynamics in a church setting, what sexual misconduct is and how to prevent it, and setting appropriate boundaries for in-person and online relationships.

Please contact Katie Knorr, Director of Children’s and Family Ministries and First Church Safe Sanctuaries Coordinator, to learn more.

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Volunteer Responsibilities

If you volunteer in any capacity within our children’s or youth ministries, you must comply with our Safe Sanctuaries policies and Pennsylvania state laws. This includes a requirement to update your clearances every five years and keep them on file with the church office. This is applicable for regular volunteers (e.g. assisting with Kid Worship each month or youth activities every week) and one-time helpers (e.g. helping at VBS or a youth retreat).

Most clearances are free to volunteers, but First Church will reimburse volunteers who must pay for an FBI Criminal History Background Check, which requires fingerprinting. Find more details below on each of the required clearances and how to obtain them.

Additionally, all individuals who are responsible for children in a scheduled program, activity or service are mandated reporters. As a mandated reporter, you are legally required to report any suspected child abuse. If you have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of abuse, you must report immediately to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 or online through the Child Welfare Portal. You may advise the staff or volunteer leader of the incident, and they can help you facilitate making the report.

If you want to know if the church office has a copy of your clearances, don’t know when your clearances will expire, or have questions about renewing your clearances or mandatory reporting, please contact Katie Knorr, our Director of Children and Family Ministries and Safe Sanctuaries Coordinator.

Stay Up-to-Date

Get Your Clearances

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

Complete your application for this certification online for free.

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Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record Check

Complete your application for this certification online for free, and generally get immediate results.

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FBI Criminal History Background Check

Volunteers who have not lived in the state of Pennsylvania at any point in the past 10 years must visit an IdentoGO Center to be fingerprinted. First Church will reimburse volunteers for the fingerprinting fee.

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Join Us

Find a Place to Serve

In the Church

Serve as a leader in our children’s, youth or adult ministries within our First Church family.
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In the Community

Spread the Good News of Jesus beyond our church walls.

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In Prayer

Uplift our church, commmunity and world to God in prayer.

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Want more information?

Reach Out!

Have questions or want to learn more about Safe Sanctuaries at First Church? Feel free to contact Katie Knorr, our Director of Children and Family Ministries and Safe Sanctuaries Coordinator.
Contact Katie
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