resources for effective children's ministry
Every few years, even tho I strongly dislike having to address this topic, I believe it is necessary to encourage churches to take the time to develop a safe child policy for their church. There are a number of well written, excellent resources to help churches with this important task, so we will take a look at a few of them.
How to
Protect your
Children's Ministry
from Liability
Author - J. David Epstein, J.D.
Publisher - Gospel Light PublishingFavorite Features:
- reproducible resources
- video - excellent source of important and helpful information
- complete resource - covers liability in regards to hiring employees and recruiting volunteers, tips to prevent negligence, issues related to insurance, how to handle abuse, false accusations, how to help families if abuse happens
- forms
- checklist of steps to lower risk - excellent, helpful information
One of the greatest tragedies in our churches today is we must think about and take steps to prevent abuse in our children's ministries. Unfortunately churches must address this issue and this resource is an excellent tool to help churches think through and put in place a safe and secure ministry for children. Any church will benefit from this resource and all their board members, church leadership and volunteers should be trained with these materials. We are responsible before God to share His love with children and to do all we can to help make our churches as safe as possible. Extremely well done David and Gospel Light!
The Good Shepherd Program
Authors - William Stout and James Becker
Publisher - NEXUS Solutions
Price - $199.00
Available at your local Christian Book Store or by calling Group Publishing at 1-800-447-1070This is an extremely comprehensive and thorough resource. The package contains:
For those of you who, like me, are not lawyers this resource goes through, step by step, the issues related to creating a safe environment for kids. It will help you educate yourself to the issues and components for child safety in your ministry. It's stated purpose is, "to help churches and other ministries develop programs to reduce the risk of abuse or injury to infants, children and youth who participate in their programs. The Good Shepherd Program is about stewardship of one of God's great gifts - children and teens". The objectives are:
- The Good Shepherd Handbook
- Reproducible Model Policies and Procedures in computer disk and book form
- The Child Protection Audit
*Although this material is very complete the authors recommend that you still consult with legal counsel familiar with laws that apply in your own community - this is good advise.
- to educate church leaders about prevention of abuse or accidental injury
- to enable church leaders to develop procedures and practices to reduce these risks
- to protect adults from mistaken or groundless allegations
- to reduce liability for churches
- to build parental confidence in church programs
- to prepare church workers to respond should an incident or accident occur.
Favorite Features -
This is an extremely well designed resource that should help you develop a safe ministry. I highly recommend it as a must-have addition to your children's ministry! Well done NEXUS & Group.
- Handbook is very thorough and truly educates you to the issues.
- Model Policy Manual provides policies for each area of your ministry that you can adapt for your own ministry and needs - extremely well done. Includes sample application forms, safety forms, guidelines for nursery policies, SS teachers, etc.
- Child Protection audit helps you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to help you focus your efforts at developing a safe and effective ministry.
Better Safe Than Sued
Author Jack Crabtree
Publisher - Group PublishingFavorite Features:
- all the stories are true - they happened to others, they can happen to us . . . truth gets our attention
- covers wide range of safety issues
- clearly explains safety issues, gives real examples and steps to take to avoid problems
- excellent information on how to screen volunteers
- excellent chapter on safety issues related to transportation
- excellent information on first aid
- sample forms in the back
While there are a number of well written, excellent resources available to help churches think through the issues of and related to protecting our children from abuse at church, there are very few resources that even think to address the issue of safety at church and yet, this whole area of safety is one of vital concern to parents and should be of equal concern to the church. "Better Safe Than Sued" takes a hard - and extremely important - look at the issues related to safety as well as the steps we need to take to insure our church is a safe place for kids. While this is a book is primarily written for youth ministry - and every youth leader should read and keep it handy - many of the issues covered relate also to children's ministry. We in our churches need to be committed to doing all we can to make our ministries as safe as possible. Extremely well done Jack and Group Publishing!
About The Children's Department - Volume 4, Edition 2 Copyright © Lynda Freeman Last Updated September 16, 2000 Web Page by Lynda Freeman Send an e-mail to Lynda at dfreemansr@earthlink.net
