…Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them: for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17

We recognize that any abuse – physical, sexual, or mental – is destructive to the development and well-being of any person. Therefore, the Bishop is determined to minimize the risk of abuse or neglect and to protect participants in programs and activities of the Church its Districts and Agencies.

This committment by the Bishop is a command to Clergy, local communities and any associates, to provide functions, activities and events which are spiritually and developmentally appropriate and free from abuse or neglect.

Through baptism we renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness and reject the evil powers of this world. We will surround all God’s children with a community of love and forgiveness that they may grow in their trust of God. The faith community lays the foundation for them to grow to be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life.

The occurrence of abuse or neglect within the household of God breaks this covenant. Sadly abuse or neglect remains a reality in today’s society both outside and within the church.

 This Church accepts its biblical and moral responsibility to address this issue.

Therefore, this policy is intended to promote the health, welfare, and safety of children, youth, and vulnerable persons during ALL Church functions, activities, or events and All interaction with Clergy, volunteers and Adult Members.

This document shall be referred to as the Protection Policy, or simply, this Policy.

The goals of this Policy include:

1. Promoting a safe and nurturing environment for all children, youth, and vulnerablepersons who participate in events sponsored by the Church, its Districts, and Agencies.

2. Protecting children, youth, and vulnerable persons from abuse and neglect.

3. Protecting our care providers from false accusations of abuse or neglect.

4. Minimizing potential  liability.

This policy is intended to supplement and not replace the continuing need of our Districts and Conference to minister to the spiritual and emotional needs of victims and protection of vulnerable people and Children.

Although perpetrators are children of God too.We cannot pretend to minister to perpetrators or their needs and Protect Children and vulnerable people at the same time.

Children and vulnerable people in our Programs will be protected. We will do intense screening and ANY perpetrators will be arrested.

All camp ministry functions, events, and activities shall be in compliance with the Policy and the applicable State, Family Independence Agency Camp Licensing Rules and Regulations for Children and Adult Foster Care Camps.

American Camping Association Accreditation Standards are required.

(The definitions of terms used in this policy follows.)

1. Abuse: Abuse means harm or threatened harm to an individual’s health or welfare through physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, maltreatment, and/or sexual harassment.

2. Certification and Risk Management Protection Education/Training: This is required training for all persons who will work with children, youth and vulnerable persons at District or ministry settings.

3. Negligence: Negligence is the failure to act as a reasonably prudent person would do in the same or similar circumstance. It shall include failing to prevent an act of abuse or omission of an act that would ensure the health, welfare, and safety of a child, youth, or vulnerable person. This would include, NOT reporting a known preditor, the conceilment in any way of an offense or Not taking action.

4. Participants: Participants are children, youth, or vulnerable persons, as well as all others, who are registered, enrolled, attending, or otherwise participating in an event or activity sponsored or under the auspices of RLCC USA.

5. Physical abuse: Physical abuse is any non-accidental act or failure to act that result in bodily harm or mental injury to a person. Physical abuse may result from punishment to a person that is overly punitive or inappropriate to the individual’s age or condition.

6. Protection Team: The Protection Team is the group appointed by the Bishops Office to oversee the implementation of this Policy.

7. Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse is any conduct of a sexual nature which violates or attempts to violate the free choice and consent of another person, and includes any criminal sexual act defined by any federal, state, or municipal law, which includes but is not limited to rape, sexual molestation, sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery, lewd and lascivious behavior,

enticement of a child, indecent solicitation of a child, aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, exhibiting sexually explicit material, or indecent liberties with a child, youth, vulnerable person or Clergy breaking the code of ethics with any member.

8. Sexual harassment: Sexual harassment is any sexually related behavior that is unwelcome, offensive, or which fails to respect the rights of others. Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome advance, a request for a sexual favor, and any other verbal, nonverbal, or physical contact of a nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

9. Staff persons: Staff persons are defined as persons who provide leadership and/or care for events of the Church and/or its districts, events etc. whether they are volunteers or paid.

10. Vulnerable person: A vulnerable person is an individual who because of age, developmental disability, mental illness, or physical handicap requires supervision or personal care or lacks the personal and social skills required to live independently.

The Protection Team and Sponsoring Agency (for instance, Outdoor & Retreat Ministries)

will be responsible for reviewing all applications, screening, and documentation submitted for the purposes of certification. The Protection Team will grant certification to those who have met the requirements. (Listed below.) All documents related to application will be held in confidence in a secure location. Access to documents will be limited to members of the Protection Team and if required, Sponsoring Agencies. Documents will be held at the USA Bishops Office, Conference office, or at other locations as determined by state law or licensing agencies. (For instance, at camps.)

A: Care Provider Selection

In an effort to assure the safety of children, youth, and vulnerable persons, all persons working directly with, accompanying or supervising children, youth, and vulnerable persons at any of our Church Events shall be certified to do so according to the requirements of this Policy.

 Certification will be granted if a staff selection process meets or exceeds the requirements of certification as indicated in this Policy.

1. All persons, paid or volunteer, seeking certification shall:

a. be at least 16 years of age.

b. be an active member of a local congregation, and active in an accountable ministry setting for at least 6 months at time of application.

c. complete a  Certification Application

d. grant written permission for a criminal background check with appropriate law enforcement agencies.

e. complete an application for driving participants during events/activities, if desired.

f. provide three references from unrelated persons including ways to contact them.

g. attend a certification training event.

h. successfully complete a test indicating reasonable knowledge of the issues addressed in the Policy.

2. Anyone who is not certified will not be permitted to supervise, provide leadership in ANY capacity for the Church, and especially will not work with children, youth, or vulnerable persons in The RLCC in Any Capacity.

3. Screening Documents

The Protection Team shall review all references submitted for the purposes of applying for certification. The Certification Application includes:

a. personal information, including Social Security number, driver’s license and other current information

b. local church or ministry setting work and references from your local Church board and Priest.

c. background check authorization.

4. Background Checks

No less than one background check shall be pursued for each applicant. The background checks may come from one of the agencies listed below. The processing of the application,references, and criminal background checks for certification shall be the responsibility of the Protection Team or Sponsoring Conference Agency.

 The applicant will be responsible for the financial cost of such checks. A criminal record check of the applicant shall be obtained from the appropriate law enforcement agencies located in any state or country where the applicant has lived for a period of at least one year within the last fifteen years while being at least 18 years of age. Historical address information will be required.

These law enforcement agencies may include but are not limited to the State Police, State Bureau of Investigation, Division of Motor Vehicles, the State of Family Independence Agency/Department of Human Resources, and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

5. Personal Interview: The applicant may be personally interviewed by the Protection Team for purposes of certification. This may be done at the Protection Training, or at other settings.

B: Qualifications

1. No one shall be certified to serve as a care provider or leader who may represent a significant risk of committing abuse or neglect, or violating any part of this Policy.

2. No one shall serve as a care provider or leader if he/she is known to have been previously convicted of or pled guilty to any crime arising out of any act or conduct involving sexual abuse, or any act of conduct which is of a sexual, molesting, seductive, or criminally deviant nature, whether or not such conduct involved a child. This includes, but is not limited to, crimes involving pedophilic behavior, incest, rape, assaults involving children, youth, or vulnerable persons, murder, kidnapping, the making, possesing or distributing of Child pornography, sexual harassment, and the physical or sexual abuse of a child, youth or vulnerable person. This qualifying rule shall be applicable no matter how long ago the crime occurred.

3. No one shall serve as a care provider or leader in any capacity who has had a verdict rendered against him or her in any civil action out of any personal act or conduct related to sexual abuse, sexual harassment or physical abuse of ANY PERSON especially if of a child, youth or vulnerable person. This qualifying rule shall apply no matter how long ago the civil verdict was rendered.

4. No one shall serve as a care provider or leader in any capacity who has participated as a perpetrator in any previous act of sexual abuse, sexual harassment or physical abuse against ANY PERSON, Especially of a child, youth, or vulnerable person. This qualifying rule shall apply no matter how long ago this occurred or whether a civil or criminal verdict was rendered.

"I hope this policy is clear and I have not left out anything but it should be obvious I mean zero tolerance and all civil and legal penalties will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law".

Bp.DDL.Rochelle, OST