CHILD ABUSE POLICY GUIDELINES
 
INTRODUCTION
 

The mobilization of volunteers for ministry is essential to a healthy, growing church.  Scripture teaches that God has equipped every believer for ministry in, or through, the Church.  When everyone in a church is doing his or her part, a church normally grows spiritually and numerically (Ephesians 4:16).  Therefore, a healthy church utilizes a large number of volunteers in a variety of ways both within and outside the church.
 
Encouraging believers to get involved in church ministries is a spiritual service. Church leaders have been given the assignment to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.The following Scriptures must be kept in mind as the following paper is read:

Avoid every kind of evil.  I Thessalonians 5:22

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality because these are improper for God's holy people.  Ephesians 5:3

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Matthew 18:6

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  Matthew 18:15-17

GRACE BIBLE CHURCH INTERNATIONAL is concerned for the safety of the children and families we serve.  At the same time we are concerned about the safety and reputation of the adults and teens who volunteer to make this ministry possible.  GRACE BIBLE CHURCH INTERNATIONAL recognizes its spiritual, moral and legal obligation to provide a secure environment for children participating in church programs that are under the auspices and authority of this church. Child abuse is a violation of God's moral law within the context of trusted relationships.  It is criminal behavior that causes emotional, physical and spiritual trauma to victims and has destructive consequences for abusers. Devastating effects on the credibility of GRACE BIBLE CHURCH INTERNATIONAL Church ministry and the name of Christ make it essential that this church take all appropriate steps to prevent abusive incidents from occurring.   We have therefore developed the following procedures to prevent the possibility of abuse taking place.

DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

Abuse means physical, sexual or emotional maltreatment of a person. Some definitions of terms follow:

Physical abuse means any physical force or action which results in or may potentially result in a non-accidental injury to a child and which exceeds that which could be considered reasonable discipline.

Sexual abuse means any sexual exploitation of a child whether consensual or not.  It includes touching of a sexual nature and sexual intercourse, and may include any behaviour of a sexual nature toward a child.  In determining whether behaviour is of a sexual nature, one should ask whether a reasonable observer, looking at the behaviour in its context, would conclude that it is.  This would exclude normal affectionate behaviour towards children and normal health or hygiene care.

Sexual activity between children may constitute sexual abuse if the difference in age or power between the children is so significant that the older or more powerful child is clearly taking sexual advantage of the younger or less powerful child.  This would exclude developmentally appropriate sexual activity between children where there is no significant difference in age or power between the children.

Emotional abuse means acts or omissions of those responsible for the care of a child which are likely to produce long term and serious emotional disorder.  This might include effects such as non-organic failure to thrive; developmental retardation; serious anxiety, depression or withdrawal; or serious behavioural disturbance.
 
Child abuse is defined as a non-accidental physical or mental injury or mistreatment caused by the acts or omissions of the child's parents or caretakers.  Along with the above aspects child abuse may also include neglect.  (Read more...)