ELCA Northwestern PA Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA

Building Trust and Protecting God's Children
Policies for Safety in the Church

Phase 1 – Policies for Synod Personnel

The Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, to further our strong mission to create a world which is fundamentally safe for our children, youth, and families and their faith formation, will make every reasonable effort to protect our children from abuse. We will do so through prayer, education, and the adoption and promotion of policies for safety in the Church.

Abuse and harassment are violations of the faith shared by this Church. Accordingly, the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod will maintain official policies and procedures to promote prevention of any future instances of abuse, appropriate intervention into alleged incidences of abusive behavior, and care for all involved.

Development and adoption of policies will require time, study, discussion, and prayer. This process will take place in three phases:

Phase 1: Policies for Synod Personnel

Phase 2: Policies for Synod Sponsored Youth Events

Phase 3: Policies for Congregational Use

Synod staff, the Conference Youth Coordinators, the Children, Youth and Family Committee, and the Synod Council will be involved in the development of the policies. Synod procedures for intervention, investigating allegations, and any required disciplines will be according to those required by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Phase 1: Policies for Synod Personnel

Employees of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, those called or under contract, lay or clergy, will complete criminal/child abuse clearance checks through the State Police.

Step 1: Request for Criminal Records Check (Form SP4-164)

Obtain and mail in this form first, since the PSP-Approved form must be submitted with the Child Abuse Clearance Request Form.

Step 2: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Form #SB4-164)

This form must be submitted WITH the PSP-Approved Criminal Background Check Form.

The Synod will reimburse or pay the fees associated with the two background checks for employees. Copies of current documents will be kept on file at the synod office.

Employees will use the educational materials, Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in Your Church as an individual study or in a small group session to promote awareness and increase sensitivity for the issues of safety for youth, leaders, and congregations. The Synod will purchase this resource and it will be available for check-out from the Synod Resource Center for a two-week period.

Employees will be familiar with the phases of this program and review policies as they are submitted. Employees will follow and promote the use of these policies for safety in the Church as they are adopted.

Approved by Synod Council 04/17/2004

Approved by Synod Assembly 06/25/2004