New Philadelphia News SAFE SANCTUARY AT NEW PHILADELPHIA Over several seasons in our life together, much prayerful thought has been given to plans and strategies to deepen and enrich the faith formation of our children and youth. We are reminded of the covenant we make with each child at their baptism, that we will all be participants in their journey into a durable adult faith. At its heart, our Safe Sanctuary Policy is about developing roots that go deep and wide within the ground of our congregation as it reaches and serves our youngest emerging disciples. It takes mindful parents, behind the scenes volunteers and engaged, committed and trained adult leaders and helpers to do this in safe, responsible and thoughtful ways. What is the Safe Sanctuary Policy? Bottom-line, it is a policy developed by our HRAC, Elders and Trustees to help us be mindful and intentional about how adults and children are in healthy and supportive relationships with each other during times of study and fellowship. It sets an expectation of 2 adult leaders to be present with any group of children or youth. It asks all adults who are in close contact with children or youth on a regular basis to do three things: undergo a background check, drug screen and participate in training on topics relevant to their volunteer assignments. Throughout this Summer and into the Fall, with the help of a Safe Sanctuary Coordinating Team, the HRAC, Elders and Trustees, we will be coming into compliance with the policy. Our first places of focus will be the Youth Mission Trip to Jamaica, Tribe Leaders for VBS and Sunday School leaders. We are among the first Moravian congregations to adopt a Safe Sanctuary policy and our recent Synod has recommended that all our congregations follow this lead. Many of our larger sister denominations have been taking these steps for many years. Why? It is a commitment to ensuring that every volunteer feels supported and ready to do their task. That they know what our expectations are of them and
what our expectations are of the children. That volunteers have an awareness of where their work with the children fits into the larger whole of our programming. It takes a village to raise a child. Studies have shown that children need lasting relationships with at least 5 faithful adults other than their parents to grow into an adult faith. We are setting an expectation of more adults being with our children, giving them more adults with whom they can form these relationships. It gives parents and leaders peace of mind. Everyone can enter into our programs for children and youth knowing that someone is paying attention, is there to support them and wants them to feel comfortable and empowered as they share their faith and knowledge of the Bible with our children and youth. It means there is a relationship and all its interwoven strands of connectivity between all of what is happening. It takes more than parents. We have a host of places where our children and youth need nurture, engagement and interaction with the adults of our church family. Most of our parents volunteer in several capacities, but we need more than them to support our program. Where? A Safe Sanctuary is also a nurturing Sanctuary, so we’ve taken a good look at all of our programming for children and youth. Where might you fit in? We need the participation of more adults in every aspect of our programming. Worship Nursery for Birth to 24 months - A quiet place of nurture that is available during our worship services and the Sunday School hour. Nursery for 2 - 3 years - An active play space for the toddler into the early preschooler years. Children’s Worship - Children age 4 through the completion of 1st grade are invited into their own worship experience at the midpoint of our congregational worship. They learn about the