The fiscal year of the Congregation shall be defined as beginning November 1 and ending October 31 of each year.

I. Purpose: This policy ensures the safety and well-being of all children participating in church activities, by outlining the procedures for preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect.

II. Scope: This policy applies to all staff, members, and volunteers who are working on behalf of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. This policy describes the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection:

1. Emmanuel Lutheran Church affirms the need of all persons to come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Relationships among people are at the foundation of Christian ministry and as such are central to the life of the church.
3. We are committed to being a religious community open to those who worship with us, including those who may have serious personal troubles.
4. We are committed to protecting children and youth, among our most vulnerable, within this congregation.
5. No one should experience abuse while in our care or when they are under our responsibility.

III. Definition of Abuse: Child abuse occurs when a parent, guardian, or caregiver (which can include church workers, Sunday School teachers, youth workers, etc.) mistreats or neglects a child, resulting in injury, significant emotional or physical harm, or serious risk of harm to the child. It entails the

betrayal of a caregiver’s position of trust and authority over a child. It can take many different forms:

• Physical abuse (hitting, shaking, choking, biting, kicking, dangerous force or restraint, etc.)
• Sexual abuse (exposing a child to any sexual activity or any sexual activity or behavior)
• Neglect (not providing what is essential to a child’s emotional, psychological, and physical development)
• Emotional abuse (insulting, humiliating, rejecting, name-calling, intimidating, threatening)

IV. Warnings about Abusers: Abuse may happen in any age group, social status, or cultural group. Abusers are usually well-known to their victims and are often family members or close friends. The abuser initiates the abuse and is responsible no matter what the child does. Offenders will use many tactics to ensure the victim’s silence, especially if the abuse is sexual. Children are told (usually bribed or threatened) to keep what happened a secret. In some cases, the offender will use physical force to keep the child from telling. They may be made to believe that the abuse is their fault. If the abuser is a family member, the child may be made to feel guilty about the abuse and fear that they will not be believed or fear the reaction of the person to whom they disclose.

V. Prevention Measures: This congregation has adopted and implemented these protocols.

1. Screening and Selection. All those working with or around children shall be cleared through the following method:

a. Any and all necessary requirements by state or federal law (mandatory reporting, FBI background check, etc.)

b. Other considerations may include the following:

i. The length of membership at Emmanuel Lutheran Church

ii. The maturity, competence, and gifts with which one has or does not have towards ministry with children

iii. Interviews with the pastor and/or relevant committees

iv. References from previous places of employment, volunteering, or other persons

   2. Training. Church Personnel may be required to participate in trainings, which may include these topics: Prayer, Discipleship, and Child Protection, on an annual basis at the discretion of the Council.

VI. Event Protocols

1. Any events for which a parent, legal guardian, or custodian for every child is not present shall normally have two (or more) unrelated adult Church Personnel present.
2. Unless directed otherwise by the Council, these events shall follow the ratios as set by the state of Pennsylvania.*

VII. Code of Conduct: Regardless of membership status, all Church Personnel shall follow conduct becoming of a Christian in the North American Lutheran Church. Such conduct includes but is not limited to the following:

1. Faith in Jesus Christ
2. Growth and modeling of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, especially including patience
3. Keeping the Ten Commandments
4. Affirming Emmanuel Lutheran Church's and the North American Lutheran Church's positions on social and gospel issues (1) a. Or, in matters of conscience, a minimum of not openly contradicting Emmanuel Lutheran Church's positions
5. Rejecting the use, possession, distribution, or being under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, and the misuse of legal drugs while participating in or assisting with programs or activities specifically for children or youth.
6. Rejecting all things of sexually immoral or pornographic natures.

VIII. Reporting Procedures:

1. Mandatory Reporting: All staff and volunteers are required to report any suspicions of child abuse or neglect to appropriate ministry leaders, which shall be defined as the Pastor, the Council President, and any members of the Executive Committee.
2. Confidentiality: Reports will be handled with the appropriate confidentiality. For example, such reports may need to be handed over to police authorities.
3. Response Plan: Appropriate action will be taken to ensure the safety of the child, including notifying the appropriate state authorities and the Bishop’s office.

IX. Review and Compliance:

1. Regular Reviews: The policy may be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness.
2. Compliance Monitoring: Periodic audits to ensure compliance with the policy.

*See ratios here:

Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELC) is committed to maintaining an environment free of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct is a violation of an individual’s bodily integrity and is never

permissible in any form. It is the policy of ELC that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated.  Any complaint of sexual misconduct will be dealt with appropriately as here set forth. This policy applies to pastors, lay employees, volunteers and congregation members. The intent of this policy is to foster appropriate responses to any allegation of sexual misconduct for all involved, such that all parties are heard. All staff, volunteers, and congregation members are mandated to report suspected sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults to the proper authorities in accordance with federal and state laws and legal definition. ELC will comply with all legal mandates.

Prohibited unlawful sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following behavior:

• Conditioning another employee’s job status—including continued employment, promotions,
• salary increases, or work assignments—on giving sexual favors;
• Unwelcome sexual advances, invitations, or comments between co-workers, volunteers, and/or
• members—such as requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, physical, or visual conduct of a
• sexual nature;

            - Verbal conduct such as unwanted advances, explicit and/or sexual language, derogatory language;

            - Physical conduct such as assault, unwanted touching, blocking normal movement or interfering with work;

            - Visual conduct such as derogatory and/or sexually-oriented posters, photography, cartoons, drawings, screen savers or gestures, pornography; and

• Retaliation for having reported or threatened to report sexual misconduct

Any employee, lay employee, volunteer, or congregation member who is aware of or is subject to any instance of alleged sexual misconduct should report the incident to any Member of the Executive Committee, or when appropriate, the Dean of the Mission District.

Any report or complaint may include details of the incident, names of the individuals involved, names of any witnesses, and/or other details as appropriate. When alleged conduct may be unlawful, reports or complaints will be submitted to the local authorities. If it is determined that unlawful

sexual misconduct has occurred, effective action will be taken in accordance with Pennsylvania law.

ELC will not retaliate against any employee, volunteer, or congregation member for filing a complaint and will not permit retaliation by management, any employee, co-worker, volunteer, or member.

All parties involved in the sexual misconduct investigation and any of their family members shall indemnify and hold harmless ELC, its governing church council members, employees, members, and volunteers against all damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable legal fees) in connection with any claims, demands, suits or proceedings made or brought against ELC, its governing church council members, employees, members and volunteers arising out of or connected with the sexual misconduct investigation.