Renewal Ministries Fellowship commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly our children and young people. Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these".(Luke 18:16)

It is the aim and purpose of Renewal Ministries Fellowship is to be an instrument of God's healing in this world, to preach good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners;to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair so that they will indeed display the splendour of our Lord (Isaiah 61:1-3).

As such Renewal Ministries Fellowship seek to be proactive in the nurture and protection of children. Child abuse is a serious problem in Australia with the latest statistics showing that a child is reported abused or neglected every two and a half minutes. The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) provides the following guidelines whereby we can all help build a safety net around children and families (http://www.napcan.org.au):

"It takes a village to raise a child" - African Proverb.

1. Be available to listen to children in your life. What they say is important.

2. Raising kids can be hard. Wherever you are - offer parents your support instead of criticism.

3. Ask for help if you are stressed and caring for a child.

4. Take ACTION if you suspect abuse or neglect.

POLICY STATEMENT

Renewal Ministries Fellowship is committed to providing a safe environment for worship, work, and study in all Pastoral Charges, congregations, institutions, agencies, organisation, or other bodies that operate under its name. Complaints of child abuse will be taken seriously and dealt with in a spirit of compassion and justice.

Renewal Ministries Fellowship will not tolerate, and will seek to eradicate, any behaviour by its members, ministers, adherents, or employees that constitutes child abuse.

Renewal Ministries Fellowship is clear that it is the duty of all those employed by the Ministry, or working on behalf or in conjunction with the Ministry, to protect and prevent the young people with whom they come into contact from becoming the victims of abuse. This duty involves more than non-participation in abuse but includes a duty to act where abuse is seen to be or suspected to be taking place.

Definitions

Child Abuse: anything that individuals, institutions or processes do, or fail to do, which directly or indirectly harms children or damages their prospects of a safe and healthy development into adulthood. There are four types of abuse of children:

Physical: includes shaking, beating, burning, depriving the child of necessities

Verbal: includes excessive yelling, belittling,unkind teasing

Emotional: includes coldness, withdrawal, failure to provide loving attention, supervision or normal living experiences

Sexual: includes incest, rape, or other sexual intrusion.

PROCEDURES

Education, Training and Prevention

1. Renewal Ministries Fellowship will ensure that this Policy and Procedures document is brought to an individual's attention prior to the commencement of contact with children.
2. Appropriate training, advice and guidelines will be provided for staff who work with children.
3. Renewal Ministries Fellowship will nominate at least one member of the Management Committee who will be responsible for keeping up to date with Child Protection issues - Child Protection Coordinator.

4. All Ministers will receive training in local procedures and will be required to identify a named liaison officer within the local Child Protection Team.

5. All members who work with children will receive training on:

• local procedures;
• how to deal with disclosure of information by the young people they work with;
• the various definitions of abuse;
• appropriate ways of working with young people.

Screening and Support of Ministers and Members

Ordaining of Ministers

When ordaining Ministers the following procedures will be adhered to:

• All candidates will be interviewed. This will provide an opportunity to explore an applicant's experience of working or contact with children as a means of preventing abuse.
• Personal references will be required in writing from two people, at least one of whom has first hand experience of his/her work with children. Where a candidate has no experience of paid or voluntary work with children a reference will sought from two reputable persons who can comment on the applicant's character and relationships with others.
• All convictions, however old, must be declared by an applicant. Information about an applicant's offending history is only required to prevent the abuse of children. It is not to be used for any other purpose and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
• All candidates must apply for a criminal history check - in NSW & Qld, the Working with Children Check, outlined in the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000), to obtain a suitability card (blue card).

Minister Support

Ministers will make links with the local child protection authorities (Dept of Child Safely in Qld) to develop a local protocol for reporting incidents and suspicions and providing child protection specialist input into training of those working with children.

Screening of Members

• All office bearers and members who, through their ministry, will regularly be in contact with children or young people in Qld. Australia, must apply for a criminal history check -the Working with Children Check, outlined in the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000), to obtain a suitability card (blue card).
• In other states and nations which have the equilivant this must be applied for, otherwise all resonable measures available within that nation for ensuring the suitability for working with children must be undertaken.
• Two references will be taken and referees will be asked to comment on their suitability for working with young people.
• All office bearers and members who, through their ministry, will regularly be in contact with children or young people, will be interviewed.
• All office bearers and members who, through their ministry, will regularly be in contact with children or young people, will attend a training program that will form part of the screening process.

Member Support

• All office bearers and members who, through their ministry, will regularly be in contact with children or young people will be given training on child protection. This will include local protocol, definitions of abuse and guidance on appropriate ways of working with young people.
• Members will receive guidance on Health and Safety, Confidentiality, Boundaries and the Disciplinary and Grievance guidelines.

Guidance for Working with Young People

This document is designed to provide ministers and members with guidelines as to how best to conduct relationships with the young people they will be working with in order to safeguard their welfare and protect ministers and members from allegations of inappropriate behaviour. These are general principles to be followed at all times when working with young people.

...Meetings with young people will, as far as possible, be held in an appropriate public place. If it is not practical to do so meetings will take place at a location where other adults are at hand.

...When arranging meetings consideration should be given to the safety of the journey to the meeting point.

...Leaders normally should not visit children or youth in their own homes unless a parent is present and/or the leaders visit in pairs.

...Leaders normally should not drive children or youth home unaccompanied.

...Follow the guidance given on appropriate behaviour with young people as outlined in the training

...If in doubt consult with a member of the SCAN Team or the Child Protection Coordinator.

Dealing with Suspicions and Allegations of Abuse

• Any suspicions/ allegations or disclosure of abuse should be reported as soon as is practically possible to the local police or child protection authorities. This includes any suspicions/ allegations or disclosure of abuse committed by any minister or member of Renewal Ministries Fellowship.
• Any suspicions/ allegations or disclosure of abuse committed by any minister or member of Renewal Ministries Fellowship should also be reported as soon as is practically possible to the nominated member of the President of Renewal Ministries Fellowship who is responsible for keeping up to date with Child Protection issues.
• Any member charged with child abuse, when this becomes known to the ministry, will be suspended immediately from any positions of responsibility in the ministry until such time as the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the ministry.
• The Child Protection Coordinator. will keep up to date documentation of all reports of suspicions/ allegations or disclosure of abuse committed by any minister or member of Renewal Ministries Fellowship along with all actions taken and any feedback from the police or child protection authorities.
• The Child Protection Coordinator. will keep the complainant informed throughout the process and provide support to the complainant.

In the case of a disclosure

...Always take them seriously; remember you may be the first person that they have confided in.

...Try not to look shocked or disgusted if a young person reports something to you that you feel uncomfortable with.

...Do reassure the young person that disclosure was the right thing to do.

...Explain to the young person that you will need to share this information with someone experienced in this area, who may need to take further action. Explain what the process will be and reassure them that you will keep them informed.

...Do not agree to keep secrets. They will not want the abuse to continue and have chosen to tell you so that you can help them.

...Do be comforting and sympathetic and tell them they are not responsible for what is happening to them.

...Contact the local child protection authority (Department of Child Safety in Qld) and/or police as soon as possible.

...Do not make them tell anyone else, as they may have to make a formal statement later. Full co-operation with the Police and other civil authorities is required before alerting the alleged offender to the complaint. This will involve the Police obtaining a statement from the victim and gathering the evidence before confronting the alleged offender.

...Write down all of the details and make sure they are signed and dated.

Organisational Response

...All complaints must be treated seriously and properly investigated. The whole process needs to be victim-friendly with the presumption that they are telling the truth, while also holding in tension the presumption of innocence for the accused.

...Renewal Ministries Fellowship and all its members must be absolutely transparent in their relationship with investigating authorities and must not cover up criminal offences.

...Good pastoral care shall be provided by different people for the alleged offender and the victim.

...Any volunteer who is involved in children's work and who is accused of sexual misconduct will be immediately suspended from responsibilities. If the person is a paid employee or minister he or she must be given a hearing before suspension. It may be possible to restrict and/or reallocate their duties.

...A person is automatically disqualified from pastoral ministry once conviction of sexual abuse of children or young people has occurred.

...If there are unacceptable risks that persons may abuse children they must not be involved in children's ministry even if charges are not laid and prosecution may not proceed. If in doubt, protect the children.

...The complainant must be kept fully informed of the process and the progress of the complaint.

...Delay in processing the complaint should be avoided.

...When a complaint is substantiated justice must be sought for the primary victim. This is by public acknowledgement by Renewal Ministries Fellowship that the injustice has occurred, together with action directed towards support and restitution.

...When an accusation is not proven or found to be mischievous, a public statement of exoneration by the independent body is essential.

Additional Resources

The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) - http://www.napcan.org.au

The Child Abuse Prevention Service ph.1800 688 009

Crisis Care ph.1800 177 135 or ph. 3235 9999 if in Brisbane.

Qld Department of Child Safety http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au ph.1800 238 191 or ph.3224 1045 if in Brisbane.

All scriptures excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved .