Safe Conduct Policy and Procedure

Statement of Policy

As a community of Christian faith, HOPE United Church of Christ is committed to creating and maintaining programs, facilities, and a community in which members, friends, Authorized Ministers, employees, and volunteers can worship, learn and work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. 

The congregation of HOPE supports principles which include individual responsibility to fulfill the highest standards of personal conduct toward others and to lead and guide the congregation in fulfillment of the standards set by our Christian faith. HOPE strongly opposes and prohibits “sexual exploitation,” “sexual harassment,” or any form of exploitation or abuse of people of any age, race, culture, ethnicity, background, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and ability. It is the intention of our congregation to nurture good behavior, and to prevent and correct behavior that is contrary to this policy and, as necessary, discipline those persons who violate this policy.

HOPE seeks to safeguard all members of the church community, of all ages. We believe that it is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. It is the duty of anyone working with children and young people to be aware of the possibility of abuse. Instead of assuming that it cannot happen at our church, we will work together to prevent it. We value everyone in our church and will work to create an environment where all people come together to experience God’s love, freely and safely.

The leadership of HOPE recognizes these Safe Conduct Policies and Procedures will require periodic review and amendments to maintain them as a living document, a resilient tool for voicing our beliefs, instructing, and taking action when needed. It shall be an annual obligation of the Ministry Council, upon the request of the chair of the Christian Education Ministry, to reaffirm that this policy sufficiently addresses the current programs and needs of the participants in the ministries of HOPE United Church of Christ.

A Safe Church Team with no fewer than two members, of two different gender identities, will be established by the Ministry Council of HOPE United Church of Christ each year at its first meeting, in preparation for the possibility of hearing concerns or complaints under the Safe Conduct Policy. The response team will be familiar with and help implement this policy as well as the established procedures of the church.

We Respect Each Other

We Value Each Other

We Proactively Protect Each other

We Keep Each Other Safe

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