Protection Policies for Minors and Vulnerable Adults
Below are resources provided through The United Methodist Church and the Virginia Conference for protection policies for minors and vulnerable adults. God calls us to make our churches safe places, protecting children and other vulnerable persons from abuse. We are also called to make off-site venues or activities as safe as possible.
We would like to recommend that churches purchase the book Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust Within Faith Communities. This updated resource is available for purchase on Amazon, Cokesbury, and The Upper Room.
Child/Youth/At-Risk Adult Protection Policy (implemented by the Virginia Conference) – pdf
Background Checks
Contact the Safe Gatherings team at [email protected] or 888.241.8258 to provide the contact information for your church or group.
Contact the ScreeningOne VAUMC representative, Paul Craddock, at (919) 533-5005 or [email protected] for more information.
Background Screening Release Form (implemented by the Virginia Conference) – pdf
Safer Sanctuaries Trainers
Below is a list of people who might be available to lead Safer Sanctuaries training in your church. Local Churches resourcing trainers will provide compensation for travel and offer an honorarium for their training services.
Coastal Virginia: Teresa Woodworth ([email protected])
Living Waters: Tim Beck ([email protected]), Terri Rosser ([email protected]), Glenn Riggs ([email protected]), Carrie Moffitt ([email protected])
Mission Rivers: Cecelia Short ([email protected]), Cindy Banek ([email protected])
Mountain View: Andrew LaBar-Dietz ([email protected])
Northern Virginia: Kelly Crespin ([email protected]), Ruth Anne Luckenbaugh ([email protected]), Darlene Runaldue ([email protected])
Shenandoah River: Jed Markwood ([email protected])
Three Notch’d:
Valley Ridge: Debbie Brown ([email protected])
Conference Staff: Dwayne Stinson ([email protected]), Hannah Bryn ([email protected]), and Jason Stanley ([email protected])