Religious Education and Youth Ministry

Safety

 

Introduction

Most Unitarian Universalist lay and professional leaders understand the value of safe and healthy congregations. In the past few years the task of making our District congregations safe places for all children, youth, adults and families has become more prominent and pervasive. A continental UUA policy around many issues of violence and abuse is constrained by congregational polity and variance in state and local laws. Yet “benchmarks” of progress can be seen including

 

Our District has drafted an NNED Safety Policy for Children and Youth for events conducted under the purview of the Northern New England District. Congregations are encouraged to develop and codify their own safety policies and procedures. May the following resources serve you in these faithful endeavors.


Our Faith Imperatives Homily by Rev. Pat Hoertdoerfer


Codes of Professional Ethics

District Staff www.uua.org/DIST/handbook/ethicscode
Ministers www.uuma.org/Documents/codeofethics
Religious Educators www.uua.org/lreda/content/code
Church musicians www.uua.org/uumn/docs/other/code_of_prof_prac
Church administrators www.uua.org/auua/auuaguide


Resources

Safe Congregations Handbook by Hoertdoerfer and Muir, UUA Bookstore
Responsible Staffing Guidelines www.uua.org/programs/ministry/staffing_guides
Safety/Abuse Clearinghouse Resources Packet, UUA Office of Ethics and Safety
Our Whole Lives Grades K-1/4-6/7-9/10-12/Adult, UUA Bookstore
Church Mutual Insurance Company www.churchmutual.com
UU Principles and Sexual Ethics Closing Words