First Universalist Church

Safe-Congregation Policy

A Policy for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct,
Physical Abuse and Harassment

PHILOSOPHY

Our commitments, as Unitarian Universalists, to the inherent worth and dignity of every person and to justice and compassion, compel us to strive to create an environment that protects children and adults from harm and promotes their spiritual growth.

It is both uncomfortable and sad that we need to be thinking of potential danger, but too often we find out too late what we should have known or done to protect ourselves and our congregation. We all want to believe that our church is a place where everyone acts out of good will, believes in forgiveness and where nothing bad ever happens. Unfortunately injurious behavior does happen and our congregation has the potential to contain all the ills of our society.

A variety of potential dangers are inherent in operating a church. These include physical site, including buildings and grounds, operation of the religious education program, transportation and supervision of children off-site and instances of disruptive behavior involving members and or staff of the church.

We believe our church can respond effectively to this challenge. The First Universalist Church of Yarmouth highly values the ideals of community and the search for truth. We encourage personal growth, allow for personal truth, and support individuals and families in their efforts to build healthier lives and a safer society.

As a caring, intergenerational community, we can respond to those in need in broader, more flexible ways than can many other institutions. The Board of Trustees has previously passed a Disruptive Behavior Policy, which is made a part of this document. This policy is aimed at the prevention of sexual misconduct, physical abuse and harassment.

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