About Worthington United Methodist Church

Policies

Safe Sancturary -- Child Protection Policy

Definitions

• A child is defined as any person under the age of eighteen years or a mentally or physically handicapped person less than twenty-one years of age.
• Child abuse is defined in accord with Section 2919.22 of the Ohio Revised Code and is any behavior that shall create a substantial risk to the health or safety of the child by violating a duty of care, protection or support. Child abuse can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and ritual abuse. We understand that children suffering from abuse often will not tell anyone about it. When indicators of abuse are observed in a child, they can be considered as warnings and lead to looking into the situation further. (See Appendix A)
• Abusers can be found in every racial, ethnic, economic, and social group. When they are identified they look very much like us. Some are charismatic leaders; some are very sociable; some are very sympathetic to troubled children; some are married and have children; some are young (even as young as fourteen or fifteen); and some are older adults.
• Responsibility for Abuse: The child is never responsible for causing the abuse, and the child is never to be blamed for the abuse. The child is never capable of consent to abusive behavior, either legally or morally. Child sexual abuse is always wrong and is solely the responsibility of the abuse.