Safe Church Policy

ENSURING LOOP CHURCH IS A SAFE CHURCH 

Loop Church is committed to seeking to provide a loving, just environment in which all people with all their vulnerabilities are free to worship and grow in their love for and service to God and to one another. Unfortunately, even in a church setting, power can be abused in such a way that individuals experience intentional, and even unintentional, mistreatment or abuse. To assure that Loop Church remains a safe place for all persons, especially those who are vulnerable the Steering Council of Loop Church has adopted the following Safe Church Policy and Abuse Prevention Guidelines. 

Our understanding of the Gospel and our call to love one another requires that we take abuse in the church context seriously. Specifically, scripture calls the church to be a community that provides healing, seeks justice, pays special attention to vulnerable people, and exercises authority with care.

Safe Church Team

To report an allegation of abuse, talk through a concern, or request pastoral care/counseling please reach out to a member of our safe church team: Peter Zigterman, Debbie Boyce, Anne Fennema or Pastor Derek. 

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Guiding Principles 

Loop Church is committed to the following:

  1. Allegations of misconduct or abuse will be taken seriously. The default position of the committee is to believe the allegation of the victim/claimant.

  2. Abuse and Misconduct as previously defined against a child or adult in a church building, in a church-sponsored program, or by church volunteers and church leaders will not be tolerated. 

  3. Any applicant for a church volunteer or staff position with a previous history of sexual misconduct or physical assault, or misdemeanor or felony conviction of child abuse, or pleading of no contest to any misdemeanor or felony charge will not be allowed to serve in any positions that put others at risk. 

  4. Allegations by a minor of abuse or misconduct by a church volunteer or church leader, in a church facility, or in a church-sponsored program will be reported to child protection -- authorities will be notified within 24 hours if there is reasonable cause to suspect that child abuse has occurred. Loop Church will cooperate with the civil authorities responsible for handling reported incidents of abuse. 

  5. Allegations by adults of abuse or misconduct by a church volunteer or church leader, in a church facility, or in a church-sponsored program will be reported to the proper authorities within a week if there is reasonable cause to suspect that abuse has occurred. Loop Church will cooperate with the civil authorities responsible for handling reported incidents of abuse.

  6. An accused person has the right to due process in the church and outside the church. 

  7. A victim/claimant is not to be held responsible for misconduct or abuse that occurs. 

  8. A volunteer or church leader who is accused of misconduct will be removed from serving until the allegations are resolved. 

  9. A volunteer or church leader who confesses or is found guilty of sexual or physical misconduct against a minor or adult will be removed from position or office. 

  10. A volunteer or church leader removed from position or office due to abuse or misconduct will not be considered for re-entry or reinstatement to any position that puts others at risk. No decisions regarding reinstatement will be made without the advice of legal counsel. 

  11. Recognizing the destructive power of claims of abuse, the church will offer pastoral care for claimants and their families, accused persons and their families, and the congregation

  12. The church will seek to support victims/claimants as they pursue healing and will not coerce or expect victims/claimants to forget or forgive.

Restorative Justice

The Abuse Claimants Task Force Report (2010) highlights the importance and challenge of responding to allegations of abuse with Restorative Justice principles and practices. The report states:

“Synod 2005 affirmed principles of restorative justice and urged “congregations, schools, denominational offices, other Christian institutions, and homes to employ restorative justice practices” in their community lives (Acts of Synod 2005, p. 762)... Accountability, restitution, and healing of broken relationships are major goals of the church’s response to abuse.” (484-485).

Restorative Justice Principles

  1. Seek vindication and healing for victims/claimants, not pushing them aside in pursuit of blind justice, but recognizing their pain and loss. 

  2. Take seriously the harm done by requiring of the offender a sentence proportional to the weight of the crime. 

  3. Call the offender to take responsibility for the crime and offer ways for the offender to do so. 

  4. Restore, where possible, the losses suffered by the victim/claimant. 

  5. Seek reconciliation between offender and victim/claimant, provided the victim/claimant also desires reconciliation. 

  6. Attempt to restore the peace of the community. 

  7. Involve the community in the process of justice. 

  8. Exercise punishment in a way that promotes healing and restoration whenever possible. 

Challenges for Application of Restorative Justice Principles

  1. Power imbalances between the victim/claimant and the accused

  2. The need for both parties to participate voluntarily

  3. Finding and applying appropriate practices for each situation

  4. Legal responsibilities and legal liabilities

Suggestions for Implementation of Restorative Justice Principles

  1. Use or involve a trained facilitator

  2. Hold preparatory dialogue with individual stakeholders such as spouses, family members, and other affected  church members

  3. Pay attention to restoration of both victim/claimant and offender

  4. Allow victims/claimants to tell about their story, the harm done, and the impact of what happened

  5. Allow accused persons to present their side of the story and explain circumstances and impacts for them

  6. Extend the role of an advocate to be used during the decision-making process 

  7. Allow the victim/claimant to state what will help in the healing process and what restitution could look like

  8. Ensure that any  offer of restitution by an offender be voluntary and genuine

  9. Allow  flexibility in the process

  10. All persons directly or indirectly involved with incidents of misconduct or abuse are to act with honesty, charity, and confidence in God’s power to forgive and heal.

Additional Resources

Denominational Resources from the CRCNA SAFE Church Resource Directory: 

Counseling Services in Chicago

Resorative Justice Reosurces