Safe Congregation

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a Safe Congregation
To help protect children, Bethlehem Lutheran Church has adopted a Child and Youth Abuse Prevention Program. It is important that all Bethlehem Lutheran Church paid staff and volunteers understand and implement these guidelines to help prevent sexual abuse against children. The following includes the Purpose and Definitions for these guidelines, the outlines of Protection and Prevention, and an Acknowlwdgement to be signed by those people working with children. We also require background checks on all volunteers and staff members who work with children.

The adoption of the Child and Youth Abuse Prevention Program is meant to make clear the intent of our church to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our children and youth, as well as to create an enviroment of hospitality, respect and equality within the church as a whole.

We must all be aware of the impact of our words and actions on the well-being of ur children and others. We must take care to appropriately minister to our youth, and make sure that everyone finds our church a safe sanctuary to experience God's love and kinship to Christ.