Safety Policies and Procedures

We strongly believe it is one of our core responsibilities as the Church to help care for and keep safe those who are vulnerable; this includes both children and adults. This is not something we pursue alone, but with a great provision of resources from our diocese. These resources include shared safety policies across all the churches of our diocese; a diocesan Safety Coordinator; and a partnership with other dioceses, called ACNA West, that includes a Misconduct Office and third-party intake-officer who receives concerns or reports of misconduct or abuse.
Our Policies

Our Policies for protecting children and adults are contained in two documents that we encourage you to view below.

  1. The Ministry Worker Handbook - This contains the policies that all of our ministry workers—whether volunteer, staff, or clergy—need to know and follow.

  2. The Policy for the Protection of Children and Adults - This contains additional policies that only some ministry workers need to know. All supervisors and clergy must read and follow this policy.

These Policies are shared with and signed by employees, clergy, our Vestry, and those who volunteer with children and vulnerable adults,; all go through a robust screening process and follow up training.

Here are some of the policies and procedures our leaders and volunteers follow:

  • All volunteers at Church of the Cross must attend Church of the Cross for a minimum of six months before being eligible to serve in positions providing access to or involving interaction with minors. 

  • All volunteers working with minors must pass a background check followed by a personal interview. 

  • All volunteers working with minors must complete yearly in-person and online training to learn about proper safety and reporting policies and procedures.

 

Our Response to Report of Abuse

We will report all suspected or alleged abuse or neglect of children to Hennepin County Child Protective Services.

This is because Church of the Cross is committed to providing children and their families with a safe, secure environment. To this end, any report of inappropriate behavior or suspicions of abuse or neglect will be taken seriously and will be reported, in accordance with this policy and MN state law, to Child Protective Services or criminal law enforcement.

 

When You Should Report

When in doubt, report.

Because sexual abusers ‘groom’ children for abuse, it is possible that a staff member or volunteer may witness behavior intended to groom a child for sexual abuse. Please report ‘grooming’ behavior, policy violations, or any suspicious behaviors to an immediate supervisor so that the church can take appropriate action to safeguard children in the program.

How to Report

To make a child protection report, call 612-348-3552. You can also email cfsinfo@hennepin.us or check out more information on the Hennepin County website.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

No permission is needed from Church of the Cross before reporting to law enforcement personnel or the Child Abuse Hotline. 

While not required by state law, please report all suspicions of child abuse or neglect (or any inappropriate or ‘grooming’ behaviors of a colleague or coworker) to an immediate supervisor. This request is intended to assist the church in properly protecting children involved in Church of the Cross programs.


Next Steps after Reporting to Child Protection

  1. Report to an Intake Officer as described at midwestanglican.org/reporting-misconduct 

    • The person who witnessed or became aware of the Abuse must report to the Intake Officer. If desired, the person making the report may request the Children’s Pastor or the Youth Pastor to participate in making the report. Confidentiality will be honored consistent with law and the safety of the alleged victim.

 

Reporting Misconduct of Any Kind

You can view the diocesan misconduct reporting page here.

As part of Church of the Cross (and the Upper Midwest Diocese), you have full access to the Misconduct Office’s* reporting services via a neutral, third-party Intake Officer whose expertise spans a twenty-year career. As a Chief Compliance Officer for three large investment firms, her responsibilities included conducting investigations into potential wrongdoing, gathering facts, conducting interviews, and assessing actions against policies and procedures. Besides receiving misconduct complaints involving clergy, staff, or laity of member dioceses, the Intake Officer also serves as a resource as we continue to research best practices in safeguarding policies, procedures, and care.

If you have a concern about misconduct in one of our diocesan churches, please report it. If you see something, please say something. The Intake Officer is ready and able to receive any concern or complaint from any person about any person (clergy, diocesan or church staff, or lay leader) in any of our churches.)

The initial information you provide will only be received by the Intake Officer. 

*The Misconduct Office and Intake Officer are part of the ACNA West collaboration of dioceses.

 

Questions?

If you have any questions about our safety policies, procedures, or reporting, please contact our Safety Coordinator, Andrea Pope.