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Is Your Church A Safe Sanctuary Church?

Written: 4/11/2008

Conference Children's Coordinator Liz Bowlin offers the following reminders to all North Alabama Conference churches as you continue your ministries to grow more children disciples in your congregation..

All churches in the North Alabama Conference are required to have a written Safe Sanctuary Child Protection Policy and adhering the policy.

A few rules to remember:

1. All adults (must be 18 years or older) must have a national background report on file at the church.  This must be renewed every three years.
    
2. The 2-5-6- Rule:
   - There must be 2 adults (18 years old and up) per room.
   - Adults must be 5 years older than the oldest youth in the group.
   - Adults must be members of the church for at least  months or actively involved for 6 months with references from previous church.
    
3. Open Door Rule:
   All doors must have windows or the doors must remain open during activity. The upper one-half of Dutch doors must remain open during activity.
    
4. Teenagers may serve as assistants but are not considered as one of the two adults.

For more information, please contact Liz Bowlin, 1-800-239-7950 or (205) 226-7993 or lbowlin@northalabamaumc.org .