Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
Parish Relations Committee and the District Superintendent at the time of consultation prior to appointment. The housing provisions shall be approved by the Cabinet. d) Any exceptions to these provisions shall be negotiated and approved by the pastor, the District Superintendent and the Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. e) When a pastor is paid a housing allowance, the amount of the housing allowance shall be reviewed annually by the Staff/Pastor Parish Rela- tions Committee for adequacy to the cost of housing in the prevailing local market. This review and any adjustments made to the housing allowance shall be recorded annually at charge conferences. D. Safe Sanctuaries: Each local church of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference is strongly urged to: 1. Develop and implement an ongoing education plan on the reality of child abuse, risk factors leading to child abuse, and strategies for prevention. 2. Adopt screening procedures (use of application forms, interviews, refer- ence checks, background clearance, etc.) for workers (paid and unpaid) directly involved in the care of children and youth. 3. Develop and implement safety procedures for church activities such as having two or more non-related adults present in classrooms or activity; leaving doors open or installing half doors or windows in doors or halls; providing hall monitors; instituting sign in and sign out procedures for children ages 10 or younger, etc. 4. Advise children and young persons of an agency or a person outside as well as within a local church whom they can contact for advice and help if they have suffered abuse. 5. Carry liability insurance that includes sexual abuse coverage. 6. Assist the development of awareness and self-protection skills for children and youth through special curriculum and activities. 7. Be familiar with annual conference and other church policies regarding clergy sexual misconduct. 8. The latest edition of Safe Sanctuaries, Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church , should serve as the primary resource text for all of the above. E. Setting Boundaries for Church Participation by a Registered Sex Offender: Each local church of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference is strongly urged to: 1. Hold discussions in the church council and in adult education settings about the possibility of facing the situation of a convicted sex offender returning to, attending, or joining the church. These discussions should be held and general agreements reached about actions to be taken should the church find itself in this circumstance. 2. Develop a carefully constructed and openly negotiated covenant between the offender and the church community. The covenant should include
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