Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
district and the assigned District Superintendent. It is recommended that the committee additionally include the District Lay Leader, the District Director(s) of Lay Speaking Ministries, and representatives of the district United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men chapters, and that the committee select additional at large members if it sees fit. B. District Committees on Nominations shall meet at least once per year and are encouraged to conduct additional meetings in person or electronically.
Abuse Prevention Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults for IGRC Conference & Districts (Adopted 2015)
Introduction Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one such child . . . welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5 CEB). Children are our present and our future, our hope, our teachers, our inspiration. They are full participants in the life of the church and in the realm of God. Jesus also said, “As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake” (Matthew 18:6 CEB). Our Christian faith calls us to offer both hospitality and protection to the little ones, the children. The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church state that “children must be protected from economic, physical, emotional, and sexual exploitation and abuse” (¶162C). God calls us to make our churches safe places, protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and ritual abuse. God calls us to create communities of faith where children and adults grow safe and strong. (From The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church – 2012, p. 240.) Thus, we adopt this policy for reducing the risk of abuse of children and vulnerable adults in the ministries and activities of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Scope This policy and its provisions shall apply to all staff and volunteers, clergy or lay, who have contact with children under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults in conference and district sponsored events. This policy does not supersede the responsibility of local churches to develop and implement their own policies for the prevention of abuse to children and vulnerable adults. Purpose Our conference’s purpose for establishing this Abuse Prevention Policy and accompanying procedures is to demonstrate our strong and unwavering commitment to the safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and vulnerable adults. Statement of Covenant Therefore, as a Christian community of faith and a United Methodist Annual Conference, we pledge to engage in the ministry of the Gospel in ways that assure the safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and vulnerable adults as well as all who work with them. We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers; we will implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; we will educate all of our workers with children and vulnerable adults regarding the use of appropriate policies and methods; we will have a clearly
Historical and Official Information 317
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