Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
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 agreements in the following areas: participation in a professional counsel- ing program for at least the entire time of church membership or participa- tion; adult “covenant partners” to accompany the offender while on church property or attending church activities; areas of church facilities that are “off limits”; restrictions on leadership in or on behalf of church; no role in church that includes contact with children or youth; any additional conditions for presence of participation. The local church is strongly advised to consult with legal counsel and the church’s liability insurance carrier during the process of developing the covenant agreement. 3. Assure that the covenant is maintained by having it written and signed by the offender, the pastor(s), and the chairperson of the church council. While confidentiality of victims should be respected, the covenant should not be secret. Monitoring of the covenant should be taken seriously as a permanent responsibility. VII. MISCELLANEOUS A. Expenses for Annual Conference Meetings: Travel expenses for the Annual Conference shall be set at the rate adopted by the Annual Conference at the recommendation of the Annual Conference Council on Finance and Administration. The pooling of rides shall be encouraged for Annual Conference meetings. B. Incurring indebtedness for capital improvements: All boards and agencies shall be required to consult with the annual Conference Board of Trustees and the Annual Conference Council on Finance and Administration and to obtain the approval of the Annual Conference before incurring any indebtedness for capital improvements for which the Annual Conference would be responsible. C. Unpaid Apportionments: Any unpaid apportionments shall be a claim against church property in the event said property is abandoned and/or sold. D. Sale of Discontinued, Abandoned, or Retired Properties: 1. Sale of Discontinued or Abandoned Properties: (¶s 2542 and 2549, 2020/2024 Book of Discipline ): After the local church has exercised the provisions of ¶ 2541 regarding the sale of church properties and structures declared discontinued or abandoned (¶ 2549.3), the net proceeds from
348 Standing Rules
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