Lansing United Methodist Church cherishes the call to be a place where all experience God’s love, and earnestly seek to be accepting of all, by word and deed.
The June 2011 Session of the Upper New York Annual Conference adopted the resolution creating a Safe Sanctuaries® policy to reduce the risk of abuse of children, youth and vulnerable adults participating in the ministries of our churches, districts, agencies and ministry groups. Lansing United Methodist Church adopted the most recent Safe Sanctuaries Policy in May of 2017 and training courses are offered locally and throughout the Conference.
Each staff member and volunteer are required to complete the Safe Sanctuaries training course when working with potentially vulnerable adults, youth, or children. The course is a dynamic small group learning session which instructs in the current local and Conference minimum standards and best practices for compliance in Safe Sanctuaries policies. It is a 3-hour course which is offered in-person or online, as is appropriate for safety protocols. This Conference training must be updated every five years for all persons having regular and direct contact with potentially vulnerable adults, youth or children. Additionally, each ministry will offer annual orientation/refresher training which addresses how Lansing United Safe Sanctuaries policies and procedures apply to specific ministries or events.
Upon completion of the course, a staff member or volunteer will have knowledge of the Safe Sanctuaries policies, meanings and consequences of abuse, risk factors, how to report abuse or neglect, identify risk factors and safety practices for ministries within and without the building.
Additional resources about Safe Sanctuaries, including links to books addressing Safe Sanctuaries practices related specifically to older adults or the virtual world can be found here.