By Dr. Jay L. Sedwick I’m driving home from the church, listening to the radio for traffic information, and the top-of-the-hour newscast leads with the headline: “Local Minister Arrested for Sexually Abusing Numerous Children.” Oh no — not again, I think to myself. My heart sinks in my chest. I wonder, How can this continue […]
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Churches and other faith-based organizations that supervise or work with youth are under a legal and moral obligation to protect against sexual abuse and misconduct.
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In recent years, as headlines raise awareness on this important issue, churches are doing more than ever to protect the children in their care. Despite the best efforts to perform background checks and follow best practices to protect children and churches, insurance claims for sexual misconduct persist. Accordingly, the amounts and availability of insurance coverage […]
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Steps to take before — and, God forbid, after — an allegation is made Insurance carriers — by instituting requirements and guidelines for acquiring coverage — have done a great job of bringing about change and moving church clients toward having a child protection policy in place. Indeed, with respect to our own church clients, […]
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National Child Abuse Prevention Month is upon us. Commemorate it by brushing up on some basics — and taking impactful action in your own church to protect children. Church Executive: As insurers, what kind of an increase in child sexual abuse claims have you seen among churches in recent years? Andrew Shockey: It was […]
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What would our houses of worship do without volunteers? They are essential to carrying out the mission of so many churches, supporting not only outreach and programming, but everyday operations. Volunteers are even more valuable in the current economic environment, as rising costs and labor shortages continue to put additional strain on already limited resources. […]
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Professional advice on what’s required for volunteers versus staff For many churches, a background check is the only line of defense employed when screening volunteers and staff. Is it enough? Brian Gleason: A background check is a best practice in searching for any previous convictions since previous behavior is the best indicator of future behavior. […]
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Churches want to do all they can to keep the children in their care far from harm. Yet, these spaces are often considered “soft targets” among offenders. That’s because — despite the best intentions — gaps and missteps are prevalent in churches’ efforts to create a safe space for all. Here, two expert panelists discuss […]
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