Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Forum
It can happen here !
Take these 5 steps — today — to prevent abuse or molestation at your church
Many pastors believe sexual abuse is beyond the realm of possibility in their churches .
In reality , it happens all too often … and many times , those same pastors aren ’ t aware until it ’ s too late to respond responsibly .
The results can be devastating for all involved , with massive spiritual , emotional , legal and reputational consequences .
Fortunately , there ’ s a lot you can do .
# 1 : The first ( but certainly not only ) step : background checks Thorough background checks must be conducted for all staff and volunteers who work with children , at any time . That ’ s a given . Sadly , however , some perpetrators know how to evade background checks — and they gravitate to where children are . They ’ re at church . So , the next step is to acknowledge that a sexual abuse incident could occur at any time , if your church is only doing the bare minimum of background checks . You must mitigate accordingly , which includes …
# 2 : Have a written / formal abuse prevention policy in place This should include common-sense , transparency-focused measures , such as prohibiting one-on-one , shut-door interactions with children , and making sure parents can easily check in on their kids . Also be sure that the children ’ s ministry isn ’ t entirely run by volunteers ; a staff member also needs to be involved . If possible , a specific committee should be formed to update and implement this comprehensive abuse prevention policy . Additionally , I ’ ve found the MinistrySafe awareness training offered by Gregory Love and Kimberlee Norris to be the best possible resource in this regard .
# 3 : When an allegation arises , take action When an incident occurs , some church leaders ’ first instinct is to “ handle it ” in a way that protects church staff and volunteers . This ignores — very much at the church ’ s peril — not only the alleged victim ’ s / family ’ s needs , but also time-sensitive state laws about abuse and molestation reporting . Not only must the incident and the staff member or volunteer involved be reported to the authorities , they must also be reported to your insurance carrier as soon as possible . Aside from the legal obligation to involve your carrier , your insurer can also provide assistance in interacting with the media , as well as proper legal counsel .
No church can afford to try and “ make it go away ” when an abuse allegation arises — and for so many reasons , it shouldn ’ t try .
# 4 : Know the difference between “ claims made ” and “ occurrence ” Essentially , there are two forms of coverage : claims-made and occurrence . Stated as simply as possible , the danger for a church lies in switching from claims-made to occurrence , writing a new policy , as this can create a gap in coverage . In many states , the statute of limitations for reporting abuse and molestation is now 30-plus years . Some years ago , many denominations were covered by master policies , many of them written on a claims-made basis . As such , the switch might mean your church potentially wouldn ' t have coverage for an incident that happened decades ago . Be sure to talk with your agent about claims-made and occurrence before making any policy changes .
# 5 : Take a hard look at your current insurance policies , coverage Buying insurance on a cost-first basis is common in churches , and rife with risk . It ’ s especially dangerous when it comes to your church ’ s abuse and molestation liability . I advise purchasing the highest possible limits — no less than a $ 1-million limit per period . For medium-size churches , I ’ d recommend $ 2 million or higher . For larger churches , I ’ d suggest $ 5 million-plus . Also ask about the possibility of purchasing a higher limit on an umbrella policy ’ s abuse sublimit . Doing so will expand your coverage . Of course , at IOA , our responsibilities are inclusive of securing the most comprehensive coverages and limits ; however , we ’ re also aggressive in getting competitive pricing . Be aware that abuse and molestation is a complex coverage area , and — in my experience — not every insurer writes it correctly . As this is the most serious and potentially damaging threat facing churches today , be sure to seek out a carrier or broker that specializes in working with churches . Aside from abuse and molestation policies , these providers will be familiar with other exposures considered in the policies , including crime policies and employee dishonesty . At IOA , we ’ re committed to “ making the complex simple .”
Although sexual abuse is something no one in the Church wants to think about or talk about , we must protect the children in our care . And we can . churchexecutive . com CHURCH EXECUTIVE 13