Safe Church Policy

As a community of Christian faith, the Presbytery of the Pacific is committed to creating and maintaining programs, facilities, and a community in which members, friends, staff, and volunteers can worship, learn, and work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation or intimidation. The Presbytery of the Pacific supports the principles of safe conduct, which include individual responsibility in fulfilling the highest standards of personal conduct toward others and leading and guiding the Presbytery and member churches to fulfill the standards set by our Christian faith.   The Presbytery of the Pacific strongly opposes and prohibits sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, or any form of exploitation or abuse of others regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identification, or mental capacity.  It is the intention of the Presbytery of the Pacific to nurture good behavior affirmatively, prevent and correct behavior that is contrary to this policy, and, as necessary, discipline those persons who violate this policy.

Every member of the Presbytery of the Pacific, whether ordained teaching or ruling elder, deacon, employee, volunteer, or participant, has a role in nurturing the safety of this community by being informed about approved standards of ethical conduct, by monitoring behaviors that cross boundaries of safe conduct, and being role models and resources for those who look to them individually for guidance.  The Book of Order of the PC(USA) states in G-4.0302 that any member of the church engaged in ordered ministry (ruling or teaching elder or deacon) or any certified Christian educator employed by this church or its congregations shall report to ecclesiastical and civil legal authorities knowledge of harm, or the risk of harm, related to the physical abuse, neglect, and/or sexual molestation or abuse of a minor or an adult who lacks mental capacity.

The Presbytery’s safe church policy is being revised. In the meantime, please refer to PCUSA’s Child/Youth/Vulnerable Adult Policy and Procedure.