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. This quality of life together is referred to as “safe conduct” in this document; for more information, see Appendix C.  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 to lead and guide the presbytery and member churches in fulfillment of 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 affirmatively nurture good behavior, and to 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 to nurture 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.

Download the Policy