Important to implement, review children’s ministry area policies

Danielle Bell, minister to children at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, said her congregation practiced an intruder alert a few months ago and discovered “we weren’t as prepared as we thought we were.”

“One of the doors we thought was locked wasn’t and the walkie-talkies in the sanctuary were on a different channel from ours,” she said. “This is a major reason we need to practice the ‘big’ things like fire, weather and intruder drills.”

‘Safety First’ tips

Bell was presenter for the recent “Safety First” webinar coordinated by the office of Sunday School and discipleship of the State Board of Missions.

Bell noted three major areas to consider.

1. Policies. “We’re people-centered, but policies help us deal with people better,” she said. “Policies demonstrate that we care for people. This is where we all quite literally ‘get on the same page.’”

Bell said in one church a volunteer offered to serve in both morning Sunday Schools.

“Whereas I appreciated his spirit, I referred him to the written policy that said our workers needed also to demonstrate their faithfulness to worship, so he couldn’t miss worship by working another hour. The policy in place helped me with this matter.”

Bell listed several policy topics, including job descriptions, discipline, social media, child protection and incident reporting.

2. Procedure. “We have our policies available in the classrooms,” Bell said, noting the policies, or how-tos, should be reviewed periodically. “I found an idea from another ministry of hanging a backpack on the wall with items like flashlights but also with laminated copies of policies, most of them in bullet points for ease of reference.”
3. Practice. “We try to practice the ‘small’ things and the ‘big’ things.”

In the former category she mentioned her church’s use of security labels and writing incident reports.

“We note any cuts or scrapes and get the teacher to write what happened (for incident reports). We also report our contacts with the parents.”

Bell addressed the standard policy of “two unrelated adults” in a room with children.

“Maybe in smaller churches, cameras in the room might substitute, but I think you should talk with your attorney or your insurance carrier,” she said.

For more children’s ministry ideas, visit dandibell.com.

To reach the SBOM office of Sunday School and discipleship, call 800-264-1225.