ChurchSafety

As people of faith, making others feel welcomed and comforted is part of the job. It's important to keep in mind that everyone has different thresholds for touching others and being touched. A gesture intended to comfort someone could, in fact, have the opposite effect and make that person very uncomfortable. Learn how to develop safe boundaries for church relationships with our simple tips.

Extend a hand first. Initiate touching at the lowest level of contact based on the status of the relationship. Extend a hand to those you don't know well. If they respond with more contact, then you have a better idea of what their comfort level is.

Ask permission. If you pick up cues that the other person seeks more comforting gestures—like a hug—ask permission before proceeding. This simple step establishes that the other person is in control and gives him or her an easy way out if you have misread the cues.

Establish clear counseling guidelines. Consider restrictions on the length and number of sessions for both in-person and telephone counseling. Adopt firm rules on counseling in an open location with a third person present.

Be on the lookout. Keep your eyes and ears open for red flags. Signs of depression, family problems or even financial concerns can be clues that misconduct of some kind is occurring.

Form a crisis response team. It's critical to have a response team in place if crisis occurs. The team should be appointed by the board or pastor and include at least one member of the pastoral staff.

Understand reporting laws. Many states have mandatory reporting laws on misconduct involving minors. Be sure to comply with federal, state, and local reporting laws or consult a local attorney immediately for assistance.

Communicate on a need to know basis. You will more than likely need to address the entire congregation when a crisis occurs. However, the level of detail communicated will vary depending on the parties' involvement in the situation or their exposure to risk.

Contact your insurance company. Notify your insurance company as soon as you are aware of a potential problem. An insurance professional can guide you through the steps needed to ensure coverage, if applicable.

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