Over the last few years, we have agreed upon a vision statement, a safeguarding policy, a church policy, a Wesley Centre mission statement and a policy for our property.
Our Vision:
Our calling, as Sandbach Methodist Church, is to respond to the Good News of God’s love in Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit to prayerfully live this out in worship and mission.
In fellowship with other Christians, we are called:
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy for Sandbach Methodist Church
This policy was agreed at a Church Council held on 7th April 2011
The Methodist Church, along with the whole Christian community, believes each person has a value and dignity which comes directly from God’s creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things, this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
The Sandbach Methodist Church is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and affirms that the needs of children or of people when they are vulnerable are paramount.
The Sandbach Methodist Church recognises that none of us is invulnerable but that there is a particular care for those whose vulnerability is increased by situations, by disabilities or by reduction in capacities. It is recognised that this increased vulnerability may be temporary or permanent and may be visible or invisible, but that it does not diminish our humanity and seeks to affirm the gifts and graces of all God’s people.
This policy addresses the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. It is intended to be a dynamic policy. It is intended to support the Church in being a safe supportive and caring community for children, young people, vulnerable adults, for survivors of abuse, for communities and for those affected by abuse.
The Sandbach Methodist Church fully agrees with the Connexional statement reiterated in Creating Safer Space 2007:
As the people of the Methodist Church we are concerned with the wholeness of each individual within God’s purpose for everyone. We seek to safeguard all members of the church community of all ages.
The Sandbach Methodist Church recognises the serious issue of the abuse of children and vulnerable adults and recognises that this may take the form of physical, emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual or institutional abuse or neglect. It acknowledges the effects these may have on people and their development including spiritual and religious development. It accepts its responsibility for ensuring that all people are safe in its care and that their dignity and right to be heard is maintained. It accepts its responsibility to support, listen to and work for healing with survivors, offenders, communities and those who care about them. It takes seriously the issues of promotion of welfare so that each of us can reach our full potential in God’s grace.
The Sandbach Methodist Church commits itself to respond without delay to any allegation or cause for concern that a child or vulnerable adult may have been harmed, whether in the church or in another context. It commits itself to challenge the abuse of power of anyone in a position of trust.
The Sandbach Methodist Church commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legislation and guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.
The Sandbach Methodist Church commits itself to the provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable.
The Sandbach Methodist Church affirms and gives thanks for the work of those who are workers with children and vulnerable adults and acknowledges the shared responsibility of all of us for safeguarding vulnerable adults who are on our premises.
The Sandbach Methodist Church appoints Dianne Harris as Church Safeguarding Adults Representative and as Church Safeguarding Children
Coordinator and supports him/her/them in his/her/their role which is to:
a) Purpose
The purposes of this safeguarding policy are to ensure procedures are in place and people are clear about roles and responsibilities for vulnerable adults in our care and using our premises. It is to be read in conjunction with the Methodist Safeguarding Handbook (2010).
b) Good Practice
We believe good practice means that:
These things are to safeguard those working with children, young people and those adults who may be vulnerable.
c) Appointment and training of workers
Workers will be appointed after a satisfactory CRB disclosure. Each worker will be expected to undergo basic safeguarding training, within the first year of appointment. The other training needs of each worker will be considered (e.g. food hygiene, first aid, lifting and handling, etc.) and each worker will have an annual review conducted by a named member of the Church Council and another worker within the organisation.
d) Pastoral visitors
In terms of safeguarding, Pastoral Visitors will be supported in their role with the provision of basic safeguarding training upon appointment.
e) Guidelines for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults
A leaflet will be produced and reviewed annually to be given to each worker with vulnerable adults outlining good practice and systems. The leaflet will be reviewed annually with this policy [Church Councils may produce their own material or use appropriate Connexional leaflets].1
f) Ecumenical events
Where ecumenical events happen on church premises, safeguarding is the responsibility of this Church Council.
g) Events with church groups off the premises
Adequate staffing will be ensured for such events. Notification of the event will be given to the Minister.
h) Other groups on church premises
Where the building is hired for outside use, the person signing the letting agreement [which should include Safeguarding Form E],2 will be given a copy of this policy and the leaflet. The lettings secretary will consider the various users of the building in making lettings3
i) Complaints procedure
It is hoped that complaints can generally be dealt with internally by the organisations. However, a complaint may be made to a person who will be appointed by the Church Council and who is currently ........................................ (name). If a complaint is made to another person, it should be passed to ........................................ (name) who will arrange to meet with the complainant and attempt to resolve the complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved, consideration will be given to invoking the complaints system of the Methodist Church which will involve initially speaking with the Local Complaints Officer who is ........................................ (name).
j) Review
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Church Council. The date of the next review is April 2012
k) Key concepts and definitions
Dated 7th April 2011
Signed Rev K Stilwell, Chair of Church Council
1 These have yet to be produced for vulnerable adults.
2 To be found in Recruiting Safely in the Methodist Church 2010.
3 Such as the code of practice or the pocket guide.
Please click here to see our safeguarding guidelines.
Our Policy:
| We consider our core objectives to be | To attain these objectives we will | Our plans will therefore include |
|---|---|---|
| To deepen our spiritual life, as a church and as individuals. |
|
Continuing the ‘Together’ services to bring the whole church family together in worship.
Continuing with ‘Alpha’ courses, both as an individual church and with other churches. Seek to revive Bible-study groups and set up post-‘Alpha’ fellowship groups. Establish cell groups. Recruiting and, where necessary, training leader for these groups. |
| To create oppportunities to get to know one another better. |
|
Encouraging these organisations to provide a varied programme of speakers and activities. |
| To provide for young people a junior Church which is healthy, vibrant and valued by the whole church. |
|
Recruitment of a rota of adults to supervise play with a Christian content. Recruitmant and training for suitable Junior Church teachers and leaders. |
| The integration of our church life with the mid-week actiities flowing from and into our Sunday worship. |
|
Utilise our Publicity Officer and continue to improve our publicity. The church should base its teaching/preaching on the Wesley Centre Mission Statement with its clear emphasis on integration. The Wesley Centre Project will rightly be our major focus as a church over the next few years, but it is important that it is not seen as an end in itself, but rather as a means to an end, that end being Mission and Service. More focus on prayer as church, and more use of both the existing Intercessions Book, and the new Schoolroom Prayer book. Need to enable increased participation in Wesley Centre Project of groups using our buildings (e.g. Playgroup, Youth Club, etc.). Explore possibility of church groups (e.g. Guild, Friendship Circle, etc.) taking responsibility for a Sunday service, and community groups (e.g. Rotary, Probus, etc.) contributing to a Sunday service. |
| To identify and release the resources available to us as a Stewardship church. |
|
Continue regular Stewardship Renewal Campaigns. Consultation with, and seeking agreement of the Church Family to the proposed Property Policy. Major maintenance work on the Chapel. |
| To widen our outreach through witness, care and involvement in the community. |
|
Taking a full part in the work of ‘Churches Together in Sandbach’ and in the activities
arranged by it. Seeking to develop the use of our Church buildings as a place of worship, a community resource and an educational facility. |
The Wesley Centre Mission Statement:
A VISION of a building, a suite of buildings, alive with activity. With young people, and old people, served and serving through a range of activities. A vision of a community being served by a church seeking to fulfil its calling to share God’s love with, and speak God’s word to, our neighbours. Activity inspiring, and inspired by, Sunday worship and weekday prayer. A church with its worship area open to its weekday visitors, where welcome and witness are two sides of the one coin. A building where modern facilities complement heritage and history; where church as building and church as people come together to enable true friendship and true worship. A building and a people in which Christ is to be found.
Property - Towards a Policy
Introduction
In seeking to determine policy with regard to our Property we are mindful of the danger of Church being identified with buildings. The church buildings are not the Church, rather they are a resource of the Churh, entrusted to us by God in order that we might do His work. In using and caring for our buildings we seek to be good stewards of all the gifts God has given us, including property, money, and people’s time. Our church buildings must enable the mission of the church, and not disable that mission. We must be aware of what our property says to those around us. In considering our policy with regard to our Property we have considered questions such as ‘What is our property for? Is the answer different for different buildings? Is what it should be for different to what it is now?’.
We believe policy must relate to:
Use and Management of Buildings
Currently the Church building is used for Worship (weekly), occasional offices, and very
occasional rehearsals and concerts. It is also a sign of Christian presence to the town, a noticeboard,
and a link to the past with a heritage significance.
We believe that good stewardship must mean the building being used more often and by more
people than at present.
We also believe that the invitation to ‘come to church’ is more likely to be responded to by people
who have already been inside the building.
Our policy is to develop the use of the Church building as (i) a place of worship, (ii) a community
resource, and (iii) an educational facility (in contact with local schools).
The Hall and ancillary rooms are currently used for work with children and young people,
both church sponsored and other, for worship and prayer, for social/fellowship events/groups, for
fund raising purposes, for community/charity events/groups, and for church councils and meetings.
In line with our core objectives we identify the priority for use as follows:
The use of the premises will be managed by a Lettings Secretary in the light of the above priorities. The property will be adequately insured. We will ensure good practise in matters of Health and Safety.
Care and Provision/Maintenance of Buildings
It is important that we care for and maintain our buildings to a good standard. To do so is to exercise good stewardship, and is implicitly part of our missionary task as our buildings are a sign of the church’s mission and welcome.
Housekeeping - cleaning:
Maintenance: