Churches, make sure Safe Sanctuaries is in place for summertime

By ALEZE FULBRIGHT
Center for Leadership Development

 With vacation Bible schools, missions and other ministry opportunities for youth around the corner, congregations should ensure these events are safer by reviewing and updating their Safe Sanctuaries policies and procedures.

 The North Texas Conference has been implementing Safe Sanctuaries over the past three years. The 2008 Annual Conference adopted the three-year plan for all local churches to fully activate training and certification for all staff and volunteer adult leaders of children and youth. Local churches are expected to have adapted the Safe Sanctuaries policy to their programming by this year’s annual conference.

 The Center for Leadership Development is reminding congregations about the importance of annually locating, reviewing and updating the local church’s Safe Sanctuaries policy and procedures. Theses policies are effective only if members are educated and trained. Churches are also encouraged to conduct complete background checks on each staff member and adult volunteer leader each year and to have them undergo Safe Sanctuaries training at least every two years.

 The NTC has a simple process for the checks through Trak-1. This partnership offers individuals complete background checks covering criminal history, sexual offender registries and a Social Security number check for a one-time fee of $13.99. In addition, individuals can complete Safe Sanctuaries training online for $10. This process is streamlined so that individuals can pay and handle everything in a quick, convenient manner. Go to https://www.smart-trak.com/ntc.

 Call the Center for Leadership Development at 972-526-5000 if you need assistance.

 The Eiland Collins Foundation contributed $1,500 to the Hamilton Park Pacesetters Elementary School as a part of its commitment to provide scholarships to students the Hamilton Park Community in science, technology and mathematics.

Wayland Walker, community liaison for the Hamilton Park Pacesetters School, acknowledged the gift by saying, “We are eternally grateful to you, Pastor Booker, Hamilton Park United Methodist Church and the Eiland Collins Foundation for your untiring support of the educational efforts here at our school. Through your generosity, our sixth-grade kids who are unable to financially afford the trip will now be able to experience this wonderful experience
at NASA.”

The Eiland Collins Foundation, founded in August of 2002 was the brainchild of Ken Jarvis and Lonnie Byse, members of the Hamilton Park United Methodist Men’s Ministry.The foundation was named for Eiland Collins, a UMM member at Hamilton Park and unofficial mayor of the Hamilton Park community. The purpose of the foundation is to provide Hamilton Park youth with tutoring and counseling, scholarships and emergency assistance. Over the years, the foundation has contributed more than $10,000 to the Hamilton Park Pacesetters Elementary School.