Calvary Church’s Children’s Ministries General Handbook Dear Children’s Ministries’ Team Member, I am so thrilled that you are taking the time to read through this handbook as well as your age level handbook. The fact that you are reading this shows your commitment to serving the LORD with His children. Thank you for giving of your time, energy, gifts and love in investing in God’s work by helping children pursue life in Christ! Children’s Ministries exists to partner with parents in the spiritual development of their children. We desire to see children come to know, to love and then to obey the LORD now and for the rest of their lives. We want to take every opportunity we have to introduce and to teach children about the unsearchable riches of God’s Word. We in Children’s Ministries, love our team members! We bubble over with joy when we see people like yourself who love the Lord and who are passionate about using their gifts and experiences to make an eternal difference in the lives of children. You, our team members are the backbone of Children’s Ministries. We invest in you by equipping you to do the work of the ministry so that you can help children pursue life in Christ. This handbook and the individual age level handbooks are here to provide you information to help you be prepared to serve. If you have any questions after reading, please contact myself or the age level director. Thank you for investing in children’s lives, Sharon Smith Director of Children’s Ministries ssmith@calvarychurch.org or 560-2341 x. 243
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Table of Contents Message from Senior Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Children’s Ministries’ Vision, Mission & Values. . . . . . .
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Children’s Ministries’ Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5-6
Calvary Church’s Doctrinal Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9 Peacemaker Pledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Policies Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Sickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Guidelines Incident Report & Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14 Modesty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Social Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 General photography and video & forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19
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Message from Senior Pastor Dear Children’s Ministries’ Team Members, I want to personally thank each and everyone of you for the commitment that you are making to serve the children and the families that come to Calvary Church. On behalf of the entire Calvary staff, I want you to know that we are your biggest fans, your strongest supporters, and your trusted guides as you serve the Lord in Children's Ministry. You have the privilege of being one of the first people to have a spiritual influence in the lives of these kids, and for some, that time that you have with them each week might be the only spiritual influence that they receive. One of the challenges of working with children is that you may not always see the fruit of your labor, but I can assure you that your labor in the Lord in not in vain. You are doing what I like to call "below the surface work." You are helping to lay a foundation in their lives. You are placing the anchor of the Lord Jesus deep into their hearts so that as they get older they can't drift away. Thank you for the sacrifice that you, your spouse and your family are making to serve Calvary Church. You are an essential part of helping all of us to Pursue Life in Christ. Beau Eckert Senior Pastor Calvary Church
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Calvary Church Children’s Ministries Our Purpose: To partner with parents in the spiritual development of their children as we encourage and challenge each child to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus
Our Core Values: Commitment of our whole lives to Jesus Christ Hiding God’s Word in our hearts through Scripture memory Increasing in knowledge of and application of Bible Truth
Love for God and others Development of a global view and a heart to reach the lost
Our Vision: Helping Kids Grow Up in Christ and Reach Out to others! 4
Children’s Ministries Team Covenant Name Please check the area(s) of ministry in which you serve: Nursery Early Childhood Elementary King’s Kids Checkpoint Children’s Ministries Central (CMC) Study and Share ________
Touch of Grace—Buddy Ministry
Please check to indicate that you have read and agree with: Calvary Church’s Doctrinal Statement (signed) Peacemaker’s Pledge ________
Children’s Ministry General Team handbook (Policies/Guidelines)
_______
Specific Ministry level handbook (Nursery Team, Early Childhood Team or Elementary Team Handbook)
________
Social Media Guidelines
________
Photography & video Guidelines & Opt-out form
Please do not underestimate the importance of your role in our ministry to children. Each member of our team has a significant role in sharing God’s love and the truth of His Word with our children each week. Please pray that God will use you to draw the children in your care into a closer relationship with Him! As part of the Children’s Ministries at Calvary Church, I covenant to: 1. Have a genuine heart for God, manifested in my personal relationship with Him, with my family, with my co-workers and with the church. 5
As part of the Children’s Ministries at Calvary Church, I covenant to: 2.
Seek ways to be fed spiritually outside of the regular worship service of Calvary Church and to be accountable to other believers. (Other avenues may include an ABF, a small group, men’s or women’s Bible study, an accountability partner or group etc.)
3.
Adhere to Calvary Church’s doctrinal statement in all of my teaching and communication with the children.
4.
Adhere to Children’s Ministries Policies.
5.
Communicate God’s love to each child who is in my care, and model Christ-like behavior both in and out of my classroom.
6.
Be dependable in my ministry by being faithful in attendance, prepared and prompt in arriving.
7.
Communicate in advance to co-workers and directors when I must be absent.
8.
Follow the principles in the Peacemaker’s Pledge when I have a conflict with a co-worker, a classroom coordinator, or one of the ministry staff.
Signature
Date
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Calvary Church Doctrinal Statement Indicate by circling your personal adherence to the following doctrines:
1. The Bible Yes No
We believe the Old and New Testaments are completely verbally inspired by God and without error in the original writings, and that they are the complete, full and final authority for faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21.
2. Triune God Yes No
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each one of these three Persons possesses the same nature, the same attributes, and the same perfections of Deity. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
3. Jesus Christ: God and Man Yes No
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is both fully God and fully man. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:6-11; John 1:1, 14.
4. Mankind: Creation and Fall Yes No
We believe that mankind was created male and female in the image of God; that our first parents sinned and thereby incurred the judgment of both physical death and spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become accountable for sin in thought, word and deed. Genesis 1:1, 26; 2 Samuel 12:15-23; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23, 5:12, 6:23.
5. Jesus Christ: Our Sacrifice Yes No
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins, shedding His blood to take upon Himself all of the punishment for our sins, and that all who place their faith in Him as their Savior are declared by God to be righteous on the basis of Christ’s substitutionary death. This salvation is a gift from God by grace, apart from any human works or merit. Romans 3:21-28; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:3-8.
6. Jesus Christ: Resurrection, Ascension, Priesthood Yes No
We believe in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in the same body, which was crucified, now glorified; in His bodily ascension into Heaven, in His present life there for us as our High Priest and Advocate, and in His present work building His Church. Matthew 16:18-19; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:24-29; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Colossians 1:13-14; Hebrews 8:1.
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Doctrinal Statement 7. The New Birth Yes No
We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone for eternal salvation, are born again by the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God, that they are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit and therefore are secure until the day of final redemption. John 1:12-13, 3:3-16, 10:28-29; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30.
8. The Church Yes No
We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ, which is His Body and Bride, began at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers. We believe that the church, composed of Jews and Gentiles, is distinct from the Old Testament covenant nation of Israel. We believe it is the responsibility of the Church to bring glory to God by participating in world evangelization to fulfill the Lord’s command to make disciples among all the peoples. Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:17; Acts 2:14-39, 11:15-16; Romans 11:11-29; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:20-23, 4:15; Hebrews 8.
9. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper Yes No
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ prescribed that His Church observe two ordinances: water baptism which portrays the believer’s submission to and union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection; and the Lord’s Supper to commemorate His death until He comes again. Matthew 26:26-28, 28:19; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
10. Jesus Christ’s Return Yes No
We believe in the “blessed hope” of the personal and imminent return of our Lord, first to receive His believers to Himself in the air, before the final seven year tribulation period, and then to return with them to reign on the earth. Daniel 7:13-14, 9:27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-10; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:1-3.
11. The Future of Israel Yes No
We believe that God’s covenant promises to His people Israel are irrevocable and will be fulfilled; and that a remnant will be redeemed, and regathered to the land of Israel to experience the literal millennial reign of Christ as the heir of David’s throne in Jerusalem. Isaiah 35:10; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Luke 1:30-33; Romans 11:25-29.
12. Universal Resurrection Yes No
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved to everlasting blessedness, and of the unsaved to everlasting punishment. Matthew 25:46; John 5:24-29; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:3-4.
13. Satan’s Judgment Yes No
We believe that Satan, a fallen angel, is the god of this age, the adversary of Christ and His Church, and that his destiny is eternal punishment. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 6:10-12; Revelation 12:9, 20:1-3, 7-10.
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Doctrinal Statement At Calvary Church we believe that the cause of unity in the church is best served, not by finding the lowest common denominator of doctrine around which all can gather, but by elevating the value of truth, stating the essential doctrinal parameters of church clearly, seeking the unity that comes from the truth and then demonstrating to the world how Christians can love each other across boundaries rather than by removing boundaries. Therefore, we require all those participating in formative ministry roles involving teaching to consent to following: I submit to the authority of Scripture, accept the Doctrinal Statement, and agree to support the Constitution of Calvary Church. (Constitution, Article V, Section 1) If at any time there is an area of my belief system in which I do not fully accept the Calvary Church Doctrinal Statement or if my level of certainty is not as specific or clear as those stated in the doctrinal statement or doctrinal position papers, I will share those areas with the church leadership. I will agree to submit to the authority of the leadership of Calvary Church. In addition, I will not teach contrary to Calvary’s stated doctrine and will strive for unity and the building up of the body of Christ at Calvary Church.
Signature:
_________________________________
Date: _________________________________
Printed Name: ___________________________________
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Peacemaker’s Pledge As People reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict (Matthew 5:9; Luke 6:27-36; Galatians 5:19-26). We also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like Christ (Proverbs 27:5,6,17; Romans 8:28-29; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; James 1:2-4). Therefore, in response to God’s love and in reliance on His grace, we commit ourselves to respond to conflict according to the following principles.
Glorify God Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will seek to please and honor God—by depending on his wisdom, power, and love; by faithfully obeying his commands; and by seeking to maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude (Psalm 37:1-6; Mark 11:25; John 14:15; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 4:2-9; Colossians 3:1-4; James 3:17-18; 4:1-3; 1 Peter 2:12).
Focus on Understanding Instead of focusing only on our perspective, we choose to honor one another by listening carefully and ensuring we understand their perspective and their needs before we respond. We choose to actively seek reconciliation, understanding that conflict is an opportunity for personal and relational growth. (Proverbs 18:2; 18:13; James 1:19; Ephesians 4:29-30)
Get the Log out of Your Own Eye We take others’ concerns before the Lord asking Him to examine us and our ways and guide in our response. Instead of attacking others or dwelling on their wrongs, we will take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts—confessing our sins, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused. (Psalm 119:23-24; 139:23-24; Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 19:8; Colossians 3:5-14; 1 John 1:8-9)
Go and Show Your Brother His Fault Instead of pretending that conflict doesn’t exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will choose to overlook minor offenses or we will talk directly and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook. When a conflict with another Christian cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a biblical manner. If the conflict or offense is still unresolved after the involvement of a few others, we will request the help of the elders in the church with the goal of bringing reconciliation. (Proverbs 19:11; Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:49; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; James 5:9).
Go and Be Reconciled Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation—forgiving others as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our differences (Matthew 5:23-24; 6:12; 7:12; Ephesians 4:1-3, 32; Philippians 2:3-4).
Respect and Prize Differences Recognizing that God has designed the body of Christ so that it includes many different parts, we choose to respect the differences of others. Since God has designed these differences for the mutual edification of the body, we choose to prize these differences, recognizing their value to us as individuals and the whole church. (Proverbs 27:17; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 3:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26) By God’s grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship, realizing that conflict is an assignment, not an accident. We will remember that success, in God’s eyes, is not a matter of specific results but of faithful, dependent obedience. And we will pray that our service as peacemakers brings praise to our Lord and leads others to know His infinite love. (Matthew 25:14-21; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:18; 1 Peter 2:19; 4:19)
Revised from The Peacemaker, by Ken Sande; 1997, Baker Books, Grand Rapids. p. 235-237 10
Safety 1. Only approved Children’s Ministries workers may work in Children’s Ministries. □ Attendance at Calvary Church for at least six months is required before working in Children’s Ministries when working directly with children. This is waived for Christian service assignments for college students. □ An Application for Service must be on file for all Children’s Ministry workers including a criminal background and a child abuse check. This maybe waived when a parent(s) is occasionally asked to serve in their child’s classroom as a helper. □ Membership at Calvary Church is required to be a Bible Teacher or a coordinator in Children’s Ministries. Church membership is not required for classroom helpers. 2. There must always be adequate supervision to ensure the safety of the children. □ Two approved workers, one of which is to be an adult, must be in the classroom at all times. □ Children should never be left unattended. 3. There is to be no corporal punishment of children. 4. Touch is to be appropriate so that all appearance of evil is avoided. 5. Windows on classroom doors should be unobstructed and clear except during a lock down emergency situation. 6. Children should remain on church property and not go on unscheduled trips with workers. 7. Workers should only use activities and materials, which are suitable to the age of the child and are appropriate in meeting the educational and spiritual goals of the church. 8. How to handle emergency 911 calls: Children’s Ministries Team members are to call 911 directly: If a child or an adult is: unresponsive, not breathing or there is no pulse, bleeding excessively or having a seizure. After you have called 911, please call Calvary Church’s First Aid Team at ext. 655 so they can come and assist until the emergency team has arrived. For all other first aid needs, call the First Aid Team at ext. 655. They will come to you or ask you to bring the child to them depending on the injury.
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Sickness In an effort to provide a healthy and safe environment for all of our children and staff, we ask that children and/or adults not be in our classrooms if they have any of the following symptoms and/or illnesses:
Active Chicken Pox Cold Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) Coughing Diarrhea (for any reason) Fever within the past 24 hours Infection of any type Measles Mumps Rash Runny nose (clear drainage is allowed but not encouraged) Vomiting (within the past 24 hours) Lice
If a child is being treated with antibiotics, he/she should be on the medicine for at least 24 hours before coming to any of the Children’s Ministries classrooms. If any of these symptoms are noticed in a child, please promptly locate the parents and ask them to remove their child from class. For the health and safety of all our children and staff, there will be no exceptions to this policy. If you have any questions about the symptoms you notice, please talk with your room coordinator or with one of the Children’s Ministries Directors. Calvary Church’s First Aid Team is always available to help in confirming any of the symptoms; they are located at the Welcome Desk in the main lobby. Lice: If you discover, either through the parent or through conversation with other adults, that a child has been exposed to, or is being treated for lice, please make sure that your coordinator is informed. Depending on the timing and situation (the incubation period for nits is three to ten days), a letter may need to be sent home by one of the directors to ask the parents of the other children to check their children for two weeks. Please do not talk with others about the matter. We do not want to cause any harm to the family that has been dealing with lice or cause other people to panic. A child may return to the classroom after having been treated with the shampoo “Nix” or “Rid” and be clear of lice. This shampoo does not require a prescription.
Thank you for helping us to provide a safe and healthy environment for each of our children and workers. We appreciate your cooperation and courtesy.
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Incident Reports An Incident Report is an important documentation of the incident and the communication between the worker, the parent and the director. In addition, it provides proper documentation to the insurance company in the event a claim is filed. This form is to be a record for any incident or injury which occurs during any Children’s Ministries event, on or off-site.
The form should disclose only the name of the child for whom the incident is being reported. If the incident involves two children, then two separate forms may need to be filled out, with the other child being referred to as “another child.” i.e.”Billy bumped his head with the head of
Teachers should inform parents of any incidents and a copy of the form should be offered.
All incident reports must be turned in to the director on the day it occurs.
Blank Incident Report Forms are found in the following locations:
Classrooms: —Nursery: kept in a file at the Nursery Checkpoint Desk —Early Childhood: kept in the wall pockets by the door inside each classroom. —Elementary: kept in the check in desk filing drawer —Kings Kids: 5th and 6th graders’ forms are kept on the shelf outside of Cheryl Noel’s office. For all other ages/grades see Early Childhood and Elementary above locations —First Aid Station: located on the 300 level in lobby —Children’s Ministries Central: located on the 300 level in lobby
A member of the first aid team must be notified immediately in the event of any head or serious body injury. (The First Aid Team is available to assess any injury or illness at anytime during ministry hours.) 13
Check which Ministry area:
INCIDENT REPORT
Nursery
Early Childhood
Calvary Preschool
Elementary
Study and Share
King’s Kids
Name of Child:____________________________________________________________________________________ Date of Report:
Time of Report: ________________________
Date of Accident: Describe how and where the incident occurred: __________________________________ Describe any and all injuries to the child: __________________________________________ Was First Aid given? Yes _____
No_____
If yes, by whom?
Explain what aid was given:
Were the child’s parents notified of the incident? Time: With whom did you speak :
Yes ____ No ____ In person ____ over the phone____
Date: ______________________________________________________________________
Response from parent or guardian: Was the parent offered a copy of this form?
Yes ____ No ____
Did you give the parent a copy or did they want a copy mailed to them
Given ____ Need to mail ____
Parent’s signature _____________________________________________ (If face to face conversation occurred, parent’s signature indicates that he/she was informed of this incident.) Other Comments: _______________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Incident handled by: ________________________________________________________ Was Children’s Director notified? Yes _____ N0 _______ Signature of Ministry Director:___________________________________________________ Date ____________________ 14
Modesty As Children’s Ministries leaders, our goal is to help children focus their attention on God. One of the ways we can accomplish this is by dressing modestly. Appropriate dress does not draw attention to the vessel, but allows both children and adults to focus on the truths being taught. The following guidelines for attire have been developed because we want all aspects of our children’s ministry to be honoring to God. Our purpose is not to present legalistic standards, but to be good role models, to be encouraging to all and a stumbling block to no one. (Romans 14:13-18)
Women Remember—a child’s perspective is different from ours. They see us from behind and from a different level when we bend over. Test yourself in front of a mirror and notice what others will see when you bend over.
Necklines should not be revealing
Avoid form-fitting sweaters or T-shirts
All tops should be long enough so that when you lift your arms over your head there is no skin showing
Skirt length should be no shorter than just above the knee.
Pants should not be tight-fitting
If jeans are worn, they should be neat and without holes
Any slogans or logos on garments should be consistent with Calvary Church’s teaching
Men
Avoid tank tops or sleeveless shirts
If jeans are worn, they should be neat and without holes
Pants should be worn in such a way that undergarments are not seen
Any slogans or logos on garments should be consistent with Calvary Church’s teaching
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Social Media Guidelines for Church Attenders, Volunteers and Participants While we do not want to dictate how you use social media, we do ask that when posting information, you think carefully about the impact of your posts on others including Calvary Church. Use good judgment—ask yourself, “Is this a wise thing to post?” Remember that what you write is public. You should always assume that it will be read by your boss, your co-workers, your parents, your children, your spouse, and the attorney for the person who doesn't like you. Ask yourself if you are comfortable with all of these people reading what you plan to post. What you write is your responsibility and you are legally responsible for your comments. Be wise in protecting your own privacy. Write as yourself. Use your real name. If you choose to identify yourself as an attendee or member of Calvary Church or to discuss anything related to the church, be clear about your role. Be accurate in what you write and ensure that you have all the facts about your subject. If you make a mistake, admit it and be quick to correct it. Be careful that what you write would not impair your ability to serve the Lord or represent Him in the community. Remember that frustrations are best expressed in person. Sarcasm does not usually translate well, so be careful how you use humor. When addressing current issues or controversies, don’t be inflammatory. Respect your audience. Be thoughtful. Don't use ethnic slurs, personal insults, obscenity or engage in any conversation that would not be acceptable in front of the Lord or at church. Choose your topics wisely. There are some ideas that are best discussed in a personal conversation rather than a public forum. Don't allow your posts to hinder someone’s spiritual growth. Remember that what you write, even if retracted, is archived and can be with you longer than you might expect.
Privacy Issues If you are taking pictures at a church sponsored event, when possible let people know and give them the option of opting out. Don’t post the names of people and particularly contact information of individuals without their permission. Don’t post pictures of others that are inappropriate or that they would not appreciate. Axiom: Seek to build up not to tear down (Romans 15:2; Ephesians 4:29)
Security Concerns Social media by nature is open and not private; therefore we strongly request that names of individuals and addresses of private event locations or gatherings not be posted for anyone to see. Please remember to consider the safety and effectiveness of our missionaries and therefore use extra caution when commenting to or about those serving overseas—particularly those in countries they cannot officially enter as missionaries. If you have questions, contact the Global Ministries office first. 16
Social Media Maintain confidentiality: Ask permission before reporting on conversations or meetings that are meant to be private. Online conversations and postings are not private. Know that what you post online may be around for a long time and potentially shared with others. Therefore, Be considerate and loving: Avoid identifying and discussing others, including church members, visitors—especially details such as hospitalizations and health concerns or information gleaned in personal counseling. Do not disclose health information on behalf of others (keep HIPAA rules in mind).
GUIDELINES FOR ADULTS IN ADVISORY ROLES WITH MINORS The purpose of these guidelines is to provide adults who are in ministry or advisory roles with children and students at Calvary Church with procedures for electronic communications.
Sunday School, Children’s Church, Discovery Clubs, MPACT leaders and Ministry Staff One of the components of a balanced children’s and student ministry is developing strong youth-adult partnerships within the intentional and safe community of our ministries. The vast number of communication possibilities and the speed of technology requires that adults working with children and students be aware of the need to maintain appropriate relational boundaries regardless of the communication medium. Axiom:
Relational distance should not blur healthy relational boundaries.
Facebook and other social media communication networks can help create a group identity, assist in planning for group activities and encourage students. These mediums provide powerful modes of connecting with youth, and for youth to connect with each other in their fast-paced world and should be channeled as such. Communications on Facebook are most appropriate when conducted through a group. The spirit of this approach requires the adult to think of all communications as if they were happening in person (face-to-face) and use the same standards which applied to face-to-face meetings to exchanges through electronic media. Group communications through email, Facebook and social media etc. are further defined below: 1.
Appropriate interaction between youth and adults on Facebook and social media, whether in a Calvary Church Facebook Group, or in one-on-one discussions include: conducting youth group business, discussions of logistics, event planning and church-related business.
2.
Inappropriate actions include: initiating and engaging students in personal / private conversations better discussed in person, exploring students’ Facebook pages as peers, inappropriate or excessive communication of a personal nature.
3.
Adult volunteers need to remember the “behavior guidelines” they agreed to abide by during group time at the church. This also applies to online communications and communities set up specifically for the group. While discipleship-related conversations can be very personal and in-depth (and best done face to face) many students are quicker to open up in e-mail or messaging contexts; it is wise to include a co-leader, co-teacher or ministry staff member in the conversation as much as possible to provide positive safeguards and protections for yourself.
4.
Adults must recognize the public nature of social networking sites and see themselves as representatives of God and Calvary Church (volunteer and/or paid.) Thus adult volunteers agree not to post any material that could be deemed inappropriate or explicit. So doing will be in violation of Calvary’s values and expected code of conduct.
5.
If an adult advisor is in doubt about the appropriateness of any ongoing or new forms of communication, they should consult with a ministry staff member for guidance.
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Photography & Video Calvary Church General Photograph and Video Guidelines Church Guidelines Calvary Church enjoys celebrating what God is doing through those who attend Calvary and through the collective ministry of individuals here at Calvary, in our community and around the world. One way we celebrate is to allow others in the body and beyond to experience through visual media (photographs and video) some of our events and ministries. Our guidelines for using images and video: 1.
We want our members and regular attendees to understand that we will, as a regular practice, take pictures and videos of all our events and ministries at some point in time. This notice will appear periodically in our bulletin: “All church activities may be taped and photographed for church uses. Entry into any church building constitutes consent to be photographed or taped for church purposes.”
2.
We will provide parents and volunteers the opportunity to complete a general opt-out form for all events if they do not want their image used. A failure to turn in a completed opt-out form constitutes consent for you and your families’ pictures or video footage to be used.
3.
We will seek to honor opt-out requests for images of individuals or small groups, but cannot ensure that the request can be adhered to for pictures or videos of large group events.
4.
We will not post names or contact information without specific permission (we will abide by the COPPA [Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998] guidelines).
5.
Anyone who sees their picture posted on the church website and would like it removed, can send a written request to the church office (please indicate where the picture is located).
Social Media Guidelines It is Calvary Church’s desire to create an atmosphere of connection and community among our members and regular attendees. We know that a sense of identity and belonging to a smaller group within the church will enable an individual to feel a part of the whole body. In the digital age, one way individuals demonstrate that sense of belonging is through social media. With the constant presence of photographic equipment (including cell phones) and the ease of connection to social media sites, individuals should assume that at some point their picture will appear online. We will provide our members and regular attendees with guidelines for the wise and appropriate use of social media and the use of images and video but we cannot police social media sites. 18
CALVARY CHURCH 1051 Landis Valley Road • Lancaster, PA • 17601-4887 • (717) 560-2341 • FAX (717) 560-3459 www.calvarychruch.org • info@calvarychurch.org
Pursuing Life in Christ
Official Calvary Church Volunteer Photo/Video Opt-out Form Request that no photographs or video footage be used of: Name of Calvary Church Volunteer(s): _________________________________ _________________________________ I request that Calvary Church not use photographs or video footage of me, or family member(s) listed above, in connection with Calvary Church events for the purpose of publicity, illustration, advertising and/or web content. I understand that with the growth of social media and the constant presence of cameras, Calvary Church cannot monitor, nor is Calvary Church responsible for, images or video posted by non-Calvary Church representatives. And therefore I will not hold Calvary Church responsible for the actions of others. I have read and understand the above:
Signature, parent or guardian __________________________ (if under age 18) Printed name ________________________________________ Date _____________________________________
If you chose to fill out this form, please return it to Calvary Church Children’s Ministries either by mail or by dropping it off at Children’s Ministries Central in the church’s lobby.
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