Busting Five Child Protection Myths for Churches
by Edna Jordan
Awana Director of Risk Management
Churches often give the following reasons for not implementing child protection policies and procedures.
You may have already heard some of them. Busting these popular myths can help you protect children.
1. Our church is small and we know everybody.
Although stranger abductions make bigger headlines, research indicates that about 90 percent of molested
children are abused by someone they know or someone their family knows and trusts. “Knowing” someone
does not negate the necessity of adequately screening and supervising church workers.
2. No one at our church would do that.
Too many news stories about child abusers contain a quote similar to this one: “I can’t believe he could
have done such a thing.” Child molesters work to gain the trust of adults. Adult trust is their key to gain
access to children. Supervision and the two-adult rule can help prevent abuse.
3. Child abuse happens at 'other' churches – usually big churches.
News reports tell a different story. Nearly every denomination has suffered child abuse. I read hundreds of
news reports on child sexual abuse every year and very few involve mega-churches. A recent news story
told of a small local church that had three church leaders arrested in a five-year period – a pastor, a deacon
and a church school sports coach.
4. It’s too costly to conduct background checks.
Checking the national sex offender registry is free. Through the registry, one mom discovered that a sex
offender was working in her church’s Awana program. Screening companies also provide low-cost options
for churches. Some churches can save on costs by screening the main leaders of their
children’s ministry and then have the screened leaders always supervise the leaders that have not been
screened. It doesn’t cost anything to enforce a policy of not allowing anyone to be left unsupervised and
alone with kids.
5. Background checks don’t show anything on most molesters.
While it’s true that numerous children are molested before a person is caught and has a record, conducting
a professional background check demonstrates due diligence, which is essential for defending against
charges of negligent hiring. Checking personal references on an individual, on the other hand, takes just a
few minutes and can save a church a lot of trouble.
One man moved to a new state and applied for a teaching position at a small school. On his application, he
wrote that he worked in “church leadership as an elder and in Awana.” No one contacted the churches he
listed before he was hired. He eventually molested every female student in his first-grade class, then
transferred to another school and started molesting again before finally being caught. Had the schools
checked his references, things might have turned out differently.
BASIC CHILD PROTECTION STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
1. Two Adult Rule – A minimum of two adults are required in attendance during all
Awana events and activities.
2. No Private One-on-One Contact – Private one-on-one contact between adults and
children or youth is not permitted. In situations that require personal conferences, the
meeting is to be conducted in the clear view of others, always utilizing the rule that
women counsel girls and men counsel boys.
3. Respect of Privacy – Adults must respect the privacy of children and youth in
situations such as changing clothes and taking showers, and intrude only to the extent that
health and safety require. Adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations.
4. Camp Directors are encouraged to have separate shower and latrine facilities for males
and females. When separate facilities are not available, separate times for male and
female use must be scheduled and posted for showers.
5. Adults and children or youth of the same sex may occupy dormitory or single-room
accommodations, provided there is a minimum of four children or youth. Any adults
staying with children must be CPP trained.
6. Male and female leaders require separate sleeping facilities. Married couples may
share the same quarters if appropriate facilities are available.
7. No Secret Organization – Awana Clubs International does not recognize any secret
organization as part of its ministry programs or activities. All aspects of the Awana Clubs
International ministry are open to observation by parents and missionaries.
8. Appropriate Attire – Proper clothing for activities is required. For example, skinnydipping is not appropriate as part of camping.
9. Constructive Discipline – Discipline used during Awana approved events and activities
must be constructive and reflect the values of ACI. Corporal punishment is never
permitted.
10. Hazing Prohibited – Hazing and initiations are prohibited and may never be included
as part of any Awana event or activity.
11. No “pairing off” at camp – Children and youth must remain in larger groups and are
not be allowed to pair off and go wandering around.
For more age specific standards, please refer to the following documents:
* Appropriate Conduct, Touching & Contact - Children 5th Grade and Under
* Standards of Conduct and Contact - Youth 6th Grade and Above