Security Policy – General |
First
Assembly of God |
Printed Date: 3/27/02
The following procedures and policies have been in effect since January 1, 1995. They have been, and will continue to be, modified and added to as facilities and attendance grow, as well as being adjusted according to direction and instruction by legal council and church security seminars.
1. Any
and all volonteer ministry workers, staff, and employees of First Assembly of
God Church will be a church member, having completed any and all requirements
and request forms, and will have filled out an
“APPLICATION FOR CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH WORKERS” form. This Form is to be processed according to
the following steps.
A) Personal information filled out will be
reviewed by Pastor or his designate. B) Personal References are to be contacted to
verify the information given. D) All names are to be run thru Florida
Department of Law Enforcement
Sexual Offender Database online. (http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Sexual_Predators/search.asp) E) All names will be submitted to the Senior
Pastor for Approval. F) All
names, which pass, will be submitted to ministry head for acceptance.
2. Nursery:
All Nursery workers will be approved and screened workers in line with
policy one. There will be a minimum of
two workers in the nursery at all times, and more as attendance figures
dictate. All infants and toddlers will
be signed in by their parent or guardian, along with any special instructions
or needs. When the child is picked up
at the end of the service, they are to be signed out by the SAME parent, or by
the person listed in the special instructions area. Any person trying to retrieve a child who is not listed as having
access to that child will be denied access.
3. Sunday
School: All Sunday School Teachers will
be approved and screened in line with policy one. Due to class dynamics, two adult teachers is encouraged, though
not required. If there is only one
adult teacher in a classroom, the door to that room is to be left open. If at any time there is only one child in
that class due to others being absent, teachers are to combine their class with
the next available age group, so that at NO
time will there be a single adult alone with a single child. Attendance records are to be kept. At the end of Sunday School, teachers of
children’s classes are to escort their charges to the sign up table at the
entrance to the Children’s Church Sanctuary.
4. Royal
Rangers (Boys): All Royal Ranger Commanders will be approved and screened in
line with policy one. Due to class
dynamics, two adult teachers is encouraged, though not required. If there is only one adult teacher in a
classroom, the door to that room is to be left open. If at any time there is only one child in that class due to
others being absent, teachers are to combine their class with the next
available age group, so that at NO
time will there be a single adult alone with a single child. Attendance records are to be kept. Boys will be dropped of by parents at the
appropriate classroom on Wednesday night previous to service at 7:00. The boys will be under supervision of the
commanders until the parents return to take charge of their children.
5. Missionettes
(Girls) Missionettes' policies are the
same as Royal Rangers, with the exception that all Missionettes leaders shall
be women.
6. Children’s
Church: Children’s Church workers will
follow above listed procedures, as well as follow guidelines listed in the
Children’s Ministry Handbook.
7. General
Facilities: All classrooms will be
secured by double key deadbolt when not in use. Classrooms will be checked to be vacant before being secured. Since the deadbolt has a key on both the interior
and exterior, it is not possible for someone to lock themselves in a room. When a building or section of a building is
not to be in use, any reasonable means shall be employed to restrict access to
that building or section thereof.
Access to these rooms and areas is to be gained through ministry leaders
and/or staff.
8. Patrols: Security patrols will be held regularly
during all services. These patrols
shall consist of men and/or women cleared by policy one, as well as approved by
the Senior Pastor for this assigned duty.
Patrols shall conduct a circuit of the patrol area approximately once
each twenty minuets (20 min.). They
shall check all unused rooms and areas to be they are secure and vacant
according to policy seven above; shall supervise parking area for unsupervised
children or loitering people, as well as generally guard premises and
vehicles. Any children found
unsupervised will be returned to their parents immediately. Any adults found on the property outside of
ministry areas without cause will be asked to return to the service or to leave
the premises. This is to protect
children and property from harm, as well as protect the adult from any
unfounded accusations. Patrols will
also be sure that classrooms in use are staffed in accordance with above listed
procedure. If classes are not staffed
in accordance with above procedures, patrols are to remedy the situation in
accordance with above policies, and to inform the head of that ministry area.