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	Churches Take Steps to Guard against Child Sex Abuse Courier-Post [New Jersey] October 14, 2006 http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061014/COLUMNISTS10/610140303/1004/LIVING Colleen Fitch looks like a perfectly respectable church-going woman, the kind of person parents can trust to watch over their children during Sunday services or to help their preschooler use the bathroom. In fact, she is. And congregants at Sicklerville United Methodist Church know it because of the royal blue lanyard and photo ID card that swings from her neck. That means she has passed the fingerprinting and background check and has been trained to follow the church's new sexual abuse prevention policies. Churches are often easy targets for pedophiles, said Fitch, a Winslow Township mother of three who is the church's director of children's and family ministries. She has spent the last year making sure her congregation -- and the roughly 125 children who attend Sunday School -- isn't one of them. "We want to be smart," said Fitch. "We don't want to run scared." Nationwide, the United Methodist Church is mandating all of its churches institute prevention policies, thanks to its "Safe Sanctuary" program. Allan Brooks, children, youth and young adult coordinator for the denomination's Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, couldn't say how many sex abuse allegations have been made against its churches, but said the goal is to have none. "It's a big change for the way churches do it," said Brooks. "It's hard sometimes for churches. They're very trusting and open. They feel if they implement (the policies), they're saying "We're not trusting and open.' They have to get over that hurdle." No church is immune to the possibility of child sex abuse, according to Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, which insures churches. Sexual abuse crosses denominational lines. It's also widespread. About a year ago, Fitch said the father of her daughter's friend came to her and said his 16-year-old daughter had been abused by someone who was well-known and trusted in the community. "It was shocking," said Fitch. "I didn't know how to respond." The conversation caused her to think about what would happen if her church was affected by sex abuse allegations. She turned to Tree of Rest, a sex abuse prevention organization that offers a training program for churches. Its founder, Jan Morrison, visited Sicklerville for a week. During Morrison's presentation at all three of the church's Sunday services, she invited congregants to come to the altar if they had been affected by childhood sexual abuse. Dozens of people came forward. Morrison also toured the church's sprawling building to look for weak areas an offender could exploit. Classrooms and offices should have big windows, for example. Changing tables in the nursery should be in open view. Cameras were installed to monitor who goes in and out of bathrooms. New policies were put into place. At least two adults must remain with children at all times. Volunteers who want to work with children have to go through a background check. Hugging is still OK, but it has to be a "safe" hug (in other words, no full-body contact). Private conversations between an adult and a child still can take place but it has to be in a room by a window. The policies are as much for the children's safety as they are for the adults' protection against allegations, said Fitch. Church senior pastor Jerry Ruff said it hasn't been an easy process for his church to undergo, but most congregants are supportive. Wendy Bauman, a 36-year-old mother of a toddler and a Winslow Township resident, said she thinks her church's new policies are a good idea. "It does make you feel a little bit better to know who is taking care of your children," said Bauman, a member of the church's safety committee. Congregant Kathi Greger of Gloucester Township, a member of the safety committee, said she was thrilled by the new policies. Even her 13-year-old daughter had to fill out an application and undergo training before she was approved to volunteer in the church's nursery. "A church is a perfect target for child molesters and other types of child (abusers)," said Greger, who has two other school-age children. "We have volumes of kids coming and going. "I just think nowadays, you can never be too safe," Greger added. "Safety and security have to be a primary concern for us." Keeping the Faith looks at religion and spirituality in South Jersey. The column appears Saturdays. Reach Kim Mulford at (856) 251-3342 or kmulford@courierpostonline.com.
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