Safeguarding

Creating a safe environment for children, youth and adults is a top priority for Immanuel Church. We are committed to avoiding and preventing abuse in any form. This includes bullying, emotional abuse, harassment, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and spiritual abuse.

Our safeguarding policy can be found here. Our clergy and lay workers are required to abide by the Anglican Network in Europe's code of conduct (Faithfulness in Service).

If you have reasonable grounds to suspect that someone is at risk of abuse or is exposed to it, please contact the police immediately. If you are aware of any form of abuse in the context of our ministry, please report it to our safeguarding officer (or alternatively a pastor or a member of the leadership team):

Athitaya Jankowski
Email: safeguarding@immanuel-church.net

Safeguarding Policy

Preamble

Reporting suspected cases

If you have reasonable grounds to suspect that someone is at risk of abuse or is exposed to it, please contact the police immediately.

If you are aware of any form of abuse in the context of our ministry, please report it to our safeguarding officer (or alternatively a pastor or a member of the leadership team):

Athitaya Jankowski
Email: safeguarding@immanuel-church.net

Our clergy and church workers are obliged to report child abuse to the police immediately if there is reasonable suspicion. If a clergyman or church worker is suspected of being the perpetrator, we are also obliged to inform the Bishop of Anglican Convocation Europe.

Qualified, free and, if desired, anonymous help is also offered by the medically, psychologically and pedagogically trained employees of the sexual abuse help line (0800 22 55 530 / https://www.hilfe-portal-missbrauch.de/hilfe-telefon).

Pastoral care for those affected

We pledge our help and support to victims and those affected by any form of abuse. The pastor(s) of the church offer pastoral counsel.

Ministry in our church

For both paid and volunteer positions at our church, a written role and task description is made in which, among other things, expected interactions with church members and attendees of church activities and worship services are identified and named. A written application must be submitted to the leadership team.

We require every applicant for ministry work that regularly includes working with or caring for children and young people to submit an extended police record certificate in accordance with § 30a of the Bundeszentralregistergesetz (BZRG) together with a valid identification document. The police record certificate is checked by our safeguarding officer, but neither the original nor a copy of the same is kept for data protection reasons. Only after checking the police record certificate can the leadership team approve the application. Applicants are expressly informed of their responsibility to safeguard children’s well-being before they start their ministry and are asked to submit a written declaration of commitment.

Persons who have been convicted of a criminal offence, in particular against sexual self-determination or a criminal offence that endangers the well-being of a child, are not allowed to minister among us (see § 72a SGB VIII).

If it can be assumed for other reasons (e.g. due to conspicuous behaviour or statements in social media) that the person concerned could pose a risk to children, young people or adults, this person will not be allowed to minister among us.

For persons who have been acquitted of a charge of an offence against a child, had a charge of an offence against a child not proceed or had a prohibited status under applicable child protection legislation lifted, or been the subject of Church disciplinary proceedings involving child abuse, we will contact the Bishop of Anglican Convocation Europe to review the need for a risk analysis.

Church workers carry out their duties under the supervision of the clergy and members of the leadership team, who offer encouragement, help and support in their ministry.

Ministers, leadership team members and church workers involved in child and youth work will be trained regularly (at least once a year) in child and youth protection and abuse prevention. In any case, this should include the ability to communicate and the recognition of abuse.

Ministers and church workers are required to accept and abide by the Anglican Network in Europe’s Code of Conduct ("Faithfulness in Service"). The code of conduct is regularly (but at least once a year) read and studied together.

Programs, activities and pastoral care of children and young people

We are a family-integrated church and whenever possible we always want to integrate the entire family into the life of the church. Among other things, this serves to protect children and young people from abusive behaviour by third parties.

As a matter of biblical conviction, we do not offer any activities for children and young people that take place parallel to the worship service. Baptised children and youth are part of the church of Christ and are encouraged to participate in worship and all other activities along with their parents.

For other programs and activities for children and young people, the presence of parents or legal guardians is always desired. Such activities are only led by clergy or workers who have presented an extended criminal record certificate and whose suitability has been assessed by the leadership team.

Pastoral one-to-one talks with children and young people should only be conducted by workers who have presented an extended police clearance certificate. If possible, a location should be chosen that allows confidentiality to be maintained, but at the same time allows supervision by third parties.

Dealing with people who could pose a risk

In cases where it is suspected that a visitor of church services and church events could pose a risk to children, young people or adults, the clergy and the leadership team will carry out a risk analysis, which may involve obtaining the advice of the Bishop of the Anglican Convocation Europe.

In certain cases, we reserve the right to exclude such a person from church services and other church events. In any case, the individual pastoral care will continue to be ensured by the pastor(s) of Immanuel Church.