Author: Jane Ginter

Northern Light United Church
Safe Sanctuaries Procedures
For all community groups using the building that include
Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults

Northern Light United Church is called by God to ensure the building is a safe space for all persons.  Therefore, the policy of NLUC for all community groups using the building with children, youth, and vulnerable adult participants are as follows:

Supervision

The church building is open to the public, and children, youth and vulnerable adults should be supervised and not left unattended while in the facility.

Group of Three Rule

A child, youth or vulnerable adult shall not be alone with another unrelated adult or child or youth or vulnerable adult.   Everything should be done in groups of at least three:  at least two adults and child, youth or vulnerable adult; or two children, youth or vulnerable adults and an adult.  The ideal to strive for is two unrelated adults to be with those being protected at all times. (A vulnerable adult is a person 18 years of age or older who is unable to meet his/her own needs or to seek help without assistance.)

Classrooms  Classrooms in the church building are equipped with windows and/or windows in the entry doors so that the adults and children or youth inside the classroom may, at any time, be observed from outside the room. In the event of only one adult present for a class or function, the adult should leave the classroom door open or conduct the function in a common area such as the Fellowship Hall.

Restrooms.    An adult should monitor from the hallway outside the restroom, or follow the rule of three so they are not alone with children behind closed doors.

After Events.   If an adult is alone with a child, youth or vulnerable adult who is awaiting pick up, they should wait in the front door entry area visible to the street or outdoors. Children, youth, and vulnerable adults should not be left alone or unattended after events. Responsible adults should assure that safe passage from the building has been completed for everyone before leaving. 

Overnight events.   At any event where both boys and girls will be spending the night, there will be at least one chaperone of each sex for the respective groups.  For high and/or middle school events, the participant to chaperone ratio will not exceed 15 to 1.  Separate ‘sleeping areas (rooms or divisions within a room) will be provided for each gender.  Adults and vulnerable participants at an overnight event should not shower at the same time. [note: currently, NLUC has only one shower; this means that only one person at a time may be in the restroom with the shower.] If a planned overnight event will not be in conformity with the above requirements, the pastor and each child or youth’s parent or guardian must approve, in advance, of the exception to the requirements in order for that child or youth to attend.

Age Differences  For the protection of all, when possible there will be a minimum five-year age difference between the oldest participant and the youngest responsible adult-in-charge at youth and children’s events. In most circumstances, those under the age of 18 will not be left in sole charge of children, youth or vulnerable adults.

Discipline

No form of corporal punishment shall be used by any adult in any situation, even if a parent requests or recommends it.  If a child or youth is too disruptive for an adult to continue with a function, they should be returned to the care of their parent or guardian.  If a parent or guardian is not immediately available, the child or youth shall be placed in the care of the Pastor or designated adult until a parent can be located.

Reporting Incidents

Any incident in which there is evidence or suspicion of

• non-accidental physical injury, sexual abuse, activities of child prostitution or pornography, maltreatment, or mental injury to a child; or.
• harm from abandonment, abuse, exploitation, neglect or self-neglect to a vulnerable adult shall be reported within 24 hours of the incident to the

• Pastor and
• the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services,
  • Office of Children’s Services or Adult Protective Services, by the person first made aware of the incident.  Incidents in violation of the above prohibition on corporal punishment shall be immediately reported to the Pastor. 

Screening

Adults who work with children, youth or vulnerable adults that use the building on a regular basis without their guardians present shall complete a background check, and provide a copy of the documentation to NLUC, or a letter from their sponsor organization stating the adult has a reviewed background check on file at the organization. The background check must be clear of proven or alleged commission of a crime of any kind of theft, violent action against another individual, pornography, child molestation, or for a court-ordered restraint issued for fear of commission of such acts.  When the screening reveals charges but no conviction for any of the afore-mentioned acts, the screener will investigate as to why there was no conviction and take that into consideration when deciding if the person being screened will be authorized to supervise children. Completed background screenings for staff and volunteers will be reviewed by the pastor, and maintained in a locked confidential file.

Training

Adults providing supervision to children are invited to attend training offered by NLUC   on recognizing signs of abuse, avoiding situations where abuse might take place, avoiding conduct that might be perceived as abuse, reporting requirements and media response procedures. First Aid training is also highly encouraged for adults supervising children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
fax: (202) 690-7442; or
email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

04/05/2022

Dear NLUC Family:

Pastor Kristi and I enjoyed seeing all of you who came out on Ash Wednesday. The Holy Spirit was with us all as we prayed together with you. It was truly a blessing for both of us. As this season of Lent has now begun, I want to remind you of the Adult Lenten Bible Study that will begin next Wednesday, February 24^th from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm. It is a five-part Bible study series and is titled: The Last Week of Jesus Christ & the Last Year of Martin Luther King. 

As was mentioned in our February newsletter, this Lenten Bible Study series is published by the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice and it is associated with the Poor People’s Campaign. The full series is free and is available at https://kairoscenter.org/last-week-jesus-christ-last-year-martin-luther-king/  for download as a pdf. You can also download individual sessions as individual pdfs. 

“The bible study contains five sessions, each containing bible stories, passages from Martin Luther King and other supporting materials that should help us draw connections between the words and actions of Jesus and King, as well as inform our own commitment to end poverty with poor people in the lead.” 

I look forward to our time together. 

Grace and peace to you always,

Pastor Faith

Northern Light United Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Adult Lenten Bible Study
Wednesdays
Feb 24, 2021 05:30 PM
Mar 3, 2021 05:30 PM
Mar 10, 2021 05:30 PM
Mar 17, 2021 05:30 PM
Mar 24, 2021 05:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/94504399386?pwd=S1M5THJoeHA3ckRLQVpjSlNyWVExdz09

Meeting ID: 945 0439 9386

Passcode: 198996

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,94504399386#,,,,*198996# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 945 0439 9386

Passcode: 198996

February 12, 2021

Dear NLUC Family:

I hope all of you are staying warm on these very cold days. As the season of Lent begins next Wednesday, Pastor Kristi and I would like to remind you, as was shared in last month’s newsletter, that Ash Wednesday, February 17th, will be a “Drive-Thru Ash Wednesday”. Because of COVID, we are unable to touch you, so we decided on the next best thing.

After you arrive to the church parking lot, one of us will come over to your car and give each of you a small wooden cross and offer a blessing. We will also pray with you privately, if you so desire. All of this will take place between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm in the church parking lot. If it is raining or snowing, we will meet you at the front door.

We look forward to working together with all of you during this Lenten season.

Grace and peace to you always!
Pastor Faith McClellan
Pastor Kristi McGuire

THURSDAYS, during Lent

12:00 – 12:30 PM

VIA ZOOM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021, 12 noon
Speaker: Bev Smith
Music: Holy Trinity
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021, 12 noon
Speaker: Matt Walker
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021, 12 noon
Speaker: Fr. Simeon, St Nicholas
Music: Missouri Smyth
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021, 12 noon
Speaker: Pastor Faith McClellan, Northern Light United Church
Music: Tlingit Gospel Singers video
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021, 12 noon
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Music: Hannah Kuhnert, Douglas Community United Methodist Church
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021, 12 noon
Speaker: Pastor Karen Perkins
Music: Resurrection Lutheran Musicians

Redemption: I know that my redeemer lives.

Join us on Zoom at noon on Thursdays during Lent for a short spoken and musical reflection on redemption.

Register to receive a Zoom link for the gatherings

http://nluchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-NLUC-Annual-Reports.pdf (PDF)

From Talia Eames:

I am reaching out to you for your assistance in planning a donation drive for the residents of our soon-to-be-opening reentry transitional housing. I have added you to this email at the suggestion of KJ Metcalf, who has been very helpful in putting me in touch with those that may be interested in this project.

Please don’t feel obligated, but if you would like to join this planning meeting I have scheduled it for tomorrow evening, Monday, January 25, at 5:30 PM. I have scheduled an hour but it likely won’t take that long. I apologize for the last-minute notice but we are short-staffed in our department and it has been a busy month with our doors opening this upcoming Wednesday.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 951 7820 1043

Phone: 253 215-8782

Passcode: 674326