Child and Youth Safety — The Way MicroChurches

LEAD THE WAY
Continuing Ed
CHILD AND YOUTH SAFETY
Protecting Children / Protecting Leaders

CONNECT

Connect through care, prayer and loving accountability for previous “I will …” statements

DISCOVER

Matthew 18:6 (NIV)
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 19:13-15 (NIV)
13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

How would you describe Jesus’ heart for children.

Why Do We Have a Child and Youth Safety Policy?

Child and Youth Safety Policy

If you've read our Child and Youth Safety Policy, you know that it contains a lot of information. You don't need to memorize the policy. But you do need to understand its heart, its key practices, and what to do when a situation requires action.

Why do we have this policy?

1. Because this reflects Jesus’ heart for children and youth.

Jesus welcomed children, valued them, and took their protection seriously. He said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them (Matthew 19:14), and warned severely against causing one of His little ones to stumble (Matthew 18:6).
Our Child and Youth Safety Policy is more than a legal or insurance requirement—it reflects Jesus’ heart for children: to welcome them, value them, protect them, and never become a stumbling block to them.

2. Because we are committed to protecting children and youth.

The Way seeks to provide safe and secure environments for children and youth and maintains a zero-tolerance posture toward abuse. Parents and guardians retain primary responsibility for their children, especially within our relational, home-based MicroChurch settings.

3. Because Vineyard USA requires us to have it.

As part of our affiliation with Vineyard USA, we are required to carry liability insurance and maintain a Child and Youth Safety Policy.

4. Because the policy protects you as a leader.

Healthy boundaries, visibility, and shared accountability don't just protect children; they protect leaders. They help prevent situations in which a leader's good intentions could be misunderstood or a leader could find themselves unnecessarily vulnerable to accusations or concerns.

5. Because this is how we want to do ministry.

Our MicroChurches are relational and often meet in homes and informal settings. We don't want to turn MicroChurches into institutions. But neither do we want informality to become an excuse for unsafe practices.

Our policy puts it this way: safeguarding in MicroChurches is practiced with wisdom, visibility, and shared accountability rather than rigid institutional procedures.

These guidelines aren't barriers to ministry. They're guardrails that help us minister well.

The Big Idea: Keep It Known, Visible, and Accountable

If you remember only one thing from this lesson, remember this:

When minors are involved, keep things known, visible, and accountable.

The policy repeatedly comes back to this principle.

Situations involving minors should be known within the community. Interactions should be reasonably observable. And we should avoid isolated situations between adults and minors.

This doesn't mean that every interaction between an adult and a child has to happen in a crowded room.

It means we don't intentionally create hidden, isolated, or unaccountable situations.

Ask yourself:

“Would I be comfortable if this interaction were known by the child's parent or guardian and another leader?”

If the answer is no, that's a warning sign.

1. ALL LEADERS ARE BACKGROUND CHECKED

Our baseline commitment is that every MicroChurch leader is background checked. This applies whether or not children or youth are currently part of that MicroChurch. Every Network leader is also required to complete a background check.

Why make this our baseline?

Because we want one consistent standard of trust and accountability across The Way, rather than determining who gets screened based on whether children happen to be present in a particular MicroChurch.

2. KNOW WHO IS SERVING WITH MINORS

People who serve with children and youth need to be appropriately known, discerned, and approved.

That includes:

A meaningful period of participation and relational familiarity.
A criminal background check (renewed at least every three years).
A conversation with a MicroChurch or Network leader.
Appropriate references when needed.
Training and affirmation of the Child and Youth Safety Policy.

Background checks are important, but a background check by itself does not qualify someone to work with minors. Discernment matters too.

Youth may help serve children, but they are never considered primary supervisors.

Remember:

Screening is important. Knowing people is important. Discernment is important.

3. KEEP INTERACTIONS VISIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE

This is especially important in our MicroChurch context.

Physical space

Avoid isolated or hidden environments. In homes, pay particular attention to bedrooms, bathrooms, and other private areas. Interactions with minors should take place in spaces that are reasonably observable.

Physical contact

Physical contact should be appropriate and responsive to the child's needs—not the adult's needs.

A child's verbal or nonverbal “no” must be respected, except when immediate safety requires otherwise. And there should never be touching on or near the breasts, genitals, or buttocks.

Digital communication

Communication with minors should be appropriate, transparent, and accountable. Where possible, parents or guardians should be included, and ongoing private one-on-one communication should be avoided.

Transportation

One-on-one transportation should be avoided whenever reasonably possible. When it is necessary, parents should know, another adult should be informed, and the arrangement should be transparent.

Mentoring

We absolutely believe in mentoring and discipling children and youth.

But intentional mentoring relationships should remain transparent:

Parents or guardians know.
Leadership may check in.
The relationship remains accountable.

Healthy boundaries don't prevent relational ministry. They protect relational ministry.

4. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE: MICROCHURCHES AND NETWORK GATHERINGS

Our safeguarding practices recognize that MicroChurches and Network gatherings are different contexts.

In a MicroChurch

Parents and guardians retain primary responsibility for their children. Because MicroChurches often meet in homes and informal settings, safeguarding is based on shared awareness, visibility, and accountability.

That means we use wisdom, not a rigid institutional formula.

At a Network gathering

The expectations become more specific because children and youth may be intentionally gathered apart from their responsible adults.

At least two approved, unrelated adult workers must be present and actively supervising any area or activity where children or youth are gathered.

A single adult should never be solely responsible for supervising a group of minors at a Network gathering.

This is an important distinction:

MicroChurch safeguarding emphasizes wisdom, visibility, and shared accountability. Network gatherings have additional specific supervision requirements.

5. BATHROOMS AND DIAPER CHANGING

This is one of those areas where simply “using common sense” isn't enough. We have specific guidelines.

At MicroChurch gatherings, parents or guardians are expected to assist their own children with diapering and bathroom needs.

If a parent or guardian isn't available, an approved adult may assist only with the parent's prior knowledge and consent, and the assistance must remain visible and accountable to others.

At Network gatherings, additional safeguards apply.

When an adult worker assists a child:

The worker must be approved and screened.
At least two approved, unrelated adult workers must be present and aware.
Diaper changing should occur in an observable area.
Bathroom assistance should involve an open or partially open door whenever reasonably possible.
Only the minimum assistance necessary should be provided.
Another approved adult must be immediately aware and available when more private assistance is necessary.

And whether parents are assisting their own children or these provisions are being followed, the guidelines should be communicated to responsible adults at the Network gathering.

6. REMEMBER: ABUSE CAN TAKE MANY FORMS

When we hear “child abuse,” we may immediately think about sexual abuse.

But abuse can also be:

Physical
Emotional
Spiritual
Neglect
Sexual

And abuse isn't always adult-to-child. It can also occur between children, particularly when there is a difference in age, power, authority, development, ability, or vulnerability.

So don't assume:

“They're both kids, so it can't be abuse.”

Child-on-child abuse can happen. We need to pay attention to unhealthy, coercive, manipulative, threatening, or exploitative behavior among children and youth as well.

7. WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A CONCERN?

This may be the most important thing you learn today.

You are not responsible for investigating abuse.

You are responsible for responding appropriately when you become aware of or reasonably suspect it.

If a child is in immediate danger:

Call 911.

If you suspect abuse or neglect:

Report immediately to Michigan Child Protective Services:

Michigan Centralized Intake: (855) 444-3911

And remember:

Reporting to a MicroChurch leader or Network leader does NOT replace your obligation to report to CPS.

After making the CPS report, notify:

Your MicroChurch leader
A Network leader

If the concern involves a MicroChurch leader, report directly to Network leadership.

8. WHAT IF A CHILD TELLS ME SOMETHING?

If a child discloses abuse to you, stay calm.

You don't need to become an investigator.

DO:

Thank the child for telling you.
Show love and respect.
Listen.
Allow the child to talk freely.
Use open-ended questions such as, “What happened next?”
Reassure the child that they are not to blame.
Protect the child from the suspected offender.
Report the abuse.
Document the disclosure and your report.

DON'T:

Interrogate the child.
Ask for unnecessary details.
Promise to keep the disclosure secret.
Blame or shame the child.
Minimize what the child has said.
Try to determine whether the child is telling the truth.
Tell the child simply to “forgive and move on.”

A simple response is often best:

“Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you told me. This isn't your fault. I'm going to help you get the help you need.”

Then REPORT.

9. THIS POLICY ALSO PROTECTS YOU

Let's come back to something important.

Safeguarding isn't just about protecting children from leaders.

It is also about protecting good leaders from unnecessary vulnerability.

You may have completely innocent intentions, but that doesn't mean every situation is wise.

A leader can say:

“I didn't mean anything by it.”

And that may be completely true.

But a healthier approach is:

“I don't want to put myself—or a child—in a situation where my intentions are the only thing protecting me.”

That's why we emphasize:

Visibility
Transparency
Shared awareness
Accountability

These practices give leaders guardrails.

They help ensure that when you care for, mentor, transport, communicate with, or otherwise interact with a minor, you aren't carrying the responsibility alone.

Let’s Practice

The purpose of this lesson isn't simply to know the policy. It's to know how to apply it.

For each situation, discuss:

What concerns you?
What does the policy say?
What would you do?

Scenario 1

A 13-year-old stays behind after MicroChurch and says, “Can I talk to you privately? I don't want my parents to know.”

Scenario 2

A parent asks you to drive their teenager home because they are running late.

Scenario 3

You notice an adult regularly sending private social-media messages to a teenager in your MicroChurch.

Scenario 4

A child tells you, “My dad hits me sometimes,” and then says, “Please don't tell anybody.”

Scenario 5

At a Network gathering, six children are gathered for an activity and you realize you are the only adult supervising them.

Scenario 6

Two children disappear into a bedroom during a MicroChurch gathering. You discover they have been playing there alone for several minutes.

Scenario 7

You observe behavior between two children that seems sexual, coercive, or significantly beyond what would be expected for their age.

The Takeaway

You don't need to memorize eighteen pages of policy.

But you do need to remember this:

KNOW

Know who is serving with minors. Know your responsibilities.

SEE

Keep interactions visible and avoid isolated or hidden situations.

LIMIT

Maintain healthy physical, digital, transportation, bathroom, and mentoring boundaries.

ACCOUNT

Keep parents and other leaders appropriately informed. Don't carry potentially sensitive situations alone.

RESPOND

If something concerns you, take it seriously.

REPORT

If you reasonably suspect abuse, report it. Don't investigate it yourself.

Our goal isn't to create a culture of suspicion. Our goal is to create a culture of trustworthiness.

We want our MicroChurches to be places where children are safe, known, loved, and able to grow in faith and community.

And we want our leaders to be able to serve with confidence, knowing that healthy boundaries and shared accountability protect both the vulnerable people we serve and the leaders who serve them.