Safety for our Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults
We commit ourselves to creating a safe place for children and vulnerable adults. This means we ensure that all Sunday School teachers, clergy, acolyte supervisors, choir directors, youth chaperones, and any person who takes communion to a person unable to come to church passes a criminal background check. Not only that, they must have completed the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota's Safe Church Training program.
All of our classrooms, choir spaces, and offices have doors with glass windows. No St. Mary's meetings for children or youth may happen in private homes, with some pre-authorized exceptions. And we discourage St Mary's staff and volunteers from driving youth home from youth group.
We have procedures in place for reporting and dealing with accusations of abuse of any sort. The vestry (governing body) and all staff have completed Safe Church Training and background checks as well.