Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Policy
for Children and Adults
GRACE CHAPEL Inc.
Updated since November 2025
Index
1. Statement of Purpose
2. General CSAP Provisions
3. CSAP Certification
4. Reporting Concerns, Violations, and Allegations
5. Response to Allegations or Suspicions of Child Sexual Abuse
6. Heightened Review
7. Sex Offender Protocol
8. Conclusion
1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Child sexual abuse is a grievous sin. It is a perversion of God’s design for sexuality, and it is destructive to individuals, families, and our society. The effects of this perversion are far-reaching and devastating. The Lord hates child sexual abuse.
Likewise, sexual abuse of adults is a grievous sin, and is especially damaging within the church because it is a place committed to holiness, purity, and humble, serving relationships in mutual pursuit of Christ.
In adherence to timeless, Biblical standards, we give specific treatment to the sin of Sexual Abuse (in addition to adherence to legal requirements), because it is specifically covert, deceptive, and manipulative in nature. It cannot be hastily dismissed over expressions of remorse, tears, excuses, minimization, self-pity, or an obligatory apology because the abuser was exposed. It must receive a sober and thorough examination and response (2 Corinthians 7:11).
Sexual predators find opportunity to abuse vulnerable people in places that are kind and trusting, such as the church. The church must understand that as ministers of Christ’s salvation from sin, we must protect the vulnerable from being abused, and protect those prone to abuse from the opportunity to sin.
We cannot afford to treat carelessly the sin that Christ condemned:
Matthew 18:6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me
to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and
he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Jesus Christ offers the hope of healing for the victims of sexual abuse. The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides for healing and restoration from the pain and destruction inflicted upon victims of sexual abuse. The lives of these precious individuals can be restored, and they can go on to live fruitful lives and testify to the goodness of Christ, our Redeemer.
Christ is the answer for sinners. All have sinned and must seek forgiveness and salvation from sin through Jesus Christ, who bore the ultimate penalty for our sins on the cross, and provides a renewed life through the power of his resurrection by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. All who want to walk in the renewed life of Christ must put to death the desires of the flesh and live according to righteousness. They must completely forsake the works of darkness and commit to walking in the light of truth. This includes former child sexual abusers.
A former sexual abuser may be considered to be repentant if they have consistently demonstrated humility, honesty, transparency, and accountability. They must completely reject their sin, despise the darkness they were in, express grief over the far-reaching harm they caused the victim, and demonstrate long-term dedication to purity and restitution.
A former sexual abuser must be monitored for recidivism, grooming behavior,
and character traits of manipulation, minimization of sin, excuses, or disrespect of
boundaries, dishonesty, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Child sexual abuse is preventable through protective measures. The church is to be a gathering of people who want to know and follow Jesus, who offers salvation from sin. It is not a place to harbor people who want to continue in sin, to fulfill the lusts of the flesh. As the church, we minister to adults and children in their pursuit of Christ, and we utterly condemn every work of wickedness that disregards the grace of God and abuses the vulnerable. We must be vigilant to create a safe and healthy environment for this ministry. We must maintain an accurate teaching and application of scripture in regards to church standards, holy living, and possess an accurate knowledge of sexual abuse of children and adults. Towards that end, we have this Policy.
Grace Chapel (“GC” or the “Church”) will provide mandatory Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (“CSAP”) training for all Church Staff and Ministry Volunteers. This CSAP Policy has been created and is designed to help reduce the risk of child sexual abuse and to guide the Church should an allegation or suspicion of child sexual abuse arise within the context of our ministries and events. The Church takes all allegations of child sexual abuse and adult sexual abuse seriously, and our CSAP Policy outlines specific responses by Church Staff and Volunteers should a concern arise within the context of Church ministries or events.
Psalm 24:3-4; 51:17; 68:5-6; Matthew 7:6; 18:5-7; Mark 9:42-45;
Romans 8:5-11; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 5:3,
5-13; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Timothy 5:19; 6:3-6;
Hebrews 1:9; 1 John 1:5-7; 3 John 1:9-12; Jude 1:7-8, 12-13, 16-23; 2
Peter 1:5-9; 2:9-10, 12-22; 5:2-3
2. GENERAL CSAP PROVISIONS
2.1 Scope and Adoption.
(a) This Policy outlines specific procedures and requirements related to any official GC church sponsored activities and events on and off church property (e.g., youth retreats, church campouts, official GC home Bible Studies).
(b) This revision of our CSAP Policy is approved by the Elders of GC and effective November 12, 2025.
(c) Much of church member fellowship is conducted informally outside of formal GC sponsored ministry activities, and this Policy does not govern those contexts.
(d) Any reference in this Policy to the Elders of GC overseeing a particular ministry should be understood to refer to GC Pastors or Elders.
(e) Any reference in this Policy to Child Sexual Abuse should be understood to also apply to Sexual Abuse of Adults, and any illicit sexual conduct whether physical, verbal or virtual.
2.2 Staff and Volunteer Requirements. Every GC Staff Member or Ministry Volunteer (Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Board Members, Children’s Ministry Workers, Directors of Ministries and Programs, e.g., worship, security, ushers, events):
(a) must be a Member of GC in good standing (1 Timothy 5:22) and
(b) must be CSAP Certified unless they are minors, in which case they must be supervised by a CSAP Certified adult volunteer. (Matthew 10:16)
2.3 The Security Team. Whenever there are minors (persons under eighteen years old, also “children”) under the supervision of GC Volunteers, the Security Team may be on duty and observing such ministry. Clarifications:
(a) One Volunteer may not be both the Security Team Member and the Volunteer supervising minors—they must be distinct adult Volunteers.
(b) Observing does not mean continuous direct vision but more a patrolling/general awareness. The intention of this subsection is for the Security Team to ensure there are not CSAP violations (e.g., an adult alone with a child) and to assist as helpful.
(c) Security Team or Elders shall run Police Record Check or Megan’s List check on every known consistent visitor to the church (three or more consecutive visits) and on current members, and shall report findings to Elders. If the individual is a
registered Sex Offender, follow protocol in § 7.
2.4 The “Never Alone” Rule. Children under the supervision of GC Volunteers shall not be alone with an adult (one child with one adult) (Deuteronomy 19:5). This means:
(a) A single Volunteer cannot work with a single child without another qualified adult present. (There may be some exceptions or waivers, § 2.9.)
(b) Children’s Ministry Volunteers supervising children during class time shall not enter the bathroom with the students, but must stand outside classroom door to keep an eye on children walking to and returning from the bathroom.
2.5 Identification Tags. Identification tags are recommended for Staff and Volunteers while engaged in children’s ministry service. However, it will be the decision of the Pastor and Elders of GC overseeing any ministry to determine when identification tags will be required.
2.6 Guidelines for Ministry Spaces.
(a) All spaces that are used for children’s ministry should be open, easily accessible, and provide a clear view of all participants to Security Team Members.
(b) Guidance for physical spaces used for children’s ministry:
(i) All rooms shall have windows for observation by Security Team Members. Where not practicable, a door shall be left open whenever children are present and under supervision by GC Volunteers.
(ii) Such windows shall not be covered during times of ministry.
2.7 Travel.
(a) GC Staff and Volunteers shall not travel alone in an automobile with a child in a ministry context (e.g., a youth ministry leader transporting a child during a ministry event).
(b) To clarify, parents are free to ask friends to drive their child to or from a GC event, including Staff and Volunteers. (This is a personal and private context distinct from a GC ministry context. Such a situation is no different than asking a friend to pick up a child for school or a sporting event.)
2.10 Exceptions and Clarifications.
(a) Guest ministers/teachers who are not CSAP certified must perform their duties under the direct supervision of a GC Staff Member or Volunteer.
3. CSAP CERTIFICATION
3.1 Requirements for Obtaining CSAP Certification. The Church will only grant CSAP Certification to an individual who fulfills all the following requirements:
(a) Is at least eighteen years old.
(b) Submits a Volunteer Ministry Application Form to the Church Office.
(c) Agrees to a criminal background check.
(d) Provides personal references as requested by the Church leaders.
(e) Completes the Church’s CSAP Training. (To be determined. We recommend
online training through MinistrySafe.org)
(f) Is approved for certification by the Pastor/s of GC.
3.2 Renewal of CSAP Certification.
(a) Volunteers must re-certify every five years to continue serving with any Ministry Team.
(b) CSAP Certification will expire at the end of the calendar year (December 31) following the fifth anniversary of a Volunteer’s most recent Certification. If a Volunteer’s Certification lapses and is not renewed, they are no longer CSAP
Certified.
(c) Those persons who obtained their most recent CSAP certification before January 1, 2025 will have until July 1, 2030 to renew their Certification.
(d) Helpers who are younger than 18 years old are permitted to assist in ministry under the supervision of CSAP Certified Staff and Volunteers. A Helper may begin the CSAP Certification process at seventeen years of age, but they will not be finally CSAP Certified until their eighteenth birthday.
4. REPORTING ALLEGATIONS, VIOLATIONS, AND CONCERNS
4.1 Required Reporting.
(a) GC Ministry staff (Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Board Members, Children’s Ministry Volunteers, and Directors of Ministries and Programs) are mandated reporters for known and suspected Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse, and shall follow reporting guidelines in § 4.3.
(b) All other church members are permissive reporters, and are strongly encouraged to report known or suspected child abuse in accordance with the following guidelines, but are permitted to report anonymously if they choose.
(c) GC Staff shall report to Pastor/s or Elder/s any lack of compliance to CSAP policy for investigation and rectification (ie, situation when one child was alone with one adult.
4.2 What to Report.
(a) Required by law, Volunteers shall report first to Child Welfare and immediately thereafter to Pastor/s any allegations or suspicions of child sexual abuse related to GC ministries or any events organized or sponsored by the Church. This includes but is not limited to
(i) allegations of abuse or misconduct and
(ii) suspicions of abuse or misconduct.
(b) Volunteers shall report to the Pastor/s any concerns related to GC ministries or events that are believed to place children at risk. This includes, but is not limited to
(i) lack of compliance with CSAP guidelines,
(ii) situations that create the appearance of impropriety, and
(iii) any suspicious persons or activity.
4.3 How to Report.
(a) Staff and Volunteers shall submit mandated reports of known and suspected child abuse or child sexual abuse within 24 hours to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 or reported electronically through the online Pennsylvania Child Welfare Portal at www.compass.dhs.pa.gov/CWIS/Public/Home .
(b) If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first. You can also report to local law enforcement.
(c) The individual who made the report to Child Welfare or Law Enforcement, shall afterwards immediately submit a report in writing to one or more of the following designated GC officials, to be kept on file:
(i) The Lead Pastor.
(ii) Any GC Pastor.
(iii) Any GC Elder.
(iv) Any Member of a GC Security Team.
(v) Any GC Board Member.
4.4 Acknowledgement of a Report. The GC official receiving a report shall provide written receipt of the report to the one making the report, or to their guardian if the report is made by a minor.
4.5 Report to Insurance Company. Immediately following the report of abuse to the authorities and to designated GC officials, an Elder or designated official shall report in writing to the GC’s insurance company that a report was filed with the authorities, with the facts that could give rise to a claim.
5. RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OR SUSPICIONS
OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
5.1 Handling of a Report. The GC official receiving the report shall promptly pass along notification via email within twenty-four hours to the Elders of GC.
5.2 Escalation as Needed.
(a) Some concerns of suspicious activity and violations of the CSAP Policy may be rectified promptly and simply. In such cases, one of the Elders or Pastors may resolve the situation without escalation. (E.g., if a ministry worker wasn’t wearing an identification tag when they were supposed to, a Pastor or Elder may take appropriate action to directly address the concern and resolve the issue.)
(b) If any of the notified Elders or Pastors feel it necessary, they may escalate the report for Heightened Review in accordance with § 6 of this Policy.
(c) Allegations of child sexual abuse in a GC ministry context must be escalated for Heightened Review.
6. HEIGHTENED REVIEW
6.1 How to Escalate. Any Elder or Pastor may escalate a report by sending it to the Pastor/s, the Elders or the Board Members of GC most directly involved with the allegation.
6.2 The Process.
(a) The included Pastors and Elders and all the Board shall promptly review and discuss this report.
(b) These individuals shall select one of their number to take lead and be responsible to conduct further investigation to present appropriate responses to the group which may include contacting law enforcement, legal counsel, or more.
(c) Once a course of action has been determined by the group, it shall be executed and documented.
(d) If a report was made to law enforcement, the church shall comply with all external investigations.
(e) If the external investigation clears the allegations of abuse, this shall be reported to all individuals who were involved.
(f) If the external investigation results in a confirmation of abuse, this shall be reported to the church in accordance with § 6.5 of this policy.
6.3 Conflict of Interest. If the suspected violation involved one of the persons who would be overseeing or involved in handling the report, that person shall recuse themselves from any responsibility for handling or investigating the report.
6.4 Care and Protection of Alleged Victims and Others.
(a) Pastors and Elders shall work to ensure all persons involved receive sensitive spiritual care.
(b) Alleged victims of child sexual abuse shall not be held responsible in any way for the abuse.
6.5 Response to Confirmed Child Sexual Abuse.
(a) GC Pastor/s or Elder/s will publicly announce and condemn abuse to the church, and publicly invite silent victims to come for pastoral and/or professional support, and publicly announce removal of abuser from the church. (Ephesians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 5:4-5)
(b) If a leader was the abuser, publicly announce the permanent removal from their leadership position, along with removal from the church. (1 Timothy 5:20)
(c) The sexual offender will not be permitted to be restored to the same church location as the victim.
7. SEX OFFENDER PROTOCOL
7.1 Purpose for This Protocol.
(a) GC is committed to fulfilling the mandate of Jesus to preach the gospel to all peoples. This mandate is clearly intended to include those with sin in their past, otherwise it would include no one.
(b) To fulfill this mandate in a safe and healthy way, we have developed this Protocol. If understood and applied, it can provide the opportunity for sex offenders to participate in GC events while guarding the congregation—our children, the whole community, and the sex offenders themselves.
7.2 Responsibility and Notification.
(a) Any GC member who becomes aware that someone (“Attendee”) attending GC events has a criminal record involving child sexual abuse (“CSA”) or a plausible allegation involving CSA shall notify the Lead Pastor and the Elders of GC.
(b) Those Elders shall select an elder to meet with the attendee to determine if the individual is eligible to be considered for a Conditional Attendance Plan (“Plan”), if the church has sufficient resources to sustain this Plan, according to the following qualifications:
(i) They have satisfied the legal requirements of their conviction and parole (e.g., restriction on contact with minors and victims, limitations of location, travel, and residency, completing sex offender treatment, strict supervision, and/or regular reporting.) (Romans 13:4)
(ii) They do not attend the same church as their victim/s. Victims will be given priority in every case, and CSA may be referred to another church if they satisfy all other qualifications.
(iii) They have demonstrated purity of life and conduct for a minimum of two (2) consecutive years since their most recent offense.
(iv) They have fully disclosed their history of sexual offense and expressed a hatred for their sin, a remorse for the harm done, willingness to receive consequences and make appropriate restitution where possible, and an ongoing commitment to right living through the Biblical standard of selfdenial, sexual purity, honesty, humility, and accountability. (Acts 19:18-19, Ephesians 4:28, Hebrews 12:17)
(v) They are willing to publicly confess and denounce their sin and commit to right living, or they are willing for the Elders to communicate this full disclosure to the church concerning them. (Galatians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
(vi) They are willing to submit to long-term monitoring, accountability, chaperoning and counseling. (Romans 12:2, Hebrews 5:14)
(vii) They are willing to comply with the approved Conditional Attendance Plan.
(c) The Elders shall appoint one of themselves to be the Responsible Person (“RP”) to develop and submit to the Elders a Conditional Attendance Plan for Attendee.
(d) Once this Plan is approved by those Elders, the RP shall notify all GC Elders, Deacons, Board Members and Security Team Members of the Plan, and the Plan must be documented in Attendee’s file in the Church Office.
(e) Attendee must agree in writing to this Conditional Attendance Plan to continue any participation in GC ministry contexts.
(f) The Elders will communicate with the church the presence of the Attendee.
(g) The RP will work to create a Plan that fits what is known and unknown about Attendee, sets Attendee up for success, and maintains a safe and healthy ministry context for the Church.
(h) Elements of the plan could include but are not limited to:
(i) Designated Chaperones that must be present with Attendee whenever they are on GC grounds or at GC sponsored events. (This must specify required proximity.) These Chaperones must be non-related, non-spouse individuals who are CSAP certified and trained to identify grooming behaviors. Attendee must schedule with their designated Chaperone in advance of every attendance.
(ii) Total preclusion from certain types of GC events.
(iii) A requirement for permission from RP before visiting any spaces where children are present—possibly including extra-GC contexts.
(iv) Regular counseling.
(v) Revoking keys and access to GC properties.
(vi) Limited or no service with various Ministry Teams.
(vii) The use of a tracking app such as Life360.
7.3 Responding to Plan Violations.
(a) If any GC Pastor, Elder, or Board Member becomes aware that Attendee has violated their Plan, he shall communicate with the RP promptly or, if he is unable to reach the RP, he shall notify all the GC Elders.
(b) The RP shall investigate and work with the Elders overseeing Attendee to determine if there was a violation and what appropriate steps are required next.
(c) If offender refuses to comply with the Plan, or sexually offends again, they will be permanently barred from attendance at all GC sponsored events.
8. CONCLUSION
This CSAP Policy was considered and adopted by the GC Elders to support fruitful ministry in the Church. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the policy, please talk to a GC Pastor or Board Member.
Staff and Volunteers shall adhere to this Policy as they minister at GC.