• Proverbs 27:23 — “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.”

• Psalm 91:1 — “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 — “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”

• Revelation 21:2 — “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

• Ephesians 5:25-27 — Christ gave Himself for the Church to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.

• John 10:11 — “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Introduction

Life Choice Church is committed to nurturing a safe and healthy environment for all members of the community, particularly within each local church, outreach, and corporate event. The following biblical principles provide the basis for this policy statement:

• We have a duty of care towards each other (Matthew 19:19). This responsibility is taken seriously by all members of the community. Jesus set a high standard of care and compassion for others, which is the desired aim within our community (Matthew 19:13-15).
• The Bible stresses the sacredness and preciousness of life (Psalm 139).
• The Bible emphasizes our responsibility to protect those who are vulnerable (Exodus 22:21-22; Deuteronomy 10:17-19; Jeremiah 22:2-4; James 1:27).

Policy Background

Life Choice Church takes very seriously the mandate from God to protect the vulnerable within our community, due to their powerlessness at times to protect themselves. This policy considers all vulnerable people within our church communities, including children, young people, the elderly, individuals with disabilities and their carers, and people who are emotionally and spiritually vulnerable.

Life Choice Church supports the right of all individuals to be emotionally and physically safe, respected, and valued. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Child Safe Environment Policy, Code of Conduct, Working with Children Check Policy, and Complaints and Grievance Policy.

The aims of this policy are:

• To minimize the risk of abuse, misconduct, and misuse of power within the local church, outreach, and other events.

• To ensure that all cases of suspected abuse or misconduct are handled in a consistent, unbiased, and thorough manner.

• To promote respect, fairness, and consideration for all members of the community.
• To ensure that leaders and programs within the community function in a way that provides protection for all members.

• To ensure that all people within our communities are respected and valued regardless of their age, country of origin, gender, cultural heritage, ability, or background.

• To acknowledge that through accountability and layers of protocol, we can work together to provide a safe environment for vulnerable members of our communities.

• To recognize the significance of training and induction in maintaining a safe community for everyone

Policy

Life Choice Church is committed to the following to develop and maintain a safe environment for everyone within our church communities:

• Safe leaders:

o Safe recruitment Process of leaders.

o Adequate training of leaders.

o Adequate supervision of leaders.

o Appropriate responses to allegations of risk of harm (abuse or neglect) and ministry misconduct.

• Safe church, outreach, and other events programs:

o Ensuring that the environment is free from physical (including sexual), emotional, and spiritual abuse.

o Minimizing safety risks in each environment through due care and diligence (including regular risk management assessment checklists on the physical environment).

This policy applies to all pastors, elders, workers, and volunteers associated with any ministry of Life Choice Church. It considers the following:

• The Commission for Children and Young People Act.
• Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act.
• Working with Children Check.
• The Ombudsman Act.
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act.
• Children Legislation Amendment 2009.
• Children’s Guardian Amendment 2021.

This policy also considers the Child Safe Standards, as legislated in 2021. These standards inform policy and practice:

• Child safety is embedded in organizational leadership, governance, and culture.
• Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
• Families and communities are informed and involved.
• Equity is upheld, and diverse needs are considered.
• People working with children are suitable and supported.
• Processes to respond to complaints of abuse are child focused.
• Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training.

• Physical and online environments minimize the opportunity for abuse to occur.
• Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved.
• Policies and procedures document how the organization is child safe.

Procedure

The following procedure is outlined for all local level Life Choice Churches, outreaches, and other events to enforce:

• Life Choice Church will endeavour to:

o Provide a recognized Child Safety Contact Person details available at (Life Choice Church)who will also act on behalf of situations involving other vulnerable members of our communities.

o The Current contact is.

• Rosel Joy Bona - Senior Pastor
• Irene Bona - Assistant Senior Pastor

• Claudine Mendoza - Children’s Ministry Pastor

• Jayne Pangaribuan - LCC Chairperson

• Michael Bermudo - Pastoral Care

• Abegail Joy Borinaga - Pastoral Care

• Maricar Salundaguit - Team Member

o Exercise its duty of care to protect individuals from abuse or neglect by:

▪ Screening workers and volunteers through the local church.

▪ Training pastors and leaders in this area.

▪ Protecting workers and volunteers from false allegations of abuse or neglect.

▪ Maintaining accurate records regarding individuals who work and volunteer with prohibited persons.

▪ Providing training for members of the community on Life Choice Church policies and procedures.

▪ Minimizing harmful behaviour through establishing a Code of Conduct.

▪ Encouraging all church workers, volunteers, and members to abstain from placing themselves in situations that may result in harm to individuals.

Life Choice Church is committed to exercising its duty of care to all members of our community and beyond by creating an environment free of abuse or neglect and supportive of everyone.  Appropriate duty of care will include:

o Always being vigilant to establish awareness of the need to be safe.

o Providing adequate supervision at events.

o Making sure that people are aware of acceptable behaviour through implementing a Code of Conduct.

o Having appropriate strategies in place to deal with complaints and allegations within the local church, outreach, or other event context.

o Identifying situations of suspected breach in this area.

o Supporting individuals who are the alleged victims of abuse.

o Supporting families related to alleged victims of abuse.

o Supporting others in the community who are witnesses of abuse.

o Fostering an environment of mutual trust, respect, and support.

o Looking at situations impartially and notifying appropriate agencies as needed.

Policies related to safe environments and related policies will be available on the website and dispersed to all pastors at regular intervals.

Should a complaint arise, the following should be observed:

• All complaints should be documented with accurate notes (including time, place, date, people present, and an outline of what is said).
• If the complaint is made regarding the Senior Pastor of a local church, outreach, or event, it should be handled by the Child Safety Contact Person, who should be notified as soon as possible.
• If the complaint is made regarding a different worker, volunteer, member, or visitor of the local church, outreach, or event, the senior pastor would be responsible for reporting, but they may request the support of the Child Safety Contact Person, even if the individual involved is not a child.
• If the complaint is made regarding a person or persons outside of the local church, outreach, or event, the senior pastor would be responsible for reporting, but they may request the support of the Child Safety Contact Person.
• Reporting a situation of alleged abuse or neglect:

  It is not the responsibility of any individual of Life Choice Church to

  investigate alleged incidents of abuse or neglect but rather to report them to

  the appropriate people in charge at church and agencies in cases outside

  church contact are needed to be involved.

  o An interview (formal or informal based on the age and situation) should be

  conducted to establish facts needed to make a report only, but not necessarily

  to minimize or highlight the situation.

  o Alleged incidents of abuse or neglect should be reported to the appropriate

  agencies.

  o These allegations should not be discussed with other people within the

  community without specific reason. Outside of this, the privacy of all involved

  should be protected as much as possible.

  o All situations of alleged abuse should also be reported to the Child Safety

  Contact Person within Life Choice Church.

  o If the allegation relates to a Church worker (directly employed by the

  church), the Child Safety Contact Person or the Senior Pastor will contact the

  Ombudsman, as well as other relevant agencies.

  o If the person of the allegation is a Church worker or volunteer, they may be

  informed following the reporting being complete, of the allegation (if

  appropriate). They may be informed of the substance of the report and any

  investigation. They should be informed that they may put their case forward

  either verbally or in writing to the Child Safety Contact Person and the

  person carrying out the investigation. They may also be informed of their right

  to make a complaint to relevant agencies. if they are not satisfied with how

  the allegation was handled.

  o It is the responsibility of the Senior Pastor or where appropriate the Child

  Safety Contact Person to ensure that all relevant individuals, including

  children, families, and alleged perpetrators are receiving appropriate counsel

  and support.