AUGUST 2015 Strategies for Protecting Children Church can be a safe place, but it takes education and watchful church members to ensure this safety insideAUGUST2015 15 4 19 18 Contents 3 From the Executive Secretary 7 Bermuda 4 Strategies for Protecting Children 8 Greater New York Church can be a safe place, but it takes education and watchful church 10 New York members to ensure this safety. 12 Northeastern 15 Parkview Adventist Medical Center Files for Bankruptcy 14 Northern New England Protection, Seeks Sale 16 Southern New England In mid-June, Parkview Adventist Medical Center announced that the Brunswick, Maine, hospital had filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11. 19 The Big Picture 21 Bulletin Board 18 2015 Caring Heart Award Recipients 21 Obituaries Congratulations are in order for eight academy students who are the recipients of the 2015 Caring Heart Award. 22 Classified Ads 19 Younger Church, Aging Leadership Over the course of the GC session, it was evident that a large percentage of the church leadership are older than the majority of the church. Cover: The photo on the cover is from iStockphoto.com. August 2015, Vol. 114, No. 8. The Atlantic Union GLEANER is published monthly by the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, 400 Main Street, South Lancaster, MA 01561. Printed by L. Brown and Sons Printing, Inc., 14 Jefferson Street, Barre, VT 05641. Standard postage paid at Montpelier, VT 05602. Annual subscription price, $10.00. NEW OR RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mail new or renewal subscriptions to Atlantic Union GLEANER, P.O. Box 1189, South Lancaster, MA 01561. Adventist® and Seventh-day Adventist® are registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. 2 Atlantic Union GLEANER, August 2015 Visit the Atlantic Union Web site F rom CHILDREN — Their Safety, Our Responsibility the olomon says, “Sons are a heritage the working together of the home, the e from the LORD, children a reward church, and our schools. In the Christian xecutive Sfrom him. Like arrows in the context, there is no greater place than a hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s Christian home with Christ-centered par- youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver ents who will not only model Christian is full of them. They will not be put to values but also provide an environment shame when they contend with their ene- where the children will feel their parent’s mies in the gate”—Psalm 127:3-5, NIV. love and that their potential is valued. We all know about the unique wisdom Recently the North American Division S of Solomon, given to him by the Lord. hosted a ministerial convention in Austin, Now, embodied in these verses are Texas. More than 5,000 ministers, their ecretary elements that call our attention to the spouses, and many family members were blessings, worth, value, and care required present. I was very impressed with the “God has given by children. It is no secret that we are many seminars that were presented. The living in times when the safety and children’s programs and presentations welfare of our children is requiring our caught my attention. Every day, for two- us a blueprint highest attention. and-a-half days, hundreds of children Foundations, churches, schools, gov- were dropped off to a particular area in ernment programs, and several other the convention hall. In order to access the institutions, are promoting programs area, a special pass was required. It seems for the protection and guidelines to ensure the safety and that all measures for the safety of these protection of our children. Children’s children were implemented. I believe God safety—from general accidents, abuse expects and requires us as a family and and neglect, child slavery and sex abuse, His church to provide a safe environment and development exploitation within the drug communi- at all times. Thank God for the careful ties, violence of peers and adults, and efforts displayed by the organizers of the even homelessness—is constantly being NAD ministerial convention. publicized on the television, billboards, Providing safety for our children must of our children.” and in newspapers. not just mirror the efforts of our society, While, as a church, we participate in but we must try by the grace of God to the efforts and programs of our society to keep children safe from the efforts and protect our children, we recognize there temptations of Satan, whose influence is is a greater protection program we are affecting our whole world. As a church called upon to provide for children’s care family, we can thank God we are not and safety. That safety net/safety program, alone in this endeavor. or that protection plan has to do with children’s spiritual, physical, social, and Carlyle C. Simmons is the Atlantic Union mental development. Conference executive secretary and director of the Health Ministries, Human Relations, and God has given us a blueprint for the Prayer Ministries departments. protection and development of our children. At its basic level, it calls for at www.atlantic-union.org Atlantic Union GLEANER, August 2015 3 Strategies for Protecting Children By Candy DeVore am slipped into the back of the he had “befriended.” He was so well These are chilling scenarios— church and waited for the ser- loved by the adults that even if a boy ones we seldom think about or even Svice to begin. A handsome man tried to tell on him, no one believed consider, but they are true stories. in his early thirties, he was the kind what they had to say. We assume that God’s house is a of visitor members appreciate. Several Sally was tired of staying in the safe place; somehow we feel we members greeted him and invited him children’s division on Sabbath, but are protected from things like this to stay for potluck. Sam eyed the chil- it was the only way Sally could keep happening in our congregation. dren sitting on the stage for the chil- her girls from saying something that Church can be a safe place, but it dren’s story. When they ran back to would let the teacher know what takes education and watchful church their seats, Sam noted which children was going on at home. It happened members to ensure this safety. Here were accompanied by a single parent. once, but Sally was relieved when the are a few things you can do to make By the time the service was over, he teacher shared with just her what the sure your church is secure and your knew whom he would sit with during girls told her was happening at home. children are safe. the meal. The teacher was worried that what Dan straightened the sash on his they shared would cause a problem • Understand Abuse uniform as he prepared to receive his for Sally, so Sally assured the teacher Abuse comes in many forms: Master Guide designation. He had it would never happen again. Sally’s physical, mental, spiritual, sexual, spent years helping in Pathfinders daughter paid for the comment when and even neglect. Churches need to and had lost count of the young boys she got home. be a safe place for children against any form that abuse might take. Abusers can be adults or children. Many adults who abuse children started at an early age abusing other children. Keep a watchful eye. • Manage Your Volunteers Shield the Vulnerable provides an application that anyone who works with children is required to complete. This is a precaution, however, it does not relieve you of the responsibility of managing your volunteers. One study suggests that less than three percent of perpetrators are ever caught. This application will only reveal a registered offender. You must remain vigilant. • Review Your Facility Photos: iStockphoto.com Make sure all doors have windows 4 Atlantic Union GLEANER, August 2015 Visit the Atlantic Union Web site COVER STORY in them; none of your children’s rooms should be completely private when a door is closed. While it is often a common practice to put our children’s classrooms in the basement or in the less convenient locations at the church, consider moving them front and center. Make sure the hallways are lit and free of obstacles. If the children are required to be in outbuildings, make sure the par- ents or an adult accompanies them to and from. Consider fencing in the area around the back of your church or locking any ancillary doors to discourage people from entering through doors without greeters. • Train Regularly Train your teachers to keep a close eye on the children. Educate them “Protecting children from harm, and helping them about effective parent pick-up techniques, and encourage them heal is the most important thing you can do.” to never be in a room alone with just one child. Offer training in recognizing the signs of abuse and what to do when it is identified. • Work Closely With the Pastor and Church Members It is important that your pastor and church members know about the systems and protections you have in place and the laws that are binding. Have a discussion with your pastor and be sure he supports and leads efforts to keep your children safe. • Listen to the Children Studies have shown that children can rebound from abuse, but the thing they have greatest difficulty recovering from is not being heard or believed. Take it seriously if a child tells you they have been approached or hurt. It’s a scary situation, but it is important to listen.