Safe Sanctuary

Thank you for volunteering to work with our youth!

For adults (18 and older), please follow these three steps to complete the Safe Sanctuary process:

  • Fill out the CONFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE online and return it to the church office. This form must be completed each year.  Fill it in on your computer. Save your completed document, using your name as the title of the document, and email the completed form back to the church office at office@asburyumcarnold.org. The attached form is required by the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
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  • Complete a background check using this online link. (This will only take 2 minutes). If you will be driving youth, please select "Volunteer with MVR" in the drop down menu. (NOTE: If, after your initial registration on the site, you do not receive an email from Safe Hiring Solutions, please check your spam folder. If you used a gmail account, please check the chain of emails in your inbox). Background checks are performed every five years.
     
  • Lastly, take the online SAFE SANCTUARY TRAINING. It will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.  The Safe Sanctuary Coordinator will be notified when you have completed this step. To begin the training, type your email, click start, and create a password. This allows you to pause the training and return to it on your time.

All youth volunteers (middle and high school students) must:

  • Be at least 5 years older than the children in their charge.
     
  • Complete the CONFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE, and return it to the church office. This form must be completed each year.  Fill it in on your computer. Save your completed document, using your name as the title of the document, and email the completed form back to the church office at office@asburyumcarnold.org. The attached form is required by the Baltimore-Washington Conference.


Thank you for volunteering at Asbury UMC! If you have any questions, check out the SAFE SANCTUARY FAQ, or contact the Safe Sanctuary Coordinator.

Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes a child welcomes me." (Matthew 18:5). Children are our present and our future, our hope, our teachers, and our inspiration. They are full participants in the life of the church and in the realm of God.

God calls us to make our churches safe places, protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and ritual abuse. God calls us to create communities of faith where children and adults grow safe and strong. (From The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church. P. 384-386)

In covenant with all United Methodist congregations, Asbury UMC has adopted and implemented a SAFE SANCTUARY POLICY for the prevention of child abuse in our church. Our purpose for establishing this and accompanying procedures is to demonstrate our total and unwavering commitment to the physical, emotional and spiritual safety of all our children, youth, and vulnerable adults.