Our CM Policies are weak
Your Question:
“We have some policies, but they need to be more thorough or strong. How can we make sure our policies are clear and that they protect us?”
The Issues:
As the world becomes more dangerous, our protection of the CM must be more specific and thorough. Our policies must protect against liars, abusers, and anyone who may harm the children, the CM team, or the church. Our enforcement of the policies and procedures must be stronger and clearer. “Gray areas” must be removed. Exceptions must be stopped, regardless of the “political” fallout.
Scripture Foundation:
“As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it. For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception…who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not…To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.” Titus 1: 10-16
Short Answer:
Jesus is very clear about His value of children. He is also very clear about protecting them. We, in CM are called to teach and to “nudge” the children closer to God. We are, in a very real sense, “overseers” or “shepherds.” According to Paul in Ephesians 4, Jesus gave us all gifts and abilities. He highlighted “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.” Yes, those can be specific callings, but we in CM leadership can serve as all of those on any given Sunday. It is our responsibility to do all we can, with the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, to protect the children, the CM team, and the church from the attacks of the enemy.
Jesus uses the term “stumble” in Luke 17. To “stumble,” in this passage implies a shocking occurrence that causes one’s faith to be damaged or destroyed. Jesus warns us all to not be the cause of someone being “stumbled.”
“Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves.” Luke 17: 1-3
Notice that Jesus says, “It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck…” if they cause someone to stumble. A child, parent, or CM team member who experiences something terrible at church will “wrestle” with that experience for a very long time. He or she will be “stumbled” as he or she wonders why God let this happen. We need to create and enforce strong policies and procedures that prevent anyone connected with the CM to be stumbled! For more help, click on the links below.
