PARTICIPATION COVENANT STATEMENT

The congregation of the Milford United Methodist Church is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all children, youth, and volunteers who participate in ministries and activities spon-sored by the church. The following policy statements reflect our congregation's commitment to pre-serving this church as a holy place of safety and protection for all who would enter and as a place in which all people can experience the love of God through relationships with others.

1. No adult who has been convicted of child abuse (either sexual abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse) is allowed to volunteer to work with children or youth in any church-sponsored activity. The church will check if the volunteer is on the public registry of sexual offenders against children.
2. All adult volunteers involved with children or youth of our church must have been members of the congregation for at least six months before beginning a volunteer assignment.
3. Adult volunteers with children and youth shall observe the "Two-Adult Rule" or be subject to random visits by a roaming adult at all times so that no adult is ever alone with children or youth.
4. Adult volunteers shall immediately report to their Committee Chairperson any behavior that seems abusive or inappropriate.

Please answer each of the following questions:

1. As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to observe and abide by all church policies regarding working in ministries with children and youth? _ Yes _ No
2. As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to observe the "Two-Adult Rule" or be subjected to random visits by a roaming adult at all times? _ Yes _ No
3. As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to abide by the six-month rule before beginning a volunteer assignment? _ Yes _ No
4. As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to participate in training and education events provided by the church related to your volunteer assignment? _ Yes _ No
5. As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to promptly report abusive or inappropriate behavior to your Committee Chairperson? _ Yes _ No
6. As a volunteer in this congregation, do you agree to inform the minister of this congregation if you have ever been convicted of child abuse? _ Yes _ No

I have read this Participation Covenant, and I agree to observe and abide by the policies set forth above.