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Updated Abuse Prevention Policy Template

An updated template for your church’s abuse prevention policy is now available for download.

Revised February 1, 2025 – a PDF of this cover letter is available at this link.

The linked example of a local church abuse prevention policy is intended to assist local United Methodist Churches in developing their own policies. It is provided in Word format, and may be adapted and formatted according to each church’s internal communication standards. Once such a policy is developed, it should be recommended by the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and approved by the Church Council prior to implementation.  The example provided here has been reviewed and approved by legal counsel as meeting the basic requirements of the Ministry Safe Abuse Prevention Program. It is not intended to represent legal advice.

The policy example represents minimum standards contained in the abuse prevention program. A church may approve stricter standards, but anything other than what is provided here should be reviewed by a church’s legal counsel.

It is important for local churches to not only have thoughtful abuse prevention policies in place, but to make certain that all staff and volunteers are aware of them, to implement them consistently, to have them reviewed and updated from time to time to meet the requirements of new laws and regulations, and to adjust them based upon experience and changed circumstances.

To download, click on the link below, and then click on DOWNLOAD on the top right of the page, or choose File > Save As to save a copy to your computer to fill out.

DOWNLOAD HERE: 2025 Abuse Prevention Policy Template

More information and further resources are available on the Local Church page of our website.

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