Policy on Sexual and Other Abuse

Knox-Metropolitan United Church

Approved by the Church Board May 29, 2002

We are all God’s children and we are the hands of Christ in this world. Abuse of any kind will not be tolerated. If it occurs, it is our responsibility to report it and to eradicate it.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is any sexual activity that is unwanted. Sexual abuse is any sexual activity where one person exploits a trust relationship for their own purposes. Sexual abuse is any sexual activity that is offensive. If we are not sure if an activity is abusive, we will not allow it. If an activity is abusive we will report it.

Other abuses

Our people deserve to worship in a safe place. The goal, and obligation of our church, in this regard, is to help all human beings enjoy a full life free from abuse and injustice. Therefore, other forms of abuse, sexual harassment, physical and emotional abuse will not be tolerated, and will be reported. These other forms of abuse may overlap the above definition of sexual abuse, but for greater certainty they are defined as follows:

Sexual harassment:

Sexual harassment is conduct that is known, or ought to be known, to be unwelcome. Sexual harassment is behaviour that has the effect of undermining, coercing, intimidating, humiliating or demeaning an individual on the basis of sex. It may have the effect of creating a place of ministry or worship that is hostile or offensive. It often involves offensive conduct that includes inappropriate joking, derogatory or degrading remarks directed towards members of one sex or sexual orientation, unwelcome advances and touching, and threats not to disclose this type of conduct

Physical abuse:

Physical abuse is unwanted touching, or touching that exploits a trust relationship, or touching that exploits a power imbalance between two persons. It includes the use of physical force to punish, intimidate, threaten, exploit or humiliate another person.

Emotional abuse:

Emotional abuse is unwanted conduct that undermines, intimidates, threatens, humiliates or offends another person. It is conduct that exploits a trust relationship, or a power imbalance, in order for one person to exploit, demean, intimidate, humiliate or offend another person. This conduct often involves verbal threats, derogatory comments and actions, yelling, and sarcastic or belittling comments.

These definitions do not include the necessary activities, carried out in good faith, associated with the legitimate business of the life and work of the Church. These definitions shall not restrict the free and honest communication that must take place in the Church. For example, they do not apply to the legitimate discussions that take place in the course of committee work.

All staff and volunteers will read the detailed definitions of sexual abuse, and the other abuses outlined. The policy, and reporting process, will be announced to the congregation. This information will also be posted in a prominent location in the church.