July 1, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Recently Leisha Tays, Director of Youth and Family Ministry, and Janet Zarich, a member of the Youth and Family Ministry Board, attended a workshop titled “Safeguarding God’s Children.” Churches offer this workshop in hope that it will assist congregations and other groups that are concerned about preventing the sexual abuse of children generally and in ministries and church activities for children and youth.
On Tuesday, June 24, First Lutheran’s council unanimously passed a motion to make it mandatory for all volunteers who will be in leadership/supervisory roles with children and youth to attend a “Safeguarding God’s Children” workshop and have a criminal background check.
New policies are being written along with many helpful suggestions for ministering to our children and youth. These are being put together in our first “Children, Youth and Family Ministry Handbook.” Our hope is to have our first draft of this handbook ready for distribution at the workshops.
We pray that you, as parents and volunteers with the children and youth of First Lutheran will support this effort in Safeguarding God’s Children. Along with the safety of our children and youth, this also helps with the safety of our volunteers.
We currently have two workshop dates planned. We ask that you plan to attend one or the other. Those dates are: Sunday, August 24, 10:30am-2pm and Saturday, September 13, 9am-12:30pm. A light lunch will be served at both workshops. The workshop itself is free. It will be held at First Lutheran Church and led by Leisha Tays, Director of Youth and Family Ministry. Background check authorization forms will be available at the workshops for those of you who wish to volunteer in any way in the future. Volunteers who would need the workshop and the background check include, but are not limited to: Sunday School teachers, Confirmation Guides, Shepherds for any youth programming/events/trips, Nursery Volunteers, etc.
The workshop times listed above include a half hour of training specifically for Sunday School teachers and Confirmation Guides. If you are not planning on volunteering in either of these roles, you will be done a half hour earlier than the time listed above.
Sign up for one of the workshops in the commons at First Lutheran or by contacting Leisha Tays.
If you have any questions, comments, concerns or suggestions, please contact us at 763-788-9653 or at the e-mail addresses listed below.
In Grace,
Pastor Thomas Carlson
Pastor Janice Bornhoft
Amy Orstad, Intern Pastor
Leisha Tays, Director of Youth & Family Ministry