Guidelines for good interaction with children and young people

By Mikael Wandt Laursen
General Secretary of FrikirkeNet

(See guidelines, annexes and template for action plan at the bottom of the page)

Children and young people have a large and important place in the Danish free churches. They are entrusted in our care in the children and youth work of the churches, and it is important to ensure the best possible framework for a good, safe and healthy community for all.
It must be a community based on trust and mutual respect. A community where well-being and joy are the highest priority, and where everyone is included because they want to be involved themselves - not because they have been pressured or manipulated into it.

In recent years, unfortunately, we have seen examples of the unthinkable in which priests or staff in both Catholic and free churches have subjected children and young people to abuse. Against this background, we have had a good dialogue with the free church children's and youth organisations about the good community and the need to actively prevent any kind of abuse in the work of children and youth in the churches.
That dialogue has now been translated into guidelines for ”Good fellowship in the Church's work for children and youth“.

But guidelines and good intentions are not enough. It has to be put into practice - in everyday life, where we are with children and young people.
We need to talk about it - both the good and the hard. Talk about it at the start of the season, which you can read more about in the guidelines. We need to talk to the children and young people and to each other about common values and rules.
The more we talk about it, the easier it becomes for everyone to live up to it. And the harder it becomes for those who otherwise intended to violate the boundaries of others.

The responsibility for the good community and the responsibility for safeguarding children and young people against all forms of abuse lies with the Church leadership and staff, employees as well as volunteers. It is their responsibility to intervene and stop any sign of grooming and other cross-border action.
And it is the responsibility of management that the legislation is complied with; including that sexual assaults and other violations are reported to the relevant authorities, as prescribed by law. It is our expectation that all managers and employees, employees as well as volunteers, know the content of these guidelines and help each other translate the words into action.

Photo: Colourbox