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   Child and Youth Protection Policy Our church is a community of faith that can offer a safe haven and sanctuary where children and youth can seek advice, help and nurture. Our church is a place where more than just facts of child abuse can be taught. We can also teach and proclaim our Christian values: compassion, justice, repentance, and grace. Our church is the place where children can come and learn and develop the inner strength and spiritual resources they will need to feel truly connected to God and to face suffering and evil. Our church can be the place where children and adults are able to learn how to respond to painful and confusing events using the wisdom of the Scriptures. Reports and data demonstrate that we cannot ignore the possibility that abuse could happen here. For the sake of our children and the protection of our workers against false allegations, we need to intentionally work to prevent abuse. Mandated by the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, each local church is expected to develop a written policy in an effort to insure the safety of our children and youth. First Church had many criteria already in place in an effort to insure the safety of our children and youth. Our Committee on Staff-Parish Relations in conjunction with a sub-group of our staff, recommended to and received approval from the Administrative Board in April 2004. This is a new, more substantial and inclusive policy that was implemented in May, 2004. Should you have any questions about the new policy, please contact Harriet S. Mayes, church administrator at 863-686-3163 or by e-mail  . <<Click here>> for a copy of the Child and Youth Protection Policy.
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