Introduction

Most Unitarian Universalist lay and professional leaders understand the value of safe and healthy congregations. In the past few years the task of making our District congregations safe places for all children, youth, adults and families has become more prominent and pervasive. A continental UUA policy around many issues of violence and abuse is constrained by congregational polity and variance in state and local laws. Yet “benchmarks” of progress can be seen including

• Codes of Professional Practice for religious leaders
• Codes of Ethics for leaders of children, youth, and young adults
• UUA publications and Website resources

Our District has drafted a Safety and Ethics Guidelines for events conducted under the purview of the New Hampshire/Vermont District. District congregations are encouraged to develop and codify their own safety policies and procedures. May the following resources serve you in these faithful endeavors.

District Safety and Ethics Guidelines

Safety Forms for NH/VT District

Our Faith Imperatives Homily by Rev. Pat Hoertdoerfer

Codes of Professional Ethics

District Staff www.uua.org/DIST/handbook/ethicscode

Ministers www.uuma.org/Documents/codeofethics

Religious Educators www.uua.org/lreda/content/code

Church musicians www.uua.org/uumn/docs/other/code_of_prof_prac

Church administrators www.uua.org/auua/auuaguide

Codes of Ethics for leaders of youth and young adults

Adults working with Youth www.uua.org/YRUU/resources/online/ethics

Peer Leadership www.uua.org/ya-cm/youngadults/Ethics

Continental YRUU www.uua.org/YRUU/resources/online/ethics

Resources

Safe Congregations Handbook by Hoertdoerfer and Muir, UUA Bookstore

Responsible Staffing Guidelines www.uua.org/programs/ministry/staffing_guides

Safety/Abuse Clearinghouse Resources Packet, UUA Office of Ethics and Safety

Our Whole Lives Grades K-1/4-6/7-9/10-12/Adult, UUA Bookstore

Church Mutual Insurance Company www.churchmutual.com

UU Principles and Sexual Ethics Closing Words