“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! 
For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.” (Luke 18:16 NLT)

The 2025 Keeping CMC Safe (KCMCS) Training

Step 1. Read the KCMCS policy HERE and/or read the highlights below.

Highlights from Keeping Columbus Mennonite Church Safe (KCMCS) Policy

For onsite activities with children and youth:

1. At least two adults trained, volunteer application/memorandum of understanding signed, and approved to work with children/youth, are used to supervise each activity. Persons 18 years or older are considered to be adults.
2. Eligibility is based on the following:
   a.  Volunteers must have regularly attended CMC for at least 6 months during the past 12 months. (Two Sundays per month for 6 months).
   b. Volunteers who are sophomore age or older must have an volunteer application and memorandum of understanding on file. They also must participate in the annual training.
   c. Persons supervising the activities of minors should be at least five years older than the oldest minor participating in the activity.
   d. Volunteers must not have a previous history that precludes them from working with children.
   e. Background checks are not required for onsite volunteers.

For offsite activities with children and youth:

1. At least two adults trained, volunteer application/memorandum of understanding signed, and approved to work with children/youth, are used to supervise each activity, except in the case of mentoring.  Persons who are 18 years or older are considered to be adults.
2. Eligibility is based on the following:
   a. Youth Sponsors must have regularly attended CMC for one year.
   b. Mentors must have regularly attended CMC for two years.
   c. Volunteers who are sophomore age or older must have an application and memorandum of understanding on file. They also must participate in the annual training.
   d. Background checks are required for anyone involved with children/youth offsite.
   e. Persons supervising the activities of minors should be at least five years older than the oldest minor participating in the activity.
   f. Volunteers must have no previous history that precludes them from working with children.

For drivers doing transportation of children/youth:

1. On file will be the Transportation Agreement along with copies of the insurance card and drivers license.
2. This Transportation Agreement will list the driving record for the past 5 years.
3. The driver will confirm the safety of the vehicle.
4. Drivers will be 5 years older than the oldest youth in the car. 

Step 2. Read “When a child discloses, how to respond” https://www.columbusmennonite.org/sites/default/files/disclosure_what-to-do.pdf

Steps 3. Watch or read HERE Interim Pastor Bethany Davey’s sermon, Together the Temple, from the May 25, 2025 KCMCS service. 

Step 4. Please complete and submit the KCMCS Training Participation Form HERE. 

Step 5. IF you are wanting to work with children and indicated so in Step 4, please complete the Memorandum and Volunteer Application HERE.

If you have any questions or want to talk about this training or the KCMCS policy, please contact Mim Halterman, KCMCS Program Coordinator at mim@columbusmennonite.org.

Resource used in development of this training: The Mama Bear Effect: talking about sexual abuse is easier than you think.