“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:5-6
Jesus’s words of welcome to children and vulnerable adults are well known. Less well known are his words of prophetic judgment to those who would cause them harm. God’s vision for the church is that it would be a place of safety and security for everyone to worship him freely and without fear.
To that end, Epiphany has adopted the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh’s standards of policy and practice, it’s Safe Church Policy, to be the rule by which our congregation protects its children and vulnerable adults. The document may be downloaded as a .pdf through the link below, and includes all of the churches practices regarding background checks, documentation, and prescribed behaviors to follow around children and youth. It is our church’s prayer and expectation that children and vulnerable adults will come to see church as a place of love and safety, and these policies help us follow through on that hope.
To report an instance of abuse within the congregation, please reach out to Pastor Bryan, the congregation’s official reports receiver, at pastor@epiphanyligonier.org. To report an instance of abuse by the clergy or leadership of the church, please reach out to our diocesan reports receiver at reportsreceiver@adpgh.org.