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CHAPTER FIVE
STAFF
- 5.1 BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- All staff members shall be expected to meet these basic eligibility requirements, in addition to any role-specific requirements stated in their job description.
- 5.1.1 A Right Relationship With God
- Any staff members are expected to manifest a grace-filled life, and testify to their forgiveness before God and their complete surrender to His will.
- This qualification is a difficult one for humans to gauge. It should be understood that any decision regarding the eligibility of a prospective worker under this requirement is not necessarily a reflection of one's true state before God. One's relationship with God can only be definitely judged by oneself and by God. However, in the words of Paul "It is necessary that there be divisions among you for only so will it become clear who among you is genuine." (2 Cor 11:19) Sometimes superficial judgments must be made.
- 5.1.2 Harmony with the Denomination
- Staff members shall be in harmony with the polity and practices of the Church of the Nazarene.
- 5.1.3 Faithful Support of the Church
- Staff members shall support the local church faithfully through regular attendance (as far as is possible) and by the giving of tithes and offerings.
- 5.1.4 Passion for ministry
- Staff members should have a passion for ministry to the age group with which they work. They should demonstrate a genuine concern for the holistic well-being of those to whom they minister.
- 5.1.5 Preparedness
- Staff members must have the willingness and the availability to consistently and adequately prepare to fulfill their role in ministry. Thought should be given before accepting a ministry role to ones ability to give that role the time and attention it requires.
- 5.2 BASIC STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR
- All staff members shall be expected to behave according to the following standards at all times while ministering to the students, and shall be expected to sign annually a statement saying they have read and understand these standards.
- 5.2.1 Respect for Parents
- The staff shall respect the parents of students at all times. Staff shall not question the decisions of parents in public (except when reporting and cooperating with the investigation of abuse). They shall honor the requests of parents regarding their own children at all times.
- 5.2.2 Respect for Church Leadership
- The staff shall at all times respect the church leadership. At no point shall any staff member publicly question or criticize the decisions and policies of the church leadership. The forum for discussion and dissension is in the Church Board and the Youth Council meetings, not at ministry activities. We are a team, and we support each other at all times.
- 5.2.3 Respect Other Ministry Staff
- The staff shall respect each other at all times. They shall comply with the reasonable requests of their overseers and cooperate with their coworkers. Again public dissent or criticism is completely inappropriate. Concerns should be expressed in an appropriate forum.
- 5.2.4 Respect for Students
- The staff shall demonstrate respect for the students at all times. Public ridicule or criticism is inappropriate.
- 5.2.5 Reporting of Reasonable Suspicions of Abuse
- The staff shall report, within 24-hours, any reasonable suspicion of Child Abuse to the Youth Pastor or Senior Pastor. If this is not possible, reports can be made directly to the DCFS at (800) 25-ABUSE.
- (Note: Any policy regarding reporting of abuse will be in effect only so long as it does not violate state or federal law. Some staff members may be considered Mandated Reporters by State Law and DCFS Rule 300. If that is the case the procedures for mandated reporters should be followed.)
- 5.2.6 Care Given to the Suicidal
- The staff members shall not leave the presence of any participant for whom there is reasonable suspicion of suicidal impulses until they are able to get that participant into the care and supervision of a qualified professional. Staff members should immediately report such suspicions to the Youth Pastor or Senior pastor or find a qualified psychological professional to help the participant.
- 5.2.7 Dating Students
- The dating of or romantic involvement with any student participating in a program with which that staff member assists is wholly inappropriate.
- 5.2.8 Sexual Behavior
- All sexual behavior, whether verbal or non-verbal, made toward any participant is prohibited and should be reported to the Youth Pastor (Or Senior Pastor if behavior is made by the Youth Pastor.)
- 5.2.9 Sexual Gestures from a Student
- Any sexual gestures a student makes towards a staff member should be discussed with the youth pastor.
- 5.2.10 Avoid Being Alone with a Student
- Staff members shall avoid being alone with students of the opposite gender. If private interaction is needed it should only take place in a public setting with other people around.
- 5.2.11 Physical Contact with Students
- Discretion must be used with all physical contact between staff and students. While touch is an important conveyor of care and concern, even innocent gestures can be misunderstood. Any gestures that might be construed as sexual in nature must be avoided. Any physical gestures of care and concern should be made in a public setting.
- 5.2.12 Individual Counseling
- Individual counseling should never take place in a private setting. Such counseling needs to take place in a public place with someone else around.
- 5.2.13 Transportation of Students.
- Staff should avoid driving alone with a student of the opposite gender at all times. If it is absolutely necessary the following precautions should be taken.
- Never sit close together
- Keep seat belts on at all times
- Do not make any physical contact
- Drive directly to the destination. Do not stop and sit in the car to talk.
- Upon arrival, exit the car immediately
- Be aware of and record the date, passenger's name, times of departure and arrival, and the mileage.
- 5.2.14 Romantic Feelings
- Romantic or sexual feelings for a student should be discussed with the Youth Pastor or Senior Pastor.
- 5.2.14 Knowledge of Inappropriate Behavior
- Any knowledge or reasonable suspicion of inappropriate behavior between a staff member and a student should be reported to the Youth Pastor (or Senior Pastor if the Youth Pastor is involved.)
- 5.3 YOUTH COUNCIL
- 5.3.1 Council Responsibilities
- "The local NYI council shall be responsible for planning the ministry for youth in the local church. It may elect or appoint NYI program personnel as needed. (In the case of a local church designating that paid staff be given youth ministry responsibility, it shall be understood that the staff member shall oversee, in cooperation with the elected officers, all aspects of the NYI programming and ministry.)" (Manual Paragraph 810 Art. V Sect. 1 Part 1)
- 5.3.2 Council Membership
- The Youth Council shall consist of two adult Members-at-Large and three youth Members-at-Large (at least one from each functioning age group). From these five elected members-at-large the council shall appoint a Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The President shall also be a member of the Youth Council, having been elected according to Manual provisions. Other members of the youth council shall include Sunday School Teachers, Program Directors appointed by the Youth Pastor or Youth Council, and the Youth-Mission Director (appointed jointly by the NWMS president and the NYI president.) The Youth Pastor shall also be a member of the NYI Council and the chairmanship of the council shall be deferred to him/her by the NYI President.
- 5.4 JOB DESCRIPTIONS
- 5.4.1 Sunday School Teacher
- 5.4.2 NYI President
- 5.4.3 NYI Vice-President
- 5.4.4 NYI Treasurer
- 5.4.5 NYI Secretary
- 5.4.6 NYI Youth Council Members-at-Large
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