Diocesan Youth Events are open to all. No one will be discriminated against on the basis of their race, color, gender, physical disability, origin, ancestry, beliefs or class.
No person will be kept away from a diocesan-sponsored event for financial reasons. It is customary for the family, the local congregation, and diocesan youth ministries to share the costs.
All youth events function with an open-door policy. Clergy, parents, youth, and diocesan lay leadership have a right to full information about all diocesan-sponsored programs and a right to observe any youth program at any time. Checking in with the program leaders is required upon arrival. Complementary to this is the expectation that participants in a diocesan-sponsored event will attend the entire event so that community-building and event-integrity are maintained. Exceptions to this should be negotiated in advance.
Permission to participate is required from each participant’s parent or guardian. Permission slips are provided with every registration packet.
The basic human needs of food, shelter, sleep, safety, and clothing will not be denied at any event.
Overnight programs will provide safe, supervised sleeping arrangements. In most cases, this will mean gender-specific sleeping areas. A single adult and a single youth (not related to one another) will never sleep alone together. Sexual relations between youth and/or inappropriate displays of affection will result in the youth involved being sent home.
Every person attending a diocesan-sponsored youth event can expect to be protected from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and appropriate steps will always be taken to provide that protection. Physical abuse is the intentional bodily injury of one person by another. Emotional abuse is the devaluing of another such as name-calling or indicating to another that s/he is worthless. Sexual abuse is any sexual activity between a youth and an adult, or between youth when there is an unequal distribution of power, such as when one person is significantly older or larger. In addition sexual misconduct includes sexual abuse, exposing a youth to sexually provocative material, inappropriate physical exposure.
No one is to strike, hit, or otherwise physically threaten another person at any time. No weapons of any kind are to be brought to diocesan-sponsored events. Anyone in possession of a weapon will be sent home and the weapon will be confiscated.
Alcohol and/or illegal drugs may not be used by or in possession of any adults or youth at diocesan-sponsored youth activities. Anyone found with these substances will be excluded from the activity and sent home at their own expense.
Adult youth advisors will be screened in advance of their involvement in diocesan-sponsored youth events according to diocesan policy and California state laws. Any person convicted of prior incidents of sexual misconduct or abuse will not be used in any capacity for diocesan-sponsored events. Any person accused of improper behavior will be removed from positions with access to youth until the matter is resolved
When one-on-one conversation or pastoral care is advisable between an adult and a youth, another adult is to be present, or at least aware of the consultation and who is being counseled. Every attempt will be made for counseling to take place in a public place, away from but in clear view of others. Seclusion is to be avoided.
Youth advisors, participants, and their families are responsible for arranging transportation to and from diocesan-sponsored youth events. When transportation is by private car, it is highly recommended that there not be a single adult and a single youth (unrelated to one another) alone. Note: A congregation may be found liable if a driver under the age of 25 transports minors to/from a church-sponsored event and a mishap occurs. 15-passenger vans are strongly discouraged. (see “No 15 Passenger Vans”)
No adult youth worker is to date a youth or become romantically or sexually involved with a youth who is a member of the local program or a participant in a diocesan-sponsored program.
All adult leaders are to refrain from giving personal gifts or money privately to youth without first consulting the parent(s) or guardian(s).
Anyone who believes s/he has experienced improper behavior is encouraged to report it to an adult leader, the Canon Educator, the Bishop and/or the Ecclesiastical Authority as soon as possible. An adult advisor who receives a report of any suspect or actual misconduct or abuse must respond.
