The safety and well-being of every child entrusted to our care is one of our highest priorities. At Church of the Good Shepherd, we believe that protecting children is an essential expression of our calling to reflect the love, justice, and care of Jesus Christ.
Our Child Safeguarding Policy exists to protect children and vulnerable adults, prevent abuse, support survivors, and cultivate a safe, Christ-centered environment for every family. The policy applies to all staff members, volunteers, officers, ministry leaders, and anyone serving with minors.
Our Commitment
Several years ago, every officer and volunteer serving with children at CGS began participating in CARE (Children and Adults in a Responsible Environment) training. That training helped equip our church to recognize warning signs and respond appropriately when a former staff member was discovered to have created illegal images of children. Church leadership immediately reported the matter to law enforcement and fully cooperated with the investigation.
In the aftermath of that tragedy, we committed ourselves to doing even more to strengthen our safeguarding practices. We partnered with GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), an independent organization that helps churches prevent and respond to abuse, to conduct a comprehensive review of our policies and procedures. Their recommendations have been incorporated into our current Child Safeguarding Policy.
Safeguards We Have in Place
Everyone who serves with children or youth must complete appropriate screening and training, including:
- Criminal background check
- Required safeguarding training
In addition, our ministries follow safety practices including:
- Two-adult leadership whenever possible
- No unscreened adult alone with minors
- Appropriate physical boundaries
- Transportation guidelines
- Clear expectations for conduct and supervision
- Mandatory reporting procedures for suspected abuse
Church of the Good Shepherd maintains zero tolerance for abuse and fully complies with North Carolina’s mandatory reporting laws.
Reporting a Concern
If you ever observe behavior involving a child that seems unsafe, inappropriate, or inconsistent with our policies, we want to hear from you.
Concerns can be reported confidentially by:
- Emailing reporting@cgsonline.org
- Completing a reporting form available in secure lockboxes located throughout our church campus
Every report is reviewed promptly by our Safeguarding Team, and appropriate action is taken without delay.
In addition, if you are made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe by anyone on our campus, please use the reporting protocol outlined above to seek support, and speak to a member of staff or church leadership for an urgent matter.
Learn More
We encourage every parent, volunteer, and church member to read our complete Child Safeguarding Policy. If you have questions about our procedures or safeguarding practices, please contact our church office at 919-490-1634 or reception@cgsonline.org