3.3.B Participation Of Children And Youth In Worship General Church Activities Direct Quotation from Rev. Eastman

"What is the responsibility of the church for children and youth attending worship services and general activities open to all people who wish to attend? Generally, churches are responsible only for injuries that result from negligence. Churches are not the guarantors of the safety and well being of those who attend worship or participate in church activities. Churches cannot control and are not responsible for the actions of church members or visitors outside of the church. Within the church premises and at ANY church activity, churches should take all reasonable measures to prevent actions that could be expected to be injurious. Churches are usually held responsible when they are found negligent in hiring a worker who caused an injury, or when supervising an activity during which an injury occurred. Proper supervision requires the taking of specific, appropriate procedures for the protection of children or youth from harmful activities of behavior which are foreseeable. Negligence does not consist of failing to take extraordinary measures which hindsight demonstrates would have been helpful. There is a simple, common sense standard: reasonable care. What would a reasonable person do under similar circumstances?

When should parental permission be obtained for participation of minors in activities of the church? For any specific program designed exclusively for children or youth, permission should be obtained within the provisions of the risk management measures discussed previously in this section. This is especially important for any overnight activities or activities off the church premises. For services of worship or other activities which are also open to the public, parental permission is not necessary." FROM: Risk Prevention & Response In The Local Church by Rev. Don Eastman.