January, 2006 MEMORANDUMTo: The Churches of the Diocese of Virginia Attendance at this workshop is mandatory for all employees (including clergy) and for all volunteers who regularly supervise children and youth outside Sunday morning. Congregations now have three options to fulfill this requirement: 1. Attend one of the scheduled workshops offered by the Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct. These workshops are free of charge. The schedule is attached. Please register for these workshops using this form or by calling 1-800-DIOCESE and asking for Mary Anne Bryant. 2. Hire a commission certified trainer to lead the workshop at another time and place. Congregations particularly interested in having the workshop in their buildings may wish to use this option. While there are no set fees for the trainers, congregations should expect to pay between $250 and $500 for the workshops. A list of certified trainers is available from Jackie Thomson, the chair of the Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct. Contact her at 703-437-6530. 3. By having a member of the parish or of the staff become a certified trainer, s/he will be able to lead the workshop in the congregation. Potential trainers need to be nominated by their rectors by writing the chair of the Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct. They should be people who have been involved in the life of the congregation for at least a year and who have a background check that is satisfactory to the rector. In order to become certified and to maintain their certification they will need to fulfill the following requirements: A. Attend one workshop and meet with the trainer following the workshop. B. Assist a certified trainer in leading a workshop. C. Lead or assist in leading a workshop every other year. D. Attend a diocesan refresher workshop every other year. The list of certified trainers will be maintained by the Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct Participants in any of the workshops are expected to obtain and read the appropriate portions of the diocesan “Policy Manual on Sexual Abuse and Misconduct: Prevention and Response” (or contact your church office) before attending. This new manual will become available for the first time at the 2005 Diocesan Council. Each congregation is responsible for providing copies of the appropriate parts of this document to the people who will attend the workshop. Information as to the sections of the manual that each participant needs to read can be found on page ii. Beginning in April, workshops on the Prevention of Adult Sexual Misconduct will be offered. To be in compliance with diocesan policy, all paid staff must complete one of these diocesan sponsored workshops. 2007 Workshop calendar (opens new window). |