Youth Policy


Policies

Youth Policies:

DRESS CODE:
Easy on the free show. Please do not expose your 4 Bs, thanks.

  • No belly buttons
  • No butts
  • No briefs
  • No boobs

TEEN DRIVING:
A teen is never asked to give another teen a ride home, nor asked to drive on planned youth activities –any exception must have the permission of ALL parents involved. Parents have the ultimate responsibility to bring their child home, and same-gender counselors will help with rides whenever possible. It is currently illegal in MA for a junior licensed operator (has a license for 6 months or less) to drive anyone other than the immediate family member, at the allowable hours,. Junior licensed operators may not drive between 12 midnight to 5:00am. Teens must call parents in any circumstance out of the ordinary to get permission first.

 

Staff Policies:

These guidelines are written to help the staff to succeed in youth ministry and to set acceptable boundaries for a safe, healthy, trustworthy environment for God’s work to be done in the youths’ lives.

PERSONAL GROWTH & SANITY:
We are not miracle workers nor without personal needs. We have to be real, authentic and transparent to the teens. Keep a FOCUS on our vision and keep a BALANCE of all the responsibilities and gifts God desires in your life at this time. We are out of focus once we begin losing our spiritual cutting edge of prayer, daily quiet times, Scripture memory and person witness. We are out of balance once we begin losing all our peers, jobs, grades, sleep and family. Do practice personal time vs. ministry time with the teens. Do call teens on the phone, but don’t be afraid to use the answering machine when you have other important matters to attend to.

TRUST & CONFIDENTIALITY:
It is vital to maintain trust between staff, parents and youth. We will make every effort to respect family and individual privacy, as well as handle information with care and sensitivity. There are times when we encounter life-threatening situations and other times when it jeopardizes eternal consequences. In principle, staff is advised to maintain personal counseling in general cases, to consult with the youth pastor and youth minister in high-risk cases, and to refer away cases beyond what staff is able to handle. In life-threatening and high-risk situations requiring extraordinary measures, we are legally required to seek out professional help, or seek wisdom from limited church leaders. In situations where parents need to be consulted or notified, we will offer to stand alongside a youth and urge them to talk with their parents directly. Always urge youths to be honest with parents. We aim to practice an open-door ministry, with no secrets.

DRINKING / SMOKING / SUBSTANCE ABUSE:
Please influence the teens to live free of such socialite habits. Drinking a beer or a glass of wine occasionally is not necessarily wrong, but never do it in the presence of the teens.

DATING:
Please influence the teens to develop healthy, loving relationships now and later in their lives. If a staff should be involved in a dating relationship, remember that the teens are watching your example. Avoid demonstrating P.D.A. (public display of affection). NEVER toy with the tender emotions of the teens by either inviting or giving or entertaining flirtation. NEVER date any one of the teens. Period.

GIVING RIDES:
It is always appreciated when a staff offers a ride to bring students home on a need basis. The friendly conversations during car rides have proven to be memorable and valuable “big brother” or “big sister” time with teens. Be appropriate and edifying in your talk, and remember your staff role. Never be poor driving examples (speeding excessively or haphazardly, doing “car tricks”) because teens will imitate you! It is policy never to ask teens to give another teen a ride home, nor to ask teens to drive on planned youth activities (any exception must have the permission of all parents involved). Parents have the ultimate responsibility to bring their child home. Whenever possible, please offer the ride yourself or check with another staff to give the ride instead. It is currently illegal in Massachusetts for a “junior licensed operator” (has a license for 6 months or less) to drive anyone other than the immediate family member, at the allowable hours (not between 12 midnight to 5:00 a.m.). Please ask teens to call their parents in any circumstance out of the ordinary to get permission first.

MOVIES:
Films and media offer us an excellent catalyst for discussing many important life issues. Some movies, however, may be more appropriate for more mature audiences rather than teens. If a staff should choose to accompany teens to see a movie, let’s avoid the rated-R movie. Even some PG-13 movies require some caution. We cannot justify or validate all the sex, violence, language, etc.; it just will not edify the teens in any Christlike fashion. If staff should want to see a rated-R+ movie, go with another adult instead. However, to be a consistent role model and to “practice what you preach”, staff is also advised to reconsider.

OTHER GRAY ISSUES:
Whenever in doubt, or if any possible questions should arise, always err on the side of being too conservative.