If you wait until an allegation is made to decide how to respond, you ve waited too late. All staff and volunteers should be familiar with state law reporting requirements. Know what constitutes abuse, who is required to report, how to report, etc. All staff and volunteers need to know to whom in the church to report the abuse. Be prepared to protect the identity of the victim, if possible.
Churches are like really small towns everybody knows everybody else s business.
Staff shouldn t fuel rumors or spread gossip. Decide who will be the spokesperson for the church with local officials and the media. Develop a policy for responding to the abuser especially if the abuser is church staff. Policies should have the support of church leadership and should be approved by the Administrative Board. Educate the congregation, staff, and volunteers on these policies and how to implement them.