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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONFERENCE YOUTH AND CHILDREN EVENT POLICY (revised 05/08/06) A. INTRODUCTION Scripture and our United Methodist tradition inform us in our belief that all of human life is of sacred worth, perhaps children most of all. Hear the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:5-6: “Whoever welcomes [a] child, welcomes me. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones…it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” With The Book of Discipline, we affirm that our youth and our children are full human beings in their own right but, because they are particularly vulnerable, they are our sacred trust to whom we have special responsibility (Paragraph 162.III.C.). The Church is therefore particularly accountable to provide a safe environment for youth/children (Paragraph 161.II.H.). “Children must be protected from economic, physical, emotional, and sexual exploitation and abuse” of any kind (Paragraph 162.III.C.). Therefore, as a covenanted Christian community of faith, the Pacific Northwest Conference pledges to conduct Conference events in ways that promote the safety and spiritual growth of all of our youth/children as well as all of the workers with youth/children who participate in these Conference events.
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