To mark Blog Against Sexual Violence Day, Christy at Dry Bones Dance shares an extensive list of questions that churches and leaders need to ask to protect the children and youth in their congregations from sexual abuse, including:

1. Do you know how to keep your children and youth safe during your programs? Do you get and check references for every single adult who will ever be alone with children or youth? Do you have guidelines in place to protect your children and youth? Do you tell every single youth leader that it is never, ever, under any circumstances, okay to have a romantic/sexual relationship with one of the youth because it is an abuse of power, a betrayal of trust, and a crime punishable under the law?

2. Does every single youth and children’s worker, both volunteer and paid, understand what sexual abuse is, indicators of sexual abuse, and what to do if a child reports it? Does everyone know that, under most state laws, they are mandated reporters of abuse? Do you know the number of the child abuse hotline?

3. Do you talk about sexual abuse and sexual violence with your youth – both how to be safe from it and how not to be a perpetrator of it? Do you teach your youth that their sexuality should be centered on respecting the image of God in themselves and others?

Read the whole thing.