Home Events In Care Churches Resources Employment Links

Resources, Policies & Procedures For CMA Churches and Clergy
*

CMA Adopts Local Church Covenant

A new Local Church Covenant between CMA and its member churches was adopted by the Annual Meeting of the Chicago Metropolitan Association on May 3, 2008.

Entitled THE COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION AND THE LOCAL CHURCH, this document was developed by the CMA Church and Ministry Committee through a process that dates back to before the year 2003.

The document lists the covenantal expectations between the Chicago Metropolitan Association and its member churches and procedures for addressing violations of the covenant.

The CMA Constitution was also amended at the same meeting on May 3, 2008 to acknowledge the new covenant and its role in relations between CMA and its member churches.

  • The complete text of the covenant can be downloaded HERE.
  • The CMA Consitutiton as amended is also available online HERE.

    ILLINOIS SAFE CHURCH - ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY

    After considerable work and consultation with national leadership, other conferences and many within our Conference, the Illinois Conference Council has approved a policy to express our commitment to creating and maintaining programs, facilities and a community in which employees, volunteers and persons served by the Conference can work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation and/or intimidation. The policy also puts into place clear guidelines for practices, particularly in ministries involving youth and children.

    Download Safe Church Policy Here.

    Please understand that this policy has been approved only for the Illinois Conference itself---our offices, events, ministries, camps, youth programs, etc. While we believe it is a best practices policy for our Conference and it may be utilized as an example for local churches, it is not intended to be a template for local church policies.

    Local churches are encouraged to look at the UCC Website, particularly: UCC Safe Church Policy PDF

    There are additional resources available at www.ucc.org; (then search "safe church policies" for additional links).

    Please remember that each church may and should refine their own policy to meet their particular situation and needs --but EVERY church needs a policy and needs to implement such a policy, not only because our insurance requires it but because it is the right thing to do to protect all the people of our churches and particularly the most vulnerable.

    Making Churches Safe for All

    The UCC Office of Parish Life and Leadership in Cleveland is responding to an upsurge in interest in safety concerns in all churches by referring those interested to an earlier guidebook that was produced by several UCC agencies entitled Making Our Churches Safe for All. This pamphlet is reproduced on the UCC Web Site. Copies are also available from CMA or from UCC resources (800-537-3394). An update will be published later this year.

    Background checks are one particular concern. The Roman Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America are setting a new standard of care by requiring criminal background screening for ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING WITH CHILDREN. PLL will keep us posted on federal legislation to improve availability and access to such screening.

    The Big Brothers have suggested contacting Illinois State Police at 815-740-5160 for criminal background assistance.

    Reporting Child Abuse

    ILLINOIS CLERGY ARE NOW REQUIRED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT

    Illinois clergy have now been added to the list of mandated reporters who are required by law to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) under a new law signed by Gov. George Ryan on Friday, August 16, 2002.

    Illinois clergy are now required to report suspicions that a person (including a parishioner, a parent, a church employee, teacher, or another member of the clergy) has neglected or abused a child under their care, including sexual abuse. An exemption preserves the confidentiality privilege for clergy members who learn of abuse or neglect in the confessional or when acting as a spiritual adviser.

    Clergy members join a list of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, who have had to report abuse or neglect to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for some time. People who fail to report the first offense can be charged with a misdemeanor. Subsequent violations can result in felony charges. A person could be jailed for up to a year for a misdemeanor, or sent to prison for a longer term for a felony. (Chicago Tribune, 8/18/02)

    DCFS has issued the following Guidelines for Calling the Child Abuse Hotline:

    Mandated reporters and other persons should call the Hotline when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected. The Hotline worker will determine if the information given by the reporter meets the legal requirements to initiate an investigation.

    Criteria needed for a child abuse or neglect investigation:
    * The alleged victim is a child under the age of 18.
    * The alleged perpetrator is a parent, guardian, foster parent, relative caregiver, paramour, any individual residing in the same home or any person responsible for the child's welfare at the time of the alleged abuse or neglect, including a minister.
    * There is a specific incident of abuse or neglect or a specific set of circumstances involving suspected abuse or neglect.
    * There is demonstrated harm to the child or a substantial risk of physical or sexual injury to the child.

    Information the reporter should have ready to give to the Hotline:
    * Names, birth dates (or approximate ages), races, genders, etc. for all adult and child subjects.
    * Addresses for all victims and perpetrators, including current location.
    * Information about the siblings or other family members, if available.
    * Specific information about the abusive incident or the circumstances contributing to risk of harm-for example, when the incident occurred, the extent of the injuries, how the child says it happened, and any other pertinent information.

    If this information is not readily available, the reporter should not delay a call to the hotline.

    CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE NUMBER: 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873)
    1-800-358-5117 (TTY)

    The Hotline operates 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. The Hotline is less busy in the early morning hours, and reporters may be able to get through more quickly during these times. Reporters should be prepared to provide phone numbers where they may be reached throughout the day in case the Hotline must call back for more information.

    The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services publishes a Manual for Mandated Reporters, which is designed to help those required to report understand their responsibility to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline. If the report is accepted, DCFS will begin an investigation to determine if abuse or neglect occurred.

    The manual, which will have to be revised to include the new clergy provisions, includes a copy of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA), the Illinois state law which defines the Department's intake and investigation of child abuse and neglect reports received through the Hotline.

    The Department of Children and Family Services also provides a variety of training opportunities for all mandated reporters in Illinois. The Attorney General's Task Force on Violence to Children and the Illinois Children's Justice Task Force have contributed their leadership to this training effort, as have many other state and local agencies and professional groups.

    To request additional information, please contact the DCFS Office of Communications at 217-785-1700 (phone) or 217-524-0014 (fax) or visit the DCFS Child Abuse Reporting Website: www.state.il.us/dcfs/faq_faq_can.shtml

    • For the most up to date information on UCC Disaster Response AND HOW TO CONTRIBUTE, visit the UCC national web site.


    Illinois Conference Disaster Team

    The assistance of all of the churches in Illinois Conference is needed to help replenish Disaster Clean Up Kits or having special offerings to help with delivery expenses, etc. Kit contents can be found on the Disaster link of the Conference website.

    Further information can be had by contacting the conference coordinator:
  • Ben McNeal: aandbmc@msn.com

    Is Your UCC Student Going to U of I?

    Here is a request from the UCC Campus Ministry at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign:

    The Campus Ministry would like to hear about any UCC students from your church that are going to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign this Fall, either for the first time or as returning students.

    Please send us information on each of your students so we can contact them and invite them to participate in our UCC campus ministry.

    You can visit our WEBSITE to learn more about our activities on campus.

    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Blessings and thank you for all your support of campus ministry and our UCC students.

    Rev Karen Bush
    ks-bush@uiuc.edu
    UCC Campus Ministry at
    The University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign
    Website: www.community-ucc.org/ucf/

    Resources on Open and Affirming Churches and LGBT Concerns: Click Here

    Lombard Mennonite Peace Center

    The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center trains people each year in mediation and conflict transformation. Information about their programs and registration information and brochures (and a congregational group discount form for "Healthy Congregations") are available on their website at: www.LMPeaceCenter.org. Click on the "schedule of events" page and then click on "register" for each event. We hope that your pastors and staff are able to attend one of these valuable training events.

    For more information contact Erin Dalian, LMPC Assistant for Communications, Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, 101 W. 22nd Street, Suite 206, Lombard, IL 60148; phone: 630 627-0507; fax: 630-627-0519; www.LMPeaceCenter.org.

    Check Your Pension Account
    On New Web Site Feature

    Annuity Fund members who are not yet receiving pension income are now able to use the Pension Boards’ web site to access their personal account information and make projections about future retirement income.

    A new calculator feature has been added to the Pension Boards website that enables members to check their most recent account balances in a secure, password-protected Internet setting. Individuals logging in to the Member Area will also be able to update their contact information, such as changes of address, telephone or e-mail.

    To access account information, visitors must use their seven-digit member identification number, located in the upper right hand section of the annual accumulation statement, beneath the Pension Boards address. For first-time visitors, the last four digits of the Social Security number serves as the password. Once in the site, members will be asked to select a personal 6 to 12 digit password for future log-ins.

    "These new web features offers members increased access to their accounts," said Pension Boards Executive Vice President Michael A. Downs. "It is a another step toward providing members with the flexible tools they need to make informed financial decisions."

    • Constitutions

    CMA Constitution
    The CMA onstitution was revised and adopted at the annual meeting on May 7, 2005, and became effective on June 12, 2005. Subsequent amendments were added at annual meetings in May 2008 and May 2009. Download a copy here.

    Illinois Conference Constitution
    Download the most recent version here.

    United Church of Christ National Constitution & Bylaws
    Download the current Constitution here.
    Download the current Bylaws here.

    Church Tax and Financial Publications

  • Church Treasurer's Handbook (PNC Draft 2002)
  • IRS Information for Churches
  • IRS Information for Clergy
  • Housing Allowances
  • UCC Tax Exemption

    Pastoral Care Guidelines for People Returning from Military Service

  • A message from John Gundlach, Minister for Government Chaplaincies: The Army Chief of Chaplains Office offers a publication to help civilian clergy understand the special needs of service members and their families entitled: Deployment Resources for America's Clergy.

    This 39 page publication can be downloaded from www.chapnet.army.mil. Once on this site, click on "Civilian Clergy Resources" in the left column and then click on the PDF file Deployment Resources for America's Clergy. Adobe Reader software is required.

    • Home Events In Care Churches Resources Employment Links
    Return to Top