PARISH OF THE NEW ENGLAND DIOCESE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
POLICY ON GIVING NOTICE TO NEW PARISHIONERS
OF A SEX OFFENDER STATUS
The Parish Rector shall personally notify a new adult parishioner of the status of any known sex offender who is part of the parish and/or who regularly or periodically appears on the parish grounds for worship or coffee hour. In the case of notice to Orthodox persons new to the parish because they are relocating and/or or transferring from another parish, the Parish Rector will give this notice personally as soon as practicable but not later than one week before scheduling the person’s first confession or communion at the parish. In the case of a prospective catechumen, the Parish Rector will give this notice personally as soon as practicable but not later than one week before the scheduled start of the catechumenate.
POLICY ON PARISH MAINTENANCE OF
SEX OFFENDER DISCLOSURE AND LIMITATIONS FILE
Per Orthodox Church in America policies https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/sexual-misconduct/2014-04-PSP-Sexual-Misconduct.pdf and with the collaboration of the Parish Council, the Parish Rector will prepare and maintain a written list of restrictions and limitations of activity of sex offenders, signed by the Parish Rector, Parish President and by the sex offender, demonstrating what specific limitations of place, proximity, speech, contact, etc., are agreed to and required for the offender’s permissive presence on parish grounds and parish activities, particularly with regard to minors under 18.
Restrictions and limitations of activity are not for the purpose of punishment nor for separation of his spirit from among all Christians.
Restrictions and limitations of activity are for the purpose of complying with OCA policies and (1) honoring the offender’s repentant willingness to humbly bear the burden of those parishioners who are not comfortable without restrictions and limitations in writing, modeling the words of St. Paul, “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2), (2) recognizing general, statistical evidence of risks which are understandably troubling to some parishioners, (3) reducing particular venues and limiting particular circumstances of potential harm, actual or perceived harm.
The restrictions and limitations offered by the OCA in a suggested list, as published in https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/sexual-misconduct/2023-0306-reg-sex-offender-parish-guide.pdf as well as the following limitations/restrictions shall be included for consideration: no entering the altar, no working with children and/or organizing activities involving children, no new role as sponsor/godparent of a child, no solo chanting in services, no formal or informal role of greeter, no visiting minors at tables without another adult present at the table, no hugging a minor without the parent(s) consent and presence, etc.
The restrictions and limitations list will be kept in a Parish file called, “Sex Offender Disclosure and Limitations File.” It will be kept on file with the Parish President and with the Parish Rector and shall include (1) the signed list of restrictions and limitations, and (2) a copy of the offender’s public court record of conviction (and sentence if available). If a parishioner asks to review the file, it shall be made available not less than 10 days from reasonable notice of the request. A parishioner’s review of the file is to occur in-person only and shall not be copied by the reviewer by image or photograph or other; only a hard copy is made available for in-person review, and the reviewer is monitored by the one who is custodian of the file.
The Parish Rector and Parish President, as custodians of the “Sex Offender Disclosure and Limitations File,” shall take all reasonable measures against copying or dissemination of the file, since in-person review is the only form of intended disclosure of the file.
Before and/or after the in-person review of the file, the Parish Rector and the reviewer each shall make themselves available for discussion together of factual, legal, and spiritual considerations, to facilitate Christian wisdom and understanding of issues such as safety, sacrifice, trust, repentance, forgiveness, unity, compassion, community. See, for example: "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven". (Matthew 18:21-22)
In the event the signed agreement of restrictions and limitations is violated, the following shall apply: (1) if the violation is of a kind that constitutes sexual misconduct, the OCA policies and/or parish policies on reporting sexual misconduct apply and the Parish Rector may also immediately suspend the offender’s permission to enter the church property (2) if not of a kind that constitutes sexual misconduct, the Parish Rector at his discretion may immediately suspend offender’s permission to enter the church and/or require modification of the agreement before the offender can return, and shall notify the Parish President and Ruling Bishop.
POLICY ON ANNUAL REVIEW, REPUBLICATION, AND
NOTICE OF PARISH POLICY AND PROCEDURE
At each Annual Parish Meeting, parish policies relevant to sexual misconduct shall be republished and noticed as follows (1) distributed at every annual meeting, in hardcopy, (2) emailed in pdf to each parishioner, and (3) a link on the Parish website to click on and access, download, and/or or print those policies.
POLICY ON CONFLICT AND WORRISOME BEHAVIORS
NOT INVOLVING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
The vision of parish unity is a vision of a community united to Christ and obedient to Him
· Keeping the new commandment to love one another as Christ has loved us
· Each his brother’s keeper (Genesis 4:9)
· Each intending to “…comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
· Humbling oneself to honor the other “…lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.” (1 Corinthians 8:9)
· “Members of one another” (Romans 12:5)
· “Bearing one another’s burdens and fulfilling the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)
Thus, the Parish Rector is not looked to as a civil policeman, but as a servant and father to all members of the community.
As a servant and father to the community the Parish Rector is ever available to support everyone’s “growth in life and faith and spiritual understanding.” (2nd Prayer of the Faithful, Divine Liturgy)
The following concerns sinful behaviors that are not relevant to sexual misconduct.
At times when noticing another person’s worrisome sinful behavior that is not relevant to sexual misconduct, parishioners and clergy are expected to keep in mind and heart the Lord’s teaching. For example,
"Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican." (Matthew 18:15-17)
If anyone notices language, behaviors and other signs that are disturbing, but does not feel personally prepared to “go and tell him his fault,” and may fear it could make things worse, then it is better to consult with the Parish Rector about the issue and about what to do.