Timely Child Safety Notice

Caution should be taken when live-streaming worship services that include a Children’s Sermon or similar event.

Last week several pastors in the PC(USA) made disturbing reports on social media, describing how “children's time” in livestreams (or recorded videos) have been accessed by suspected child pornography sites. 

While we know not all of our congregations have a children’s time during their service, or other child-focused moments, there are simple changes you can make to protect your young people:

• Avoid having children sit facing cameras, and/or on stairs, even if the view is distant. One solution: have the pastor/leader face the congregation, and children face the leader in a semicircle. Modesty rails for pews or other obstructing features can also be used to protect the privacy of children. 

• Best practice is to not regularly show children's faces in worship, or to share full names. First name and last initial is sufficient. 

• A longer term option is to cut children's time from the recorded or live feed; or to do an integrated "all ages" time where children are not put on display or called from their families until dismissed to children's church etc.

If you have questions about these recommendations or desire further conversation in your congregation or leadership about child safety, please contact Co-EP Anna Kendig Flores at coep1@ptcaweb.org. A sample child safety policy is posted on the PTCA website at: https://www.ptcaweb.org/clerks