CHILD SAFETY AT THE AXIS CHURCH
Every child should be known, loved, and protected.
When you bring your child to The Axis Church, you are trusting us with someone precious to you and to God. We take that trust seriously. Our aim is simple: ministry spaces where kids can learn about Jesus, make real friends, and be cared for with attention and respect.
Child safety is part of how we love families.
We believe every child is made in the image of God and worthy of protection, respect, and gentle care.
Kids ministry is not childcare. For many children it is where faith starts to become their own, and the people who lead it carry real responsibility.
Good intentions are not enough on their own. Protecting children takes written policies, trained leaders, careful screening, clear boundaries, steady supervision, and the willingness to speak up when something seems wrong.
Safety is built through clear, everyday practices.
Our Child Protection Program is the churchwide plan that guides how we prevent abuse, set expectations for our leaders, respond to concerns, and care for children and families.
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Careful Screening
Every adult and student who serves with kids goes through a screening process before their first shift. Depending on the role, that includes an application, references, an interview, identity verification, and a background check.
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Required Training
Workers complete abuse awareness and prevention training before they serve, then refresh that training on a regular schedule. Each one reads and agrees to our Code of Conduct and Child Protection Program.
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Healthy Boundaries
Our policies spell out clear expectations for physical contact, communication, technology, transportation, restroom assistance, overnight activities, and how adults and children interact.
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Visible Supervision
Kids ministry areas are designed and run so that what happens inside can be seen. We use secure check-in and release, controlled access to kids spaces, established supervision ratios, and a rule that more than one approved worker is present.
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Reporting to Authorities
In Tennessee, suspected child abuse or neglect must be reported to civil authorities. Our workers are trained to report what concerns them rather than try to investigate it on their own.
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Ongoing Review
Our Child Safety Team oversees the Child Protection Program, reviews our policies and practices, documents concerns, and makes sure the standards we set are actually followed.
None of this exists to create fear or distance. These practices are what make it possible for children, families, and volunteers to relax and enjoy being together.
Pursuing Independent Child-safety Accreditation
The Axis Church is working toward accreditation with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention, known as ECAP.
ECAP is an outside organization that measures churches and ministries against a published set of child-safety standards. Their standards cover leadership oversight, policies, screening, training, day-to-day ministry practices, reporting, and how a church responds when a concern is raised.
We are pursuing accreditation because accountability makes ministry stronger. An outside standard helps us look honestly at our own practices, find what needs to improve, and give families more than our word to go on.
What accreditation involves
A detailed review of our policies, screening practices, training, ministry procedures, reporting systems, records, and leadership oversight.
No standard can remove every risk. Accreditation is our commitment to meet recognized standards, keep strong systems in place, and keep improving.
The Axis Church is actively working through the ECAP accreditation process. We will update this page as that work moves forward.
What you can expect when your child is with us
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A secure check-in and pickup process
Children are released only through our established checkout procedure.
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Trained, screened workers
Every worker completes the screening and training required for their role before serving.
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Appropriate supervision
Children are cared for within set worker-to-child ratios, with more than one approved worker present.
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Leaders you can identify
Workers are clearly identifiable and ministry areas are monitored.
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Respect for your child's dignity
Our expectations cover how workers speak to children and address discipline, physical contact, privacy, hygiene, and age-appropriate care.
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Communication when something happens
Parents are told when an incident, injury, behavior issue, or safety concern needs their attention.
Parents are partners in this, not bystanders. We welcome your questions, your observations, and your feedback on how these practices are being carried out.
See something that concerns you? Please tell us.
A healthy church depends on people feeling free to speak up.
Anyone may contact The Axis Church with a question, an observation, or a complaint about child safety or about our Child Protection Program. You do not have to be a volunteer, an attender, a parent, or a member of our church.
You are welcome to give your name or to submit a concern anonymously.
Important notice If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
If you know or reasonably suspect that a child has been abused or neglected, Tennessee law requires a report to the appropriate civil authorities. Our reporting form does not take the place of that legal responsibility. Reports can be made to law enforcement or to the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.
Who oversees child safety at The Axis Church?
Our Child Protection Program is overseen by a designated Child Safety Team and approved by our elders.
The team includes leaders and workers with responsibility across kids ministry, students, administration, church leadership, and facility safety. Our Kids Director serves as Child Safety Coordinator, and our Executive Director serves as the alternate Child Safety Coordinator.
The team oversees how our policies are carried out, along with training, documentation, annual review, and the careful handling of every concern that comes in.
We want your family here with confidence.
Trust is not created by a webpage. It is built over time through faithful leadership, clear practices, honest communication, and consistent care.
We are grateful for every family who lets us serve their children, and we welcome your questions as we keep strengthening the ways we protect and disciple them.
