Safer Congregation Response Team Update – August 2025
As a congregation, we strive to promote and nurture a culture of respect and consent to keep children, youth and adults safe from sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct while participating in congregational life.
The WUUC Board has taken several actions in support of this goal:
- The WUUC Safer Congregation Response Policy received final Board approval on 4/16/25 and is now available on the WUUC website in the Policy section under the Resources/Governance Documents tab. The Response Policy gives us the tools to respond promptly and appropriately if the safety of our congregation is violated through an act of sexual misconduct.
- The Safer Congregation Response Team (SCRT) is designated in the above policy to implement response procedures upon an initial report of misconduct.
- The Safer Congregation Response Team members were selected by the Board and are:
-A member of the Board of Trustees: Lane Owsley
-The Minister (in an advisory role): Rev. Dan Lillie
-Three members at large: Cora Goss-Grubbs, Kerrie Vespaziani and Jan Radoslovich
-One auxiliary member TBD, representing RE/children’s programs to be called upon in the event that the complaint involves a child or youth. - The WUUC Safer Congregation Rights and Responsibilities document was approved by the WUUC Board on 6/28/23 and is available on the WUUC website in the Other Documents section under Resources/Governance Documents tab and will be posted in key locations around the church. The Rights and Responsibilities is essentially a code of conduct that lays the foundation for affirming and nurturing a culture of consent, respect and accountability within our community.
Links:
WUUC Safer Congregation Response Policy:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gw7T8I2WdVHzdKnE-RZVyW4Ma16tR9Uq
WUUC Safer Congregation Rights and Responsibilities:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13sW6OLsQMZC5Rov_yBke-FJpl2hwLo6I
You have the right to report violations of your safety or the safety of others, and to have your concerns or allegations be promptly and thoroughly addressed. Reports can be made directly to the SCRT via e-mail (safe@wuuc.org) or by contacting any individual member of the SCRT. Additional resources for reporting allegations of misconduct are Board of Trustees members, the minister, or a Lay Pastoral Associate.
Questions? Contact any member of the SCRT: Lane Owsley, Cora Goss-Grubbs, Kerrie Vespaziani, Jan Radoslovich or Rev. Dan Lillie.
