Course Helps Churches Handle Offenders

Sandra Greenfield is seen at the South Church in Portsmouth , N.H., July 31, 2007. Greenfield and other Unitarian Universalists have created an online course with the New England Adolescent Research Institute to help churches set guidelines for dealing with a member accused of a sex crime or a convicted sex offender who wants to join their congregation. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) (Jim Cole - AP)

"Not everyone is likely to pick up the phone and ask someone about how to deal with these issues," said Joan Tabachnick, director of educational initiatives at the New England Adolescent Research Institute. "The key was to create something that was available and accessible to everyone."

The course suggests following guidelines that have long been in place at the Manchester Unitarian Universalist church.

They include determining the possible risk to children if a convict or suspect wants to take part in religious activities.

From there, church leaders can create a list of restrictions, called a "limited access agreement." Such arrangements might include making sure an offender is escorted while in church. He might only be allowed to attend adult worship services or one-to-one meetings with a minister.

Balancing Acts suggests that two adults always be with a child and that children are in open spaces when possible.

Some signs of a congregational split have surfaced at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Reno, Nev., where a convicted sex offender wanted to worship in December.

The church had no policy for dealing with the situation, and the congregation has since been debating what to do.

"I wouldn't be surprised if some people leave if we do decide to include him," Senior Pastor Carl Wilfrid said. "But others have said they'd leave if we don't include him. There have been people terribly afraid for their children, and I don't fault them at all for that. But I also recognize the struggle to serve this man."

It's a struggle that's so far taken seven months, and Wilfrid says his congregation has grown spiritually from the experience.

He isn't sure that having a policy before the sex offender showed up to pray would have made things easier, "but it's certainly a good idea for congregations to start thinking and talking about these issues," he said.