Ivy Memorial Student Guidelines

Please take a moment to read the following note from the Minister to Students, then the student guidelines that follow.  Participants are encouraged to follow these guidelines as a code of conduct or risk forfeting spots on trips, camps, and various other activities.  Please do not view these guidelines as a set of rules that communicate that we do not desire our students to have fun, rather boundaries to help us minister, nuture and protect children in an ever changing culture and time.  Thank you for taking the time to read this page!

Dear  Parents/Guardians of Our Students,

The way a church conducts its business says a lot about what kind of church it is.  We at Ivy Memorial Baptist Church want you to know we care about providing a safe and fun environment for your student to grow in the Lord.

 

These guidelines help communicate to you our expectations for your student’s conduct.  It serves as a way to establish boundaries.  Please know that establishing boundaries does not mean we have a problem.  We desire to create a proper environment for the Lord to work, and this brochure should help prevent any problems in the future.

 

I hope that you, the parent/guardian, and I continue to talk openly about issues facing us in student ministry.  Ministry with students is an exciting field and I want each of our youth to experience the Lord in exciting and creative ways at the right times.  Your student is important to us.  Ivy Memorial Baptist Church desires to be a part of nurturing your student.

 

Thanks for allowing your student to take part in our activities.  Please understand that my door is always open to you, unless I’m not here of course; then the door will be closed and you should try me on the phone (ha-ha).  May God bless you as you have an even more vital ministry role in the lives of our students than I do or the church does...you are raising one!

 

In HIS Grip,

 

Rev. Edmund B. Lilley

 

1.  Times of teaching & worship are primary in church life

A.     Students deserve to worship & study in an atmosphere w/o hindrance.

B.     We expect students to behave appropriately during these times.

2. Conduct.

A.     Youth who participate @ IMBC activities agree to follow the instructions of the youth leaders.

B.     Obedience & respect are primary to remaining involved in activities.

C.     1st time—The student is called down

D.     2nd time—The student is moved to sit w/ an adult.

E.      3rd time—The student is removed from the room to sit w/a parent and/or adult in another room.

3. Out of town trips

A.     Disrespect & disregard for rules will not be tolerated & shall immediately result in the student’s parent being phoned & the student sent home if needed.

B.     The student’s parent/guardian will be responsible for the cost of transporting their child home.

C.     By allowing your student to go on a trip, you agree to allow the sponsors to make the final decisions in various situations.

D.     If you sign-up, then drop out after the deadline has past, no money will be refunded unless you find someone to fill your vacated slot.  All deposits are non-refundable.

E.      No walk-men, CD players, boom boxes, game boys, etc. allowed on trips b/c it doesn’t create an atmosphere for interaction with each other.  Students are invited to bring Christian CDs to be played on the van for all to hear.

4. Physical safety of the group

A.     Firearms, knives, martial arts items, & other weapons are strictly prohibited.

B.     The presence of a weapon @ a function will result in an immediate call to 911 & the proper legal authorities will handle the situation from then on.

C.     Sponsors will then enact a plan to best protect the safety of the students present.

D.     Fireworks are not permitted @ any activity.

5. Alcohol, tobacco, & drugs

  1. Absolutely no alcohol, tobacco, non-prescribed or illegal drugs will be permitted @ any youth event & the possession of the same shall result in mandatory expulsion of said student from the event.

6. Discipline

  1. Disciplining students by corporal punishment is neither permitted or authorized.  Physical contact will be permitted only if it is necessary for the welfare of the student or the group.

7. Physical affection

  1. Appropriateness should dictate the extent of the affection
  2. Handholding & light (side) hugs are generally appropriate
  3. Couples should postpone any other types of physical affection.
  4. “Making out” is always inappropriate and receives the same response as any other broken guideline.

8. IMBC shall assume no responsibility for students who are not actually in the endorsed activity or in the area of the said activity

  1. Should the student fail to remain in the area of the activity, the student shall be directed to either go to the said activity or to go home.
  2. The church can only provide supervision when the student is in the designated area of activity.

9. Transportation

  1. The church provides adult driven vehicles for every activity.
  2. Licensed drivers may take their cars on close trips (i.e. McDonald’s) when cleared by the adult in charge.  The student driver will carry no passengers who have not cleared it with the leader in advance.
  3. Church leaders assume no responsibility for student driven vehicles, nor shall the church be held liable for a student that leaves an activity whether in a vehicle or not.
  4. USE OF NON-CHURCH VEHICLES — The person loaning their car understands that in the event of an accident, regardless of the driver, the owner of the vehicle’s insurance is primary, the church’s insurance will be considered secondary.
  5. Non-churched vehicles should be equipped w/safety belts & under the current law seat belts are mandatory & must be complied with.

10. Vandalism
  1. The parent/guardian should be aware that they & their student will be held monetarily & legally responsible for any damage resulting from the student’s act of vandalism or willful destruction of property.

11. Staffing

  1. On out of town trips we try to work w/a maximum of 1:8 ration of adults to students.
  2. On overnight trips, as well as the majority of in town activities, staff will consist of church members only.
  3. On day trips (i.e. beach, local rallies, etc.) staffing is relaxed to a 1:14 ratio of adults to students since the church van has 15 safety belts.
  4. College student may be counted as staff, but will not be a majority of staffing or considered to be of legal chaperoning status until the age of 21, for medical & legal purposes.

12. Dress code
  1. IMBC will adhere to the published camp dress code during out of town trips.
  2. Mission trips — clean, neat, & modest.  Each mission trip packet will  thoroughly describe the dress code expectations while we work for another church, non-profit, etc.
  3. Sunday morning dress — Students are encouraged, understanding that Sunday is the Lord’s day, to offer their best to God concerning dress in worship
  4. Various other church functions — Casual dress is acceptable at most functions unless otherwise noted.  An adult in charge, in a manner as not to embarrass the student, will confront any attire, which may be distracting.