Spare Change

The Two Deep Rule

Posted by Bryan

An ideal practice for each church offering care and education for children is for each classroom to follow the Two Deep Rule. This rule simply mandates that the classroom provides two teachers for each classroom. The rule is functionally advantageous as well as legally protective to the church in liability issues.

First, the legal implications. There has been no shortage of lawsuits lately for years of sexual abuse and misconduct that has occured within church walls. And while the vast majority of these offenses have been perpetrated by Catholic priests, we mustn't be so naive to think that other denominations are or will be immune from allegations or actual offenses. Jury awards have resulted in the millions for victims of sexual assault, causing some churches to have to close their doors altogether because of the ungodly actions of a trusted individual who was at some point not being held accountable for his conduct.

Making sure there are two adults in each classroom helps protect against accusations and actual offenses. For those who would prey on children and manage to slip through stringent screening processes (and your church should have a stringent screening process, by the way), their opportunities to victimize children are eliminated when another adult is present. In fact, if you follow the Two Deep rule, you will likely scare away any predator (as will a stringent screening process), since they prefer to follow a path of least resistance. Also, false accusations are more easily refuted when two adults are present and can give testimony to actual events.

Second, the Two Deep Rule is also functionally advantageous. In infant ministry, it's good to go a further extent and have as many adult arms as you do preschool students. This may be unrealistic, but it is ideal. The older the children get, the fewer adults are necessary. However, it is still preferable to have one adult be able to provide the main instruction while the other adult offers assistance to the children, and can provide individual attention to a child who may require it for any particular reason.

Now, in smaller churches, the Two Deep Rule may be impossible, simply because of limited human resources. In such circumstances, it is still possible to reduce liability significantly. Here's how:

• Put a window on every door where a child spends time. If there is a line of sight into every classroom, it allows for any person to view the classroom activity at any given time.


• Leave a door open. If possible, if you leave the door open, you once again welcome accountability.


• Patrol the department. Whether its your pastor, your age group director, or just one of the assistant teachers, your church could have an assistant visit each class each week to offer support, encouragement, and assistance. The added protection and safety are beneficial byproducts


• Provide itineraries and reports. This shows parents that you have a well-structured plan for the class time and that your child was able to accomplish the design of the meeting. It comforts and educates parents to the important work taking place in preschool and children's ministries, as well.

One final thought....if you don't have a stringent screening process in place, you really need one. Every person who works with children of either sex, from birth to 18, should be interviewed, fingerprinted, and screened by your state bureau of investigation to insure a history free from criminal offenses. If yours is known for being protective of children, your church will not be a haven for predators, but it will be one for families.

Here are three good resources for developing the safety standards in your Preschool and Children's ministries:
Lifeway Christian Resources (Under "Safety & Legal Issues")
Building Church Leaders
Sexual Abuse Screening Guidelines

The church should be home to a child's most wonderful memories and life-affirming foundations. Do your part to protect children so that they may grow up in the way they should go so they will not depart from it when they are older.

March 31, 2004 12:15 PM