Foursquare leaders are getting just what they asked for this summer: a fully updated Child + Youth Protection Manual (CYPM) and an accompanying interactive video. This is the first time the guidebook has been updated since 2009, and the simplified manual includes welcome changes for credentialed ministers who are required to review the materials annually.
Those who attended Foursquare Connection 2025 in Denver, May 26-29, were the first to see a presentation on the new manual and video. Natalie Werking, who also leads the Cornerstone Project for Foursquare, led a Child + Youth Protection workshop and presented the updates to the convention voting body during the afternoon business session on Wednesday.
What’s new + updated
The CYPM updates are the result of a partnership between Foursquare’s Ministry Operations Team, the Foursquare legal team and the National NextGen Team, which also included both local leaders and parents of children and teens. In addition to being shorter than the 2009 edition, the updated guide is divided into three sections. The idea is to make it easier for volunteers, staff members and ministers to access material that applies to their duties, including those who accompany minors on overnight trips.
“Our priority is keeping kids safe, but we also want to keep volunteers and ministers safe. Following these guidelines will also help protect our ministers and volunteers from allegations that could be hurtful.”
—Ric Guerra, chief operating officer of The Foursquare Church
Key updates include:
Technology. Referencing one of the many necessary updates, Natalie notes: “Technology has come a long way since the 2009 manual was produced. Now even elementary-age kids are carrying phones and texting.”
The updated guidelines are meant to help church leaders and volunteers safely interact with minors on social media, texting and other ways. “We show them how to do that in a way that is both effective and keeps everyone safe—students and leaders,” explains Natalie, who previously served as the NextGen coordinator for the Western District and historic Heartland District.
State Guidelines. In the past, there were fewer varying regulations, but changes in numerous state laws have affected that scenario, Natalie says. “So many states have adopted new regulations since 2009 that there is no one-size-fits-all set of guidelines for background checks anymore,” she adds.
With the new manual, residents of a particular state will be able to more easily access local guidelines to ensure they are following their state’s regulations regarding screening of staff members and volunteers.
Accessible Resources. Leaders will no longer have to make photocopies of forms for background checks, code of conduct and reference checks. The dedicated webpage, Foursquare.Church/CYPM, will include downloadable resources that can be easily printed off or distributed digitally to parents/guardians and volunteers.
Other helpful additions include:
- Guidance for including minors or “junior helpers” as volunteers
- Parameters for monitoring areas outside of typical meeting spaces, including restroom use in various settings, shower use, sleeping arrangements at camp and meeting in other public spaces
- How to handle youth-to-youth abuse
- How to report abuse using Foursquare’s incident reporting system
All-new video
“Church leaders are going to appreciate the interactive nature of the new training video,” Natalie states, noting that the video will have broader appeal than the previous iteration.
The video, which includes multiple parts, will incorporate a training module with interactive features. Whether going through it individually or in a volunteer training with a group, the video can be paused when directed to discuss the topics at hand.
“The new CYPM engages head-on with the changing generational realities of NextGen ministries,” comments Pastor Jeremiah Girard, a NextGen area leader in San Diego, Calif. “And, it does so in a trauma-informed, Christ-centered way.”
And that while the video isn’t a replacement for the manual, it does review appropriate and inappropriate interactions, the scope and impact of abuse and how to overcome the barriers to reporting in an easy-to-digest format.
Keeping kids safe
The safety of children and youth is Foursquare’s top priority, says Ric Guerra, who oversaw the redesign as chief operating officer of The Foursquare Church, in partnership with the Foursquare executive team and board of directors. He says the guidelines can be summed up in one phrase: “Never be alone with minors.”
“Our priority is keeping kids safe, but we also want to keep volunteers and ministers safe,” Ric says. “Following these guidelines will also help protect our ministers and volunteers from allegations that could be hurtful.”
The Foursquare Church contracted the production of the manual and video through Praesidium, one of the nation’s leading firms preparing materials aimed at preventing sexual abuse. The Dallas-based consultants allowed Foursquare to customize the materials. Praesidium’s team of researchers, attorneys, social workers and human resource managers have brought a wealth of knowledge and dedication to the task at hand.
“It has been a great privilege to be part of the Foursquare Prevention Team, and I am thrilled with the work being done around the new Child + Youth Protection Manual and video training,” says Jennifer McConnell, who serves as lead co-pastor at Seattle Foursquare Church. “I believe these tools are sure to aid us all in protecting our children and youth, and I am excited they are now available.
The purpose of the manual and the video are to “keep children and teenagers whom God has entrusted to our care safe,” concludes Natalie, who is also a parent and ordained minister. “We want to keep them in safe environments so they can know and follow Jesus their whole lives. Now that the materials are easier to use, we hope this will help more ministers and volunteers to use it effectively.”
Access the 2025 ‘Child + Youth Protection Manual’
All licensed Foursquare ministers and volunteers who work with children or youth are required to confirm they have reviewed the Child + Youth Protection Manual annually. The manual, accompanying video and additional supplemental resources can be accessed online at Foursquare.Church/CYPM.
