The Holy Bible is God’s revelation to us. It was fully inspired by God, was written by Men and is without error. It is the truth and standard by which we are to live and one day be judged (Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 2:12-16; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21).

There is only one living and true God and He has eternally revealed Himself as Trinity -Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). He has distinct personal attributes, but is without division of nature, essence or being. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience (Psalm 83:18; Romans 1:20; Ephesians 4:4-6; Revelation 4:11).

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died on the cross as payment for our sins, rose from the dead three days later, ascended to heaven, and will return to fulfill His redemptive mission (Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is an experience by which a person allows Christ to take control of his or her life and trusts in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sin and provision of eternal life (Romans 3:23, 10:9-10). By placing your faith in Christ, you can be saved from eternal condemnation and you are promised a full and eternal life with Him (Romans 6:23). At salvation, you receive the Holy Spirit in your life to help you live the life He desires.

GOD

There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator, Savior and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.

The BIBLE

God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.

THE HUMAN CONDITION

People are made in the spiritual image of God and are the supreme object of God’s creation and God’s love. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are guilty sinners separated from God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God. Only through personal repentance of sin and a faith commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord can they be forgiven, “saved,” made sons and daughters of God and inherit eternal life in His presence.

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is co-equal with the Father. In the flesh, He was both human and divine. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death and His authority to give eternal life to all who will repent and receive Him by faith as Savior and Lord. He ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our King, High Priest and Advocate.

SALVATION

Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved. God has graciously provided salvation through Jesus Christ who died on the cross as our substitute in payment for our sin. All who place their faith in Jesus Christ have their sin forgiven; they are justified in God’s sight and saved from their fallen condition by God’s grace alone. They are, thus, reconciled with God and granted eternal life with Him. They have become a “new creation” and will live forever in God’s Kingdom.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and Jesus Christ. In all that He does the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He is present in the world to convince people of their need for the Savior and to draw them to Him. He brings believers from spiritual death to spiritual life guaranteed for eternity. He also lives in every Christian from the moment he/she receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right in order to become like Christ (called sanctification).  As Christians, we seek to live daily under His control.

THE CHURCH

The universal Church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The universal church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances: Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and is used to signify the entry into his Church but it does not the means of salvation. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all. The purposes of the local church are worship, instruction, fellowship, evangelism, discipleship and ministry to the community and missions abroad.

CHRIST’S RETURN and ETERNITY

We believe in the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will return to earth to complete the establishment of God’s eternal reign over all creation, after which he will renew both heaven and earth according to his great design. People are created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally in fellowship with and in the presence of God through forgiveness and salvation.

Our churches follow the teaching of the Holy Bible.  Through prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit, our Head Pastor works with the Leadership team to recruit those individuals who are called into “Kingdom service.”  Prerequisites include adherence to 1 Timothy 3:2-7. 

While God is our first and foremost love, we understand that He appoints those to rule under His sovereignty here on Earth. 

As such, and as a church in France, we adhere to the French administration by following the formalities under the law, including taking minutes, having church members vote at an annual meeting for the leaders proposed by the Leadership Team.

These churches are not ours.  They are God’s and His alone.  He raised up leaders to steward them and help care for his sheep. 

Each church has a number of different leadership roles, all ultimately reporting back to the Leadership teams at either the Nice or Saint Paul churches respectively. Pastor James Arnold, the Head Pastor, is the President of these teams.

In the interest of safety for our little ones, who are God’s precious gift to us, we do enforce rules for children.  

International Bible Church of Saint Paul de Vence Child Protection Policy (Aligned with French Law)

The International Bible Church of St. Paul (IBC) is committed to assisting parents in the spiritual growth and development of children, ensuring their safety and well-being in compliance with French child protection laws. We believe that children are created in the image of God and deserve an environment that is both nurturing and secure. The following policy outlines procedures and expectations for protecting children and volunteers, in alignment with French legal standards.

Volunteer Application Process

 To safeguard children, IBC mandates the following process for volunteers working with children or youth:

1. Policy Acknowledgment: Volunteers must read and sign the Children’s Protection Policy and complete a Volunteer Application form.
2. Background Checks: Volunteers are subject to background checks, adhering to French data protection laws (Loi Informatique et Libertés) and GDPR regulations.
3. References: All applicants must provide at least two references.
4. Eligibility: IBC will not permit individuals disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults to volunteer.
5. Interviews: Volunteers must participate in an interview conducted by the Children’s or Youth Director, or the pastor.
6. Authorization: Authorization for volunteers serving children and youth is at the sole discretion of the church’s Leadership Team. While reasons for rejection are not required to be provided, all decisions will be made based on objective criteria. Records of application outcomes will be maintained to ensure transparency and adherence to fair practices.

Record-Keeping Compliance: Records related to volunteer applications, background checks, and decisions will be kept in compliance with GDPR and Loi Informatique et Libertés. These records will be stored securely, accessible only to authorized personnel, and retained only for as long as necessary for their intended purpose.

Child Abuse and Reporting

IBC enforces a zero-tolerance policy for any form of child abuse or neglect, as defined by French law (Code PénalArticles 222-24 to 222-31 for sexual abuse and 227-15 for neglect). It is prohibited for any volunteer or staff member to engage in behavior that constitutes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Prohibited Actions Include:

• Inflicting bodily harm or engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior.
• Physical neglect, such as inadequate safety, supervision, or care.
• Emotional mistreatment, including verbal abuse or degrading comments.

Mandatory Reporting: Volunteers must immediately report any reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect to their Ministry Director and the Pastor. Reports should be documented and submitted to the local child protection authority (Protection de l’Enfance) or police (gendarmerie) as per Article 434-3 of the Code Pénal. Immediate action will be taken to ensure the child’s safety.

 
Documentation Requirements:

Details to include in reports:

• Name, age, and address of the child.
• Name and contact details of the volunteer.
• Description of the incident.
• Any visible injuries or behavioral issues.
• Names of parents or guardians and siblings.
• Name of the alleged perpetrator.

Volunteer/Child Protection Protocols

IBC upholds the following safety protocols, with distinctions made for children (under 12) and teens (12 to 18):

1. Two-Adult Rule: At least two volunteers must be present during all activities involving minors. For children under 12, at least one volunteer should preferably be female. For teens, the rule remains, but flexibility may be applied based on the nature of the activity.
2. Restroom Assistance: Assistance is only provided, if necessary, with the door kept ajar. This applies mainly to younger children and babies. Teens are expected to manage restroom use independently unless specific help is requested.  If assistance is required, including changing of diapers/nappies, a female volunteer should assist while any male volunteer(s) should remain to supervise the other children. 
3. Parental Assistance: Parents may assist their own children as needed.
4. Appropriate Physical Contact:   IBC recognizes that appropriate touch is part of a positive, nurturing environment in a healthy children’s or student ministry. The following guidelines can be used by volunteers, who must exercise good judgment, to help discern what appropriate touch includes:
   • For Children (under 12):
     • Permissible interactions include:
       • An arm around the shoulder.
       • Short congratulatory hugs.
       • Pats on the back or shoulder.
       • Handshakes, high-fives, and knuckles.
     • Prohibited actions include:
       • Touching in anger or disgust.
       • Touch that can be perceived as sexually suggestive.
       • Any touch between the navel and knee or under clothing.
       • Carrying children over five years old or giving piggy-back rides.
   • For Teens (12 to 18):
     • Permissible interactions include:
       • An arm around the shoulder.
       • Short congratulatory hugs.
       • Pats on the back or shoulder.
       • Handshakes, high-fives, and knuckles.
     • Prohibited actions include:
       • Any touch that could be construed as sexually suggestive.
       • Any touch between the navel and knee or under clothing.
       • Touching in anger or with inappropriate force.
5. Respect for Boundaries: Physical contact should not be forced. A minor’s preference not to be touched must be respected, except in cases where restraint is necessary for safety.
6. Verbal Interactions: All communication must be positive and encouraging. Harsh, threatening, or demeaning language, including swearing, is strictly prohibited.
7. Visibility: Activities should occur in locations visible to others. Closed doors without visibility to the outside are prohibited.

 Parental Supervision: Outside of structured programs, parents are responsible for supervising their children.  This is to ensure the protection of the youth, the solemnity of the worship service and the public that share and move about our building.  As a tenant, IBC must respect and enforce the common rules as established by the property management.

1. Children/teens are not permitted to run anywhere inside the church building or in the public areas, including patios, stairs, or the parking garage.
2. During the worship service, children/teens are to remain with their parents, or with their appropriate group after being dismissed from the service, to join Sunday school.
3. Children/teens are not permitted to linger in the entryway, corridors, empty classrooms, or outside the church in the public areas.
4. No child or teen may leave the church premises (sanctuary, classrooms, kitchen, adjacent terrace – within the delimited gates) without a parent. This includes the stairs leading to the parking garage and other levels.
5. It is not permissible, unless specifically authorized for such an event by the church (ie: Kid’s Camp), on the church premises or the public areas surrounding it for children to play soccer (football) or other similar games.
6. Failure to adhere to this will result in child/teen being returned to his/her parents in the sanctuary for the duration of the service.
7. Repeated disobedience may result in additional disciplinary sanctions, which shall be at the sole discretion of the IBC Leadership Team.

Security Protocols

 Authorized Release: Children may only be released to the individuals who brought them or those specifically authorized in writing.

1. Controlled Access: Only parents, registered volunteers, and church staff may enter child activity areas. Unidentified adults must be questioned, and suspicious individuals reported to staff.

Policy Review and Questions

IBC will regularly review this policy to ensure compliance with current French legal standards.

For questions or further information, please contact the pastor or a member of the Leadership Team.

A copy of this policy is available at:  https://ibcfrance.org/child-protection.

By signing below, I agree to the terms and conditions herein described, including the background checks, and personally covenant to abide by them.  Should I fail to respect these terms, I agree to indemnify and hold IBC Saint Paul harmless for any of my actions.

_______________________________________ Signature

_______________________________________ Printed Name

_______________________________________ Date

Download Children’s Protection Policies