Article XI, Section V: ​
Disruptive Persons Policy & Incident Reporting

​While openness to a wide variety of individuals is one of the primary values held by our Chapter and expressed in the values and principles of Unitarian Universalism, we affirm the belief that our Chapter must maintain a safe and secure atmosphere where such openness can exist. When any person's physical and/or emotional well-being or freedom to safely express or hold his or her beliefs or opinions is threatened, or behavior occurs that violates our Covenant to Foster Healthy Relations, which is a threat to the stability and harmony of the community, the behavior must be addressed promptly and firmly. Concern for the safety and well-being of the group must be given priority over the privileges and inclusion of the individual. To the degree the disruptive behavior compromises the health and safety of the Chapter, our actions as people of faith must reflect this emphasis on security.

​Subsection 1: Disruptive Behaviors

Behaviors that are considered disruptive are those that raise one or more of the following concerns:
● Behaviors that are not in keeping with our Covenant to Foster Healthy Relations or Covenant of Tolerance.
● Perceived and validated threats to the safety of any adult or child.
● The mistreatment of any adult or child through offensive behavior.
● The disruption of Chapter activities.
​● Diminishment of the appeal of the Chapter to potential and existing membership

​Subsection 2: Response Procedures

WVCUUPS Management will follow the following procedure in dealing with Disruptive Persons:
  • If an immediate response is required, it will be taken by the leader of the group involved, and/or any person that is capable of safely defusing the situation. This may include asking the individual to stop the disruptive behavior, asking the individual to leave the vicinity and/or the church premises, suspending the activity until such time as it can be safely resumed, or any action that is appropriate to the level of disruption and/or threat to the safety and security of the congregation. If further assistance is required, police may be called. If the disruptive person is known, a follow-up communication via written letter or email will be sent to the individual that details what the disruptive behavior was, what possible consequences exist for repeated incidents of the disruptive behavior, and what steps must be taken before that person may return to activities.
  • Situations not requiring an immediate response will be deliberated by WVCUUPS Management for evaluation and action. A member of the UUCWV Board of Trustees shall be present during all phases of this process, to the best of WVCUUPS Management ability to coordinate it. WVCUUPS Management will assess the situation and gather input from the UUCWV Board of Trustees, a Minister if available, and/or from Unitarian Universalist Association resources, if warranted. WVCUUPS will respond in terms of its own judgement, observing the following:
    • Respond to problems as they arise. There will be no attempt to define “acceptable” behavior in advance.
    • Persons identified as Disruptive Persons will be dealt with as individuals; stereotypes will be avoided.
    • The collection of all available information before determining a course of action.
    • To aid in evaluating the problem, the following points will be considered:
      • DANGEROUSNESS: Is the individual the source of a threat or perceived threat to persons or property?
      • DIVISIVENESS: Is the individual the source of division or discord among members of the congregation? Are the individual’s actions creating an environment that is not healthy and safe for others?
      • ▪ DISRUPTIVENESS: How much interference with WVCUUPS functions is occurring?
      • OFFENSIVENESS: How likely is it that prospective or existing members will be driven away?
    • To determine the necessary response, the following points will be considered:
      • CAUSE: Why is the disruption occurring? Is it a conflict between the individual and others in the church? Is it due to a professionally diagnosed condition of mental illness?
      • HISTORY: What is the frequency and degree of disruption caused in the past? Is there a history of disruption caused by the individual’s actions?
      • PROBABILITY OF CHANGE: How likely is it that the problem behavior will diminish? What can be done to assist in efforts to address the problem behavior?
    • WVCUUPS Management will decide, with any necessary input, on the response on a case-by-case basis. The following four levels of response are adopted:
      • LEVEL ONE: WVCUUPS Management’s designated representative will meet with the individual to communicate the concern. The individual will be informed that their behavior is disruptive and given the opportunity to self correct, along with a caution that further occurrences may lead to a more elevated response. Persons who are the subject of subsequent LEVEL ONE responses will be re-evaluated for elevation to higher levels of response as determined by WVCUUPS Management, with input from the UUCWV Board of Trustees.
      • LEVEL TWO: The individual will be excluded from specified activities and/or church premises for a limited time. Attendance at online activities, such as on Zoom, will be evaluated and included at the discretion of WVCUUPS Management. This period will last no longer than the period of six (6) months, i.e. six (6) UUCWV Board of Trustees meetings and will be re-evaluated at an appropriate meeting that precedes the end of the response period.
      • LEVEL THREE: The individual must be escorted and supervised while in attendance at WVCUUPS activities and functions and/or on church premises. WVCUUPS Management will designate a chaperone for the individual. The chaperone must always be present while the individual is in attendance and must always be visibly near the individual. The purpose of the chaperone is to ensure that the individual does not pose a threat to others, and others do not pose a threat to the individual. Level Three responses will last no longer than a period of six (6) months, i.e. six (6) UUCWV Board of Trustees meetings, and will be re-evaluated at an appropriate meeting that precedes the end of the response period.
      • LEVEL FOUR: The individual is permanently excluded from WVCUUPS events and will be referred to the UUCWV Board of Trustees for possible expulsion from the UUCWV premises and events. The individual will be removed from WVCUUPS membership rolls. The decision to permanently expel an individual from WVCUUPS must be discussed and voted upon by WVCUUPS Management in the context of a public agenda item at an appropriate Chapter Meeting. A member of the UUCWV Board of Trustees must be present during the discussion and vote. The Chapter Council members will each have one vote, with the majority of votes indicating the outcome. In the event of a tie, the UUCWV Board Member in attendance will be granted a vote.
    • ​Response Issuance: Disruptive Persons will be informed of WVCUUPS response via written letter and/or email, and the reasons for the response and conditions of return (if any) will be made clear.
    • Follow-up Actions: Necessary follow-up actions, such as affirming that disruptive persons are complying with the terms of the issued response, and/or checking in with persons that have made complaints about a disruptive person, is the responsibility of WVCUUPS Management.
    • Appeals: A Disruptive Person receiving a response from the board may appeal the decision of WVCUUPS Management to the UUCWV Board of Trustees. The board will deliberate the individual’s appeal, with input from WVCUUPS Management, and consider the response. Results of an appeal will be entered into the board meeting minutes and the Disruptive Person will be informed of the board’s decision via written letter or email.

​Subsection 3: Serious Incident Protocol

Some types of incidents are beyond the scope of WVCUUPS leadership’s ability to effectively manage, whether due to the seriousness of the incident or any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
  1. Reports of incidents occurring at WVCUUPS events or occurring on UUCWV property that meet the criteria of crimes under local/state/federal law shall be (1) reported to the appropriate local/state/federal authorities for investigation and response, and (2) be evaluated for response in accordance with Article XI, Section 5, Subsection 2: Disruptive Persons Policy.
  2. Reports of incidents occurring outside of WVCUUPS events or UUCWV property that meet the criteria of crimes under local/state/federal law shall be (1) documented for the purposes of identifying patterns of behavior that may affect the safety and security of WVCUUPS members and the community, and (2) referred to a neutral third-party who will act as a victim advocate to advise/encourage victims to self-report to local/state/federal authorities, and assist in finding and accessing appropriate victim’s resources.
  3. All reports of incidents that involve minors shall be (1) documented as having been received, and (2) reported to the appropriate authorities at the earliest opportunity.
  4. In the event of potential conflicts of interest,WVCUUPS leadership and the UUCWV Board of Trustees will endeavor to provide neutral, third-party management of the incident.

Subsection 4: Reporting Protocol

Any person, regardless of membership status, has the right to report incidents of mistreatment, discrimination, harassment, or bullying, or occurrences of intolerance. Persons that decide to make a report are encouraged to do so by whatever means they decide they are comfortable with, to any Chapter Officer, the Chapter Manager, or any member of the UUCWV Board of Trustees. A Google Form, entitled WVCUUPS Incident Report Form, is available and the link can be found on our website, for persons to report an incident. It is also included here: https://forms.gle/1A8HtCa6J2Ud3DhS7. Any Chapter Officer or Manager that receives a report will immediately take the following actions:

1. Ask the person for only the relevant details:
  • WHAT the offensive behavior was (and a brief description)
  • WHERE and WHEN the offensive behavior was committed
  • WHO the person the offensive behavior was committed against, if applicable
  • WHO committed the offensive behavior
  • WHO the witnesses to the offensive behavior were, if any

2. Document the date and time the person made the complaint.

3. Compose an email to the Chapter Manager and UUCWV Board President with this information, to include who reported the incident.

4. If the WVCUUPS Incident Report Form was used to report the incident, a copy of the relevant information will be forwarded to the WVCUUPS Chapter Manager and the UUCWV Board President. The Chapter Manager will follow up on the report to gather information and take appropriate action under the Disruptive Persons Policy (Article XI, Section 5, subsection 2) or the Serious Incident Protocol (Article XI, Section 5, subsection 3.)

​Subsection 5: Transparency

All actions taken under this policy will be reported to the UUCWV Board of Trustees at the soonest opportunity, recorded in the WVCUUPS Meeting Notes, and recorded in the UUCWV Board of Trustees meeting minutes, at the next respective meetings.

Wyoming Valley CUUPs Incident Report Form