The Ramp is deeply committed to the safety and wellbeing of all those entrusted to its care. Safeguarding at the Ramp outlines our Community Behavioral Standard which all members of Ramp Staff, volunteers, Ramp University students, and Ramp Church members are expected to adhere to. The Safeguarding Reporting Process and Safeguarding Response Process ensure any breach of this standard is identified and addressed according to both Biblical guidelines and all relevant legal requirements.

Community Behavioral Standard

The Community Behavioral Standard provides clear guidelines and policies that aim to create a safe, healthy, and Godly environment for all who participate. This standard outlines unacceptable behavior regarding verbal, physical, emotional, and spiritual interactions as well as sexual harassment. 

Verbal Interaction

We want the Ramp community to communicate to one another in a healthy and Godly manner. Communication should be kind, respectful, and truthful.

We do not tolerate verbally abusive behavior of any kind. This includes:

• Cursing, mocking, degrading, bullying, or insulting.
• Language that discriminates against race, gender, or age. 
• Coarse joking or sexually inappropriate conversation of any kind.

Physical Interaction

We want everyone within the Ramp community to feel safe and to feel their physical boundaries are respected. In the course of church gatherings and fellowship, appropriate physical interaction includes:

• The laying on of hands in prayer. 
• Holding hands during prayer.
• Exchanging hugs, when it is welcomed.

We do not tolerate physically abusive or unwelcomed contact. This includes:

• Any physical interaction intended to cause harm such as hitting, kicking, pushing or pulling.
• Blocking or impeding someone’s attempt to leave an interaction.
• Any physical interaction which intends to cause fear or intimidation.
• Touching someone in a personal or private area in any way.
• Disregarding a person’s request not to be touched.

Emotional and Spiritual Interaction

We want to host an environment where people can find healthy connections that promote spiritual formation while honoring appropriate relational boundaries. We believe healthy discipleship includes prayerful and Biblical support as well as guidance that empowers people to make their own Godly decisions and to develop their own walk of faith with Jesus Christ.

Emotional abuse, relational boundary violation, and spiritual manipulation are not tolerated.  This includes:

• Inappropriate emotional connection that extends beyond the nature of the intended relationship.
• Manipulative, threatening, intimidating, or coercive behavior.
• Humiliation, shaming, gaslighting, or excessive criticism.
• Forming spiritually co-dependent relationships, where one person excessively depends on another for decision making, emotional stability, and/or feeling at peace with God.
• The use of prophecy to control or dictate a person’s behavior.
• Behavior from a leader that minimizes a person’s ability to follow the Lord outside of the relationship with that leader.

Sexual Harassment

We do not tolerate sexual harassment in any way. This includes:

• Unwanted sexual advances, propositions, or requests.
• Making or threatening retaliation after a negative response to sexual or relational advances, including decisions regarding employment and/or volunteer opportunities.
• Sexual or derogatory jokes, comments, innuendo, suggestions, threats or asking inappropriate questions.
• Visual conduct that includes staring, leering or making sexual gestures.
• Email, voicemail, text messages or other forms of communication that are sexual in nature or contain any form of sexual content.
• Displaying sexually suggestive visual content (i.e. inappropriate images on clothing, devices, etc.).
• Abusive or malicious conduct that a reasonable person would find hostile or offensive.

Safeguarding Policies for Ramp Staff

One-on-one meetings between Ramp staff and students shall occur within the view of others. 

• Acceptable meeting locations for one-on-one meetings include:
• In public, such as a café or restaurant.
• In an office on Ramp property, during regular hours, with an open door. Doors may be closed for meetings between a staff member and student of the same sex as long as there is a window allowing full visibility inside the meeting room.
• Unacceptable meeting locations for one-on-one meetings include:
• At the staff member’s house. Group meetings at a Ramp Staff member’s house are permitted.
• At the student’s house or dorm.
• At a Ramp property while alone or outside of regular work hours.

One-on-one meetings between staff and students of the opposite sex may never occur in private or behind a closed door and must be appropriate in nature (e.g. a question about an assignment). They must not discuss intimate or sensitive topics, such as confession of sexual sin.

All Ramp Staff are required to complete the Alabama Department of Human Resources Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training.

Participation of Registered Child Sex Offenders in the Ramp Community

The Ramp is a ministry focused on youth and young adults. All Ramp events typically host minors, including conferences and church services. While we believe the grace of Jesus is available to all, we are unable to host registered child sex offenders or anyone with court ordered restrictions regarding minors at any Ramp events or services.

Safeguarding Reporting Process

Any incident of a legal nature, such as physical or sexual abuse, should be immediately reported to law enforcement. If an incident involves the abuse of a minor, a report should be made with the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). A subsequent report should be made to the Ramp’s Safeguarding Team within reasonable time after the report to law enforcement or DHR has been made.

If a Ramp University Student experiences any behavior that is not tolerated by the Ramp Community Behavioral Standard by another Ramp University student, they should report the matter to a member of the Student Life Pastoral Team.

If a Ramp University Student experiences any behavior that is not tolerated by the Ramp Community Behavioral Standard by a Ramp Staff Member, or a member of the Ramp Community, they should report the matter to the Safeguarding Team via the following email safeguarding@theramp.org.

If a concern regards a member of the Safeguarding Team, a report can be made directly to any member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

Safeguarding Response Process

The Safeguarding Team consists of the following members.

•  Human Resources Manager – Kalyn Moore
• RU Academic Director – Kimberly Alexander 

Reports Concerning Minors

No investigation into the physical or sexual abuse or neglect of a minor will be conducted by the Safeguarding team. Any such allegation will be immediately reported to the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), Child Protective Services (CPS) and, if necessary, law enforcement, in accordance with all legal requirements. The Safeguarding Team will then notify the ELT and the Board that a report has been made, and any appropriate actions will be taken.

Reports of a lesser concern, that are non-legal in nature, will be delegated by the Safeguarding Team to the ELT and if necessary, the board. An internal investigation will be conducted to determine necessary next steps, such as dismissal, discipline or additional training.

Reports Concerning Adults

Any allegation concerning the physical or sexual abuse of adults will be reported to law enforcement or to the Alabama DHR Adult Protective Services. The Safeguarding Team will then notify the ELT and the Board that a report has been made, and any appropriate actions will be taken.



Reports of a lesser concern, that are non-legal in nature, will be delegated by the Safeguarding Team to the ELT and if necessary, the board. An internal investigation will be conducted to determine necessary next steps, such as dismissal, discipline or additional training.

Care for Victims of Abuse

The Safeguarding Team will ensure appropriate care is provided for any victim, including access to government services, professional counselling, and/or pastoral care.