Permission slips are your go-to tools for obtaining parental consent to temporarily care for minors attending your church events. The importance of these simple documents cannot be overstated because they protect you from potential liabilities should unforeseen accidents happen as children play or participate in the event activities. They are proof of authorization or consent. However, they must be signed to be legally enforceable. Beyond this primary function, permission slips communicate event details like type of event, occurrence date, venue, costs, etc. The template we’ve provided has all the necessary elements for a complete church permission slip. You can download and use it for your convenience.
What is Included in this Permission Slip Template
We have included various sections that serve unique but important roles in communicating with parents and obtaining their consent. These sections are necessary for the following reasons.
Details of the event
You need to provide various event details, such as the type of event and when it will take place. Also, in the ‘additional information’ section, you should clarify the cost, payment method, what they are expected to bring, and means of transportation. This information is needed because it helps the parents decide if they are comfortable with the nature of the event and helps them schedule accordingly to make sure the child or participant will be available. In the ‘cost’ entry, you should write down the dollar amount of the entire event’s cost, including entrance and other applicable fees, before clarifying if payments will be via cash, bank deposit, cheque, etc. Also, in the ‘what to bring’ entry, specify whether the participant can bring items like a bible, pen, journal, etc.
Identification details of the participant and parent
The ‘participant information’ and ‘parent information’ sections are needed to clarify who is giving consent and on whose behalf. As the parent fills this section, they must include critical details like the participant’s medical conditions and special needs. Medical conditions include allergies, phobia, and medications they should be taking.
Authorization
This authorization section has been pre-written in legal terminology so that you do not have to write it from scratch. It has three key functions. Firstly, it includes an acknowledgment that the parent knows their kid(s) will be engaging in the event and understands the associated risks. Also, it waives you as the church or official from claims, liabilities, and lawsuits arising from the child’s participation in the event. Thirdly, it outlines the parent’s consent, allowing the participant to partake in the event and permitting you to seek medical intervention for the participant should an emergency occur.
You should fill out the blank entries in the authorization section with the required information, then let the parent sign the document at the end and specify the date of signing. A signature validates the permission slip, and the date provides a record of the official day the consent and authorization became effective.
Instructions for return and copyright
You should make sure that you have a signed church permission slip before the event commences. This is why we have included this section to make sure you can communicate when and where the parents should submit the permission slip. When filling in the first line item, write down the submission deadline and location where the document can be dropped. The second line item has a call to action requesting parents to contact you. You should provide the church’s official phone number and email address or the contact person for the specific event, such as the patron. At the bottom, indicate the copyright of the permission by indicating the church name and publication year.
Digital vs Paper Church Permission Slip
Digital authorizations are an equally effective alternative to paper permission slips. They are easy to distribute, making them convenient if you share them with multiple parents, as in this case. However, most parents are used to paper permission slips since they, in most cases, have to fill in the blank spaces and hand the slips back to you. So, it is up to you to choose which alternative best suits your authorization needs at that particular moment.
Best Practices Worth Noting
- You should fill out all the given sections, as the permission slip should contain sufficient information to enable the parent to make an informed decision whether to consent to the child’s participation in the event or not.
- This template is reusable to allow you to create uniform church permission slips consistently without starting from scratch each time.
- Always issue permission slips a few days before the event to give parents enough time to make decisions that best suit their preferences. Also, it allows them to raise any questions they may have regarding the event.
- Always make sure that the parent signs the permission, as it is only enforceable once signed.
- You can add extra sections such as event purpose and list of activities if you consider such information necessary and important to the parent.
FAQs
What is the size of the template?
We have designed this template on a sheet size of 8.5’ by 11.’ This is the standard size recommended for legal and official documentation as well as printing.
Is this template print-ready?
Yes. You can print this template in the office or at home. We have designed it in high resolution to produce clear-cut prints that are usable in legal and formal settings.
Is the church permission slip a legal document?
Once the parent signs the permission slip, the permission slip becomes legally enforceable. This is because they consent to their child participating in the event, authorize you to care for them, and absolve you of any liabilities that may arise from accidents during the event.
Can I edit the original layout of the template?
The template is editable to offer you flexibility in adding or removing sections as you see fit. You can also modify the color and fonts to suit your documentation protocols as a church. However, you should balance between the template’s appeal and functionality; the design should have enough white space and not be too cluttered.
