The new year brings a renewed sense of opportunity for many people. They create lists of resolutions they’d like to accomplish; weight loss, stop smoking, travel more, showing gratitude regularly, saving money are all common themes year after year. But has your ministry created its resolutions for 2016? Specifically, have you incorporated spending for background
Rape at Tennessee Church Sobering Reminder About Critical Need for Background Checks and Child Safety Training
This story is absolutely heartbreaking. The family of a 3-year-old rape victim has filed a lawsuit against Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee citing “the utter failure of the Church to provide a safe place for the children placed in its care.” The lawsuit comes on the heels of a guilty plea for aggravated sexual
Can You Spot a Predator like Jared Fogle? Our Child Safety Classes Will Show You How.
We were reminded of the chilling tactics that child sexual predators use to attract new children when audio recordings of an actual child rapist surfaced earlier this month. Former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle is expected to plead guilty to child porn and child sex charges after evidence – actual recordings of conversations Fogle had with
Social Recruiting – A Smart Move for Ministries When Done Well
Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, Vimeo, Pinterest. Social media sites are everywhere and they are a great place to spread the Gospel. They’re also a really important recruiting tool if used properly. We’re not just talking recruiting for new employees and/or volunteers, though. We’re talking recruiting new members for your congregation. Plenty of employers,
When Will It Stop? More Sex Abuse Charges Against Former Church Youth Leader
A Virginia church is at the center of every congregation’s worst nightmare; One of its former volunteers is accused of sexually abusing several children he met through the church. The worst part is that these newest charges come six years after similar allegations plagued the man and the church. Although no charges were ever filed
Pope’s Visit to America Renews Quest to Have Priests Background Checked
Millions of U.S. Catholics applauded Pope Francis when he first arrived on American soil, but for families at the center of the Catholic Church pedophile scandal, it was another opportunity to condemn the church’s actions and to hold it accountable for priests’ crimes. It’s a sobering reminder of the importance of background screening for all
Background Check Requirements for Volunteer Chaplains
Chaplains do important work. These faith-oriented individuals often work with hospitals, police departments, schools, prisons and other secular (non-religious) groups and provide a peaceful, nonjudgmental ear for employees to share their feelings with. They help in a variety of ways that often go beyond the scope of what an employer can provide to an employee:
What’s OK and What’s Not? Why Abuse Prevention Education is Needed in Every Church
An upstate New York church is rallying together after one of its former volunteer leaders was indicted on sex abuse charges. The youth ministry volunteer is accused of having inappropriate sexual relations with two teenage boys; the alleged incidents of sexual abuse happened at the man’s home and did not take place on church property
Three Key Elements to a Screening Policy
If you don’t already have an employee/volunteer screening policy, you need one. It’s non-negotiable. A thorough screening policy will not only help protect your religious organization and the people within it from psychopaths, it will safeguard your church against any legal action that might be taken should a predator/thief/fraudster/etc. slip through your ranks. But not
Why Accuracy Matters Most in Background Screening
There are a lot of reasons why companies want to run background checks on employees, volunteers and other staff. workplace safety liability honesty compliance protect confidential information There is an equal of amount of qualities companies look for when sourcing potential screening firms. quick results comprehensive searches paperless solutions cost effective programs accuracy This last