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,
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:
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
Improve the Safety of Your Vacation Bible School
Ministries across the country are becoming increasingly concerned with protecting the children they serve. Pennsylvania has really lead the charge because of a new state law overhauling its child protection policies. The new law expands the requirements for, and scope of, background checks for people who work or volunteer with children. The law demands that
Can An Employer Require Candidates to Pay for Their Own Background Check?
When budgets get tight, employers often have to do a lot of soul-searching to find out where to best spend their dollars. One of the most expensive aspects of running any business, including ministries, vacation bible schools, and other faith-based organizations, is hiring new people. From generating and placing job openings to gathering applications and
The Top Three Things Customers Desire From a Screening Firm (And Why Protect My Ministry Aces at All of Them)
We live in a fast-paced society. From 24-hour grocery markets to flash online sales, we want things available to us anytime, anywhere, anyhow. That’s tough stuff for businesses. How do you consistently provide a top notch product or best-in-class service when you’re stretched to your limits in terms of production costs, manpower, and the litany
Do Your Volunteers (and employees) Wonder Why They’re Being Screened? Here’s What to Tell Them.
National Volunteer Week is just around the corner and that means many people will be seeking useful ways to volunteer their time and help their communities. This year, National Volunteer Week runs April 12 – 18. Any group – like a non-profit agency or faith-based organization – who could benefit from a few more helping
Three Reasons Why Every Church School Should Screen its Staff and Volunteers
Protect My Ministry takes seriously the need to vet anyone – ANYONE – who is hired by, or volunteers for, a faith-based organization. In particular, we feel strongly that employees and volunteers within schools who are sponsored by, or run on the campus of, a religious organization must maintain high standards of conducting thorough and