Does your Children's Ministry do criminal checks on people who volunteer to be teachers or work with the children? If so, do you think it is wrong to do so?
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Background checks?
- Thread starter SeekJusticeLoveMercy
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pgp_protector
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Yes. (even just to work on the web site (First Hand experience))
No.
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- Jun 3, 2007
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Yes, it is part of the Safe Sanctuaries policy adopted by the UMC. I do not think it is wrong.
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Yes, we do, and I think it's essential! All our children' workers are quite happy to do this, knowing that it is one way of protecting our children
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- Oct 21, 2011
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Our church does this too. If we are on the Vestry we have one check, and there is a seperate one if we work with children. So I have had 2 criminal checks. It's a rule and I am happy to comply and I agree it's good for protecting children.
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Aboslutely! We have checks for everyone that is 13 and up. We use Lexis Nexus and Church Volunteer Central for these.
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Yes we do them. Any one working with with a child 18-youngers has to have one. It has become church policy as well as our insurance requires it.
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BlondieLashes
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The church I go to does require background checks. As a person who has a criminal history myself I am still in favor of background checks. Unless you have something to hide I don't see why a church wouldn't want to do it to keep children safe.
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I teach in the Children’s Ministry at our Church
I have no idea if a background check is done, but I hope so and assumed so
Not that its hidden if it is done, just never bothered to ask.
My opinion is its Highly recommended.
Good question
I have no idea if a background check is done, but I hope so and assumed so
Not that its hidden if it is done, just never bothered to ask.
My opinion is its Highly recommended.
Good question
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We were told to go the police and fill out a form, they did the criminal check and sent the results to the Diocese. (Canada)
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I have had these type background checks previously, but not in my Church. Seems I went to DMV for a picture, fingerprint and then filled out forms of prev addresses. I know I have had this type B G check at least a couple of times in my life.
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- May 29, 2005
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jpcedotal
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If one has nothing to hide, why would a background check matter...as long as the one's doing the background check have there own past available from me to check.
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Everyone working in children's ministry at my church has gone through a background check. We are all happy to do this for the safety of our kids.
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It is NOT wrong to do background checks if the person will be working with children.
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No, I don't think it's wrong to do background checks on your volunteers or any church staff. All of my volunteers have background checks before they are able to be a volunteer in my children's room.
I've found it is actually a very positive thing for the church as a whole, because it is known that we care deeply about the safety of our children and want to ensure that the parents have peace of mind as well as any guests that might have children.
Of course, the way in which you approach potential volunteers about background checks is monumentally important. Attaining a background check is not meant to be an accusatory gesture, but a general effort to keep the children of the church safe, just as a sign in/out sheet is.
Also, having the church have the background check forms readily available so that any new volunteers can fill them out on the spot, quickly and easily, is important to not making the background checks into a bigger deal than they need to be. We also have the church pay for the background checks, which I think is standard.
I've found it is actually a very positive thing for the church as a whole, because it is known that we care deeply about the safety of our children and want to ensure that the parents have peace of mind as well as any guests that might have children.
Of course, the way in which you approach potential volunteers about background checks is monumentally important. Attaining a background check is not meant to be an accusatory gesture, but a general effort to keep the children of the church safe, just as a sign in/out sheet is.
Also, having the church have the background check forms readily available so that any new volunteers can fill them out on the spot, quickly and easily, is important to not making the background checks into a bigger deal than they need to be. We also have the church pay for the background checks, which I think is standard.
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My church's Children's Ministry does background checks for all children's workers, and I think most people agree it's a good idea. However, I think it's easy to become overly reliant on the background check.
For example, by the time many child molesters are caught, they have already abused multiple victims. So, if someone has never been caught committing child sexual abuse, the background check will show nothing.
The key to keeping children safe in any environment is a concerted effort of vigilance, which includes background checks. Everyone needs to be aware of the warning signs that a child is being groomed by a molester.
For example, by the time many child molesters are caught, they have already abused multiple victims. So, if someone has never been caught committing child sexual abuse, the background check will show nothing.
The key to keeping children safe in any environment is a concerted effort of vigilance, which includes background checks. Everyone needs to be aware of the warning signs that a child is being groomed by a molester.
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AJoyfulNoise
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We also have background checks for all of our children area volunteers, and I think it's a great idea. I was much more comfortable leaving my children there because of it, even before I became a volunteer myself.
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