Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter

Background checks, protective policies essential to safer children’s ministry

  • February 14, 2022
  • Julie Donavan
  • Administration Issues, Children, Church Leadership, Latest News, Leading and Loving Children, Volunteer Leaders
Photo by Carrie B. McWhorter/The Alabama Baptist

Background checks, protective policies essential to safer children’s ministry

 

Background checks have become a necessity in children’s ministry over the past 10 to 15 years in order to protect the children in our churches’ care.

Many instances of abuse involving church leaders have come to light in recent years, and parents who visit your church are understandably wary of leaving their children with strangers.

The security of our children outweighs any argument against the requirement of background checks, which provide reassurance to parents and help protect the reputation of your ministry.

If your church does not carry out background checks on every individual who works with children and students, my best advice is do them now and continue doing them as new volunteers come into your ministry. Any new volunteer should be vetted before being allowed to work with minors.

The small investment of time and money to complete these steps now will provide valuable protection in the long run.

Here are three common questions about background checks and possible responses you as a children’s ministry leader can offer in support:

  1. I have known these people my entire life. Why should they get a background check?

Your children’s ministry is likely a team of wonderful, godly volunteers you know and trust. But new or visiting parents may not know these volunteers. Requiring background checks for all volunteers shows parents you have taken steps to ensure their children are in safe hands.

  1. Privacy is important. Won’t volunteers be insulted if I ask them to provide personal information?

If a children’s volunteer is insulted or annoyed about filling out a background check, perhaps that individual is better suited to another area of service. Those who protest may be sending up a red flag deserving of further consideration.

In my experience, most volunteers are aware of the reasons background checks are necessary, and they want to be an example to others.

  1. Background checks cost money. What if our church budget is too small to do checks on all our volunteers?

A basic background check is relatively inexpensive. If your church budget cannot cover the cost, ask volunteers to pay for their own or pay a partial amount — you might be pleasantly surprised how many workers will take on the expense.

The church will still be in charge of the background check, but by helping with the fee, volunteers are making an investment in your ministry.

After all, serving the children of your church is an honor and privilege, even if it costs something.

3 Resources

  1. Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions has a partnership with MinistrySafe and offers a coupon for a discount on the first year’s fee: alsbom.org/ministry-safe-discount.
  2. Protect My Ministry helps faith-based organizations maintain a safe environment: protectmyministry.com.
  3. Verified First specializes in background and drug screenings: verifiedfirst.com.

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • Historical TAB issues now available to view online
    Historical TAB issues now available to view online
    February 3, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • God can do ‘amazing things in small places,’ Clifton says
    God can do ‘amazing things in small places,’ Clifton says
    February 3, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Winfield FBC hosting women’s conference, speaker Sherri Burgess
    Winfield FBC hosting women’s conference, speaker Sherri Burgess
    February 3, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

pink flower plant inside room

Halloween outreach tips for connecting with community

October 24, 2022

By Chip Warren Albertville, Ala. For a number of years, my family and I were involved in our church’s fall

brown brick building under blue sky during daytime

Tips for maintaining, enacting church security

July 26, 2022

In light of church shootings over the last few years, including Texas and Vestavia Hills, Alabama church leaders may be

Beeson panel tackles hot topic of gender, the pastorate and first order doctrines

May 15, 2021

In a May 13 podcast, TAB Media Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Rash tackled a controversial subject that many in the Church and

Pray for your pastor

March 7, 2021

There are so many reasons to pray for your pastor. He stands before crowds large and small who are listening.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel