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
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
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
Child Safety Training More Important Than Ever Thanks to New Laws
It’s always a step in the right direction when states move to protect our innocent children from abusive predators. Even though the details might be overwhelming or confusing at the start, it’s imperative that organizations, including all faith-based groups, implement them as soon as possible. Pennsylvania took such action in 2014 when its state legislature
Tired of Sloppy Handwriting? Five Benefits to a Paperless Hiring and Screening Platform.
The hiring process can be tedious. Generate an eye-catching job description. Sift through dozens, or hundreds, of applications. Decipher WHAT ON EARTH is written on said applications. Enter candidates’ information into data collection system. Find storage for applications, resumes and cover letters (there’s room in a back closet somewhere, right?). And that’s all before interviews
Student Ministry Makes Smart Move – Background Checks for Volunteers
There is a beautiful resurgence happening on a longtime religious property in Northwest Georgia. The Polk Haralson Christian Life Center in the Antioch Community, locally known as Camp Antioch, is now blossoming with visitors and wildlife after a major facilities upgrade project and a wildlife habitat certification from the The National Wildlife Federation. More than
4 Tips to Develop a Safe and Sound Background Screening Policy for Your Employees and Volunteers
On any given day, your ministry may be visited by dozens, hundreds or thousands of people. Some of these people are your everyday parishioners, some may be curious visitors, while others are routine employees or impassioned volunteers. This can be a wonderful thing for your ministry, its teachings and outreach, but it can also leave