Religion


Religion Home Page | Faith411.com Home Page

Vital information and articles related to Religion.


6 Keys to Successfully Screening Church Staff and Volunteers


Whether you are in the process of formulating a screening policy for your congregation, or already have a screening program in place, here are some tips to help you with your efforts to protect your church family.

1. Get your house in order.

  • Decide who will oversee the screening process and keep track of the paperwork. This person must be well respected in the congregation, be trusted to handle confidential information, be well organized and if possible have human resources and management experience. Recognize this ministry within the life of the congregation. Place an announcement in the Sunday bulletin and bless the ministry within the Sunday liturgy.

  • Set up a filing system. All screening documents should be stored in a locked file cabinet (within the congregation or offsite) for an indefinite period of time. Files should never be left out in the open or in a readily accessible location.

    2. Assess risk and determine the screening requirements for the position in question. Assess the level of power, authority and control of those who minister, the level of vulnerability of those being ministered to, and the risk that harm could be committed by sexual harassment, exploitation, assault, emotional, verbal, physical, spiritual or financial abuse. Screen appropriately for the level of risk inherent in the position.

    3. Gather information from those to be screened, including the following:

  • A well crafted Application Form that contains key questions concerning past incidents of inappropriate behavior.

  • A Reference List of all the candidate's schools, employers, congregations, and religious supervisors over the last five years. A minimum of three references should be checked.

  • A broad Release Form to permit these references to freely divulge information about the candidate, and allow you to perform other investigative inquiries.

    4. Check with the candidate's references - preferably in writing. Ask them a series of key questions to reveal any past history of inappropriate conduct. Well worded inquiries will reveal the most information about a candidate.

    5. Check appropriate public records. Based on the candidate's residential address history, perform a criminal history records check at the state level (almost all states have a central repository available), and the county level (all are available) going back five to seven years. Similarly, check with the appropriate state Sex Offender Registries (most state's now have free on-line checks available). If the candidate will have access to church financial assets, include a credit bureau check. If the candidate will be driving for church related activities, include a driving record check.

    6. Comply with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Employers that use outside agencies to assemble background information on their candidate's must comply with certain disclosure and notice requirements. Consult your legal council, or link to http://www.oxforddoc.com/pdf/fcra.pdf for an overview of the FCRA requirements and free samples of the disclosures and notices.

    About The Author

    Glen Johnson, founder of Oxford Document Management Company, has worked exclusively with denominational leadership, legal experts, and risk management professionals for over 14 years to create and administer screening programs that are the "standard" in the religious community. For more information about the screening of church personnel, call 1.800.801.9114 or visit Oxford Document's web site at http://www.oxforddoc.com.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Obama Sets Off a Debate on Ties Between Religion and Government
    New York Times, United States - 1 hour ago
    Then he reminded listeners that it was President Bill Clinton who signed landmark legislation widening the role religion-based groups could play in ...
    Video: Obama: Would Overhaul Bush Faith-based Program AssociatedPress
    Obama would expand on Bush faith-based plan Minneapolis Star Tribune
    google news commentComment by Douglas L. Koopman Professor of Political Science, Calvin College
    Federal News Service (subscription) - Gather.com
    all 1,218 news articles


    Religion news in brief
    The Associated Press - 16 hours ago
    ... meantime, has disowned endorsements from two high-profile evangelical pastors for their controversial comments about other religions. ...


    The Washington Independent

    In God's name
    Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 12 hours ago
    Have we come to the end of The Age Of Religion? Given the recent rise of fundamentalisms around the world, I suspect future historians will look back and ...
    We the People of Faith Washington Post
    Pew Survey finds US faith is more nuanced than most might think Dallas Baptist Standard
    May the Wilberforce be with you Times Online
    The Conservative Voice - Seattle Times
    all 11 news articles


    State and Religion Must Stay Separate
    동아일보, South Korea - 3 hours ago
    As Seoul City Mayor, Lee was criticized by other religions when he said he would offer Seoul to God, and when he became president, he was mired in ...


    CBS News

    Thomas Jefferson: Intelligent Design Not Based on Religion
    Discovery Institute, WA - 19 hours ago
    Next time someone tells you intelligent design is “based on religion,” you might point him to American Founder Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration ...
    Video: Bush Invokes Jefferson on July 4 AssociatedPress
    'We are very happy about today' Daily Press
    Why the 4th Still Matters The Conservative Voice
    The Tennessean - GoErie.com
    all 837 news articles


    Comparing football to religion
    Jakarta Post, Indonesia - 23 hours ago
    Over the past few weeks in Jakarta, politicians and religious leaders have been touting the role of religion in creating peace and dialogue. ...


    Washington Times

    Religion today
    The Associated Press - Jul 3, 2008
    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — It's a wonder vacation Bible school made it out of the 1960s. Back in the days of black-and-white TV, churches offered kids lemonade ...
    Religion briefs Montgomery Advertiser
    all 27 news articles


    The Associated Press

    Religion in the news
    The Associated Press - 16 hours ago
    KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Plans to translate the Bible into patois — Jamaica's unofficial language — have ignited a fiery debate that stretches beyond the ...


    Feminism and Religion, Part 311187
    Feministe - 4 hours ago
    I don’t reconcile religion with anything. I think the true nature (and purpose) of religion is such that it cannot be reconciled with the world we live in. ...


    Religion calendar for July 4, 2008
    NRToday.com, OR - 1 hour ago
    Submit to: Religion Calendar, The News Review, PO Box 1248, Roseburg, OR 97470. FAX: 957-4270. E-MAIL: jdavies@newsreview.info. June 11- Aug. ...

    Religion - Google News



  • Religion Articles Home Page | Religion Articles Site Map | News | Faith411.com Home Page
    Buddhism | Christianity | Hinduism | Islam - Muslim | Judaism | Shintoism | Sikhism | Taoism
    EZmatic.com | IgoJo | UpBee | Blue Ryder | Health | ZippyGo | Ken J Wagner

    Faith411.com - all Vital information and articles related to Religion.

    © 2006