There have been countless calls to action in the last 25 years . The resources are available and accessible . The Church needs to act .
AVAILABLE TRAININGS
• Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
• Specialty Segments : o Camp o Daycare o Education o Special Needs o Youth Ministry o Youth Sports
• Skillful Screening Training
• Peer-to-Peer Sexual Abuse Training
• Parent / Guardian Training
• Sexual Abuse Awareness Training for Vulnerable Adult Programs
• Sexual Harassment : Supervisors
• Sexual Harassment : Staff Members
• Child Safety Workshop
• Background Checks Training
• Policies and Procedures
• Reporting Child Sexual Abuse
• California Assembly Bill 506
• Third-Party Use of Facilities
• Agents and Underwriters
• MinistrySafe Institute
because less than 10 percent of abusers will ever encounter the criminal justice system .” Further , says Norris , many background check providers cut corners or mislead churches concerning the records that are actually searched and reported . Visit the MinistrySafe website for more information about the efficacy of background checks and how many providers contractually limit search scopes and reports .
Conferences and Seminars Over the past decade , child sexual abuse risk has become a mainstay topic at ministry conferences provided by a variety of organizations , including : XPastor , The Church Network , RightNow Media , Modern Church Leader , Christian Camp & Conference Association and others . Sadly , many conferences and organizations that direct content to youth and student ministry — where risk is greatest — have been almost entirely silent . In short , when churches make sexual abuse prevention a priority , resources are available and easily accessible .
Background Checks Since 2000 , the background check as a resource presents a mixed blessing . On the positive side , there are now countless background search providers offering a variety of search package options at competitive prices . On the other hand , churches have an unrealistic view of the effectiveness of a background check and therefore rely too heavily on a background check as a stand-alone solution to the problem . “ Churches must understand : a background check provides one element of an effective safety system ... but not a stand-alone solution ,” says Norris . “ If that ’ s your entire screening process , your process is woefully inadequate ,
ARE CHURCHES RESPONDING ? Over the last 25 years , many churches have been raising the bar . “ Many ministries are being proactive , rather than reactive , about this risk , and that ’ s a significant change ,” says Norris , who provides legal counsel to MinistrySafe members at a reduced fee . “ More and more , I encounter ministry leaders who are asking how to respond well to an allegation very recently encountered , who want to do the right thing now , rather than address a circumstance that has already blown up in their faces ,” she says . “ That ’ s encouraging !”
The minimum Unfortunately , some churches continue to do little , or nothing at all . Notwithstanding 25 years of media and messaging , some churches are doing nothing to protect children from sexual abuse . When a church decides to do ‘ something ’, it usually requires background checks for staff members or child-serving volunteers . One survey of Baptist churches conducted in 2024 reported that only 58 % of Southern Baptist congregations were using background checks . Although it was reported as a positive , consider the reverse : 42 % of Southern Baptist congregations responding to the survey were not requiring background checks : the absolute minimum . If a church does not require background checks , it is difficult to imagine any other safety
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