Professional advice on what’s required for volunteers versus staff For many churches, a background check is the only line of defense employed when screening volunteers and staff. Is it enough? Brian Gleason: A background check is a best practice in searching for any previous convictions since previous behavior is the best indicator of future behavior. […]
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Churches want to do all they can to keep the children in their care far from harm. Yet, these spaces are often considered “soft targets” among offenders. That’s because — despite the best intentions — gaps and missteps are prevalent in churches’ efforts to create a safe space for all. Here, two expert panelists discuss […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS continue to make headlines, and subsequent media coverage indicates that ministry leaders tend to be unprepared for child sexual abuse issues. Unfortunately, this lack of awareness is not unusual. Earlier articles in this series introduced topics that church leaders must understand and apply, if children are […]
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By Rodney C. James Picture a group of men and women at the ready. Hard hats, leather gloves, steel toe boots, hammers, nails, and all the tools needed to tear down, renovate or expand your church building. A beautiful scene, isn’t it? Not so fast. Let’s rewind the tape. Where are permissions needed from the […]
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By Alex Kim, CFP®, MBA, CPA Identity theft is on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to IDentity USA, a provider of identity monitoring, protection and recovery. Experts predict 1 in 4 people in the United States will be victims of this growing crime trend as more people work from home. Cyber criminals hope […]
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CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN MINISTRY CONTEXTS By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris When in doubt, REPORT. If every allegation of child sexual abuse was simply reported by church leaders to appropriate authorities, the resulting positive impact would be immeasurable. Survivors of abuse would feel validated — by itself a significant positive outcome — pathways to […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Given the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements and the ongoing media headlines, many church leaders have awakened to the risk of child sexual abuse and are seeking guidance about what to do. Others are taking this opportunity to evaluate existing safety efforts to measure preparedness. Typically, the criminal background check […]
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In the new year, protect your church with strategies to prevent and address these threats. By Shawn Yingling Your church is more than just a building. It’s a community of passionate, caring members who have chosen to share a common mission and message. It’s the setting of weddings, celebrations and mourning. It’s a place to […]
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The “Stop Sexual Abuse” series is designed to provide ministry leaders with information to better understand the risk of child sexual abuse and take necessary steps to protect children in ministry programs. The first article in the series provided analysis concerning sexual abuse risk using the metaphor of building the right fence. In this article […]
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How to properly protect your parish from scammers By Elizabeth “Betty” Norman Cyber criminals seek out organizations that seem unsuspecting. Unfortunately, churches often offer just what they’re looking for. In late April 2019, Father Bob Stec of the Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, Ohio found himself sending a note to parish members that no […]
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