How to Choose a Background Check System For Your Church

Background checks are essential for any church or ministry. They are an unfortunate necessity of living in a sinful world. In an ideal world, background checks would never be necessary. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world, and we've all heard horror stories of abuse within the church.

If you're going to run background checks for your church staff and volunteers, you need to use a background check system. This system helps you check the backgrounds of your employees and volunteers, making sure that they are suitable for serving in a church environment.

But how do you choose a background check system for your church? That's what we're going to cover in this article.

Why Are Background Checks So Important?

We realize that we're probably preaching to the choir (pun kind of intended) when it comes to the importance of background checks in the church. Nevertheless, it's worth talking for a moment about why they're so important.

Churches have an obligation to provide a safe, secure environment for their members, staff, and volunteers. Churches are supposed to be safe places for people. Refuges from the storms of the world. And, unfortunately, a single person can bring storms, danger, and harm inside the church.

Background checks are not a 100% fool-proof system when it comes to protecting vulnerable members of your church, like children and the elderly. But they are a very strong first line of defense.  They can help you catch problems before they happen and prevent those who would do harm from entering your church.

Having a background check system in place helps build trust with your church members. It shows that you take the safety and well-being of your congregation seriously. This can also attract new members who may be looking for a safe and secure community to join.

Key Components of an Effective Background Check

There are a number of key components that make up a ministry background check.

Criminal Records Search

The first and most important component is a criminal records search. This includes searching for any past convictions or pending charges at the county, state, and federal levels. It's important to screen for all types of crimes, including violent offenses, sexual offenses, theft, fraud, and more.

Sex Offender Registry Search

Another crucial component is a sex offender registry search. This helps identify anyone who may be listed on the national sex offender registry and could potentially pose a threat to vulnerable members of your church.

Identity Verification

Believe it or not, it's important to verify the identity of individuals who volunteer and those applying for staff jobs at your church. Some people may try to hide their true identity for nefarious purposes, whether to hide incidents in their past or to take advantage of a particular person or group of people. Identity verification ensures that the person you are screening is who they say they are.

Motor Vehicle Records Search

For positions that involve driving responsibilities (such as a youth group leader), conducting a motor vehicle records search is crucial. This helps identify any history of reckless driving, DUIs, or other offenses that could put others at risk while on the road.

Reference Checks

Reference checks are also an important part of a background check. By speaking with past employers, colleagues, and personal references, you can gain insight into a person's character and behavior in previous roles. This can help identify any red flags or concerns before hiring someone to work in your church.

Selecting The Right Background Check Provider

So how do you go about choosing the right background check provider for your church or ministry? There are a number of things you should consider.

Expertise In Ministry Contexts

First and foremost, you want to choose a background check provider that has experience working with churches and ministries. This ensures they understand the unique needs and considerations that come with screening individuals for roles within a religious organization.

Comprehensive Services

It's important to choose a ministry background check provider that offers comprehensive services, including criminal record searches, identity verification, motor vehicle records checks, and reference checks. Doing so will ensure you have all the information you need to make informed decisions when it comes to hiring or allowing individuals to work in your church.

Customized Screening Packages

Every church or ministry has different screening needs based on its size, structure, and specific roles. Look for a background check provider that offers customizable screening packages, allowing you to select the services that best fit your organization's needs.

Compliance With Regulations

Background checks are subject to federal regulations such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state laws. It's important to choose a background check provider that is compliant with these regulations to avoid any legal issues.

Integration With Ministry Operations

The best church background check providers integrate with existing Church Management Software (ChMS), such as Breeze by Tithely. This will greatly simplify the background check process.

Top 5 Background Check Systems For Your Church

Now that you know what to look for in a ministry background check system, here are five of the best providers for you to choose from.

MinistrySafe

MinistrySafe is, we believe, the best church background check system. There are several reasons why.

First, we run very comprehensive background checks, accessing more than 650 million records. We check criminal records, sex offender registries, and county, federal, and state records. If a person has red flags on their record, we will find them.

Second, we offer seven different levels of screening. Simply put, there are some individuals who you cannot afford to be wrong about. We check and verify their names, addresses, social security numbers, and more.

Third, MinistrySafe offers a super user-friendly interface and can send automated email reminders for different elements of the background check process. The system has built-in authorizations and disclosures. We also provide a dedicated customer support team if you run into any challenges during the process.

Finally, MinistrySafe was founded and run by legal professionals and sexual abuse experts. With more than 60 years of combined experience, we understand the unique challenges churches face and how to protect them. 

We also provide training and resources for your staff and volunteers to prevent sexual abuse within your organization. More than 20,000 ministries and churches trust us to handle their background checks.

Protect My Ministry

Protect My Ministry is another church background check provider. They offer customizable screening packages based on your organization's specific needs. Their reports are easy to read and understand, making it simple for you to make informed decisions. They also integrate with many Church Management Systems.

Verified First

Verified First provides background check solutions for both businesses and ministries. Their platform is user-friendly and allows you to quickly access results from multiple sources. They offer a variety of screening packages, including criminal records, education verification, and motor vehicle reports. Additionally, they have a built-in compliance feature that ensures your organization is following all necessary laws and regulations when conducting background checks.

Checkr

Checkr is a comprehensive background check provider that specializes in fast and accurate results. However, they are not designed specifically for churches and ministries.

They use advanced technology to streamline the screening process, making it easy for you to get the information you need quickly. Checkr offers customizable packages based on your organization's needs, including criminal records, employment verification, and motor vehicle reports.

FirstAdvantage

FirstAdvantage is a global background check provider that offers services for both businesses and ministries. They have offices around the world, allowing them to provide international screening options. Their platform is user-friendly and offers customized packages based on your organization's needs, including criminal records, education verification, drug testing, and more.

Implementing A Comprehensive Safety System

Church background checks should be part of a comprehensive safety system that includes:

• Awareness training
• Documented policies and procedures
• Skillful screening
• Ongoing monitoring
• Regularly updated policies and procedures

MinistrySafe is not just a church background check system. We offer a full Child Safety System that incorporates all five of the above elements. Having this kind of system in place allows your staff and volunteers to focus on what really matters - ministering to others.

Conclusion

Few things matter more than the safety of your church members, staff, and volunteers. You want your church to be a safe space for weary people who need a home. Choosing a background check system for your church is one way very substantial way you can help your church be that safe space.

Don't wait until something bad happens to start running background checks on your staff and volunteers. Choose MinistrySafe today and let us help you in the sacred job of protecting your people.

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