New Interactive Request Forms and Updated Procedures

Safe Church Process for Requesting Background Checks for Employees and Volunteers

Step One: Review the SOC's Interim Safe Church Policy Concerning Abuse Prevention (MS WORD ADOBE PDF) and Safe Church Procedures for Handling Complaints (MS WORD ADOBE PDF).

Step Two: Review your church's site-based Safe Church policies and procedures.

Step Three: Applicant completes and signs Authorization to Release Information. (MS WORD ADOBE PDF)

Step Four: Applicants for staff and volunteer positions should review and sign either of the following:

Exhibit A-Authorized Volunteer Application (MS WORD ADOBE PDF) or
Exhibit B-Authorized Employee Application (MS WORD ADOBE PDF)

Step Five: Church official completes and submits a Request for Background Check (Parts One and Two) to the SOC. (MS WORD ADOBE PDF)

Save time by submitting your request via email by competing the following the interactive web form. Request for Background Check: Part One (Required).

Part One is required for all background checks. The standard $9.95 search includes the following components:
Social Security Number Verification
Nationwide Sex Offender Registry
Criminal SuperSearch (includes traffic records) and nationwide Terrorist Search.
Part One (MS WORD ADOBE PDF)

Part Two is an optional search that may include credit history, education and/or employment verification. Additional fees apply for each supplemental search.
Part Two (MS WORD ADOBE PDF)

Applicants may request a reinvestigation and should complete and return this form. (MS WORD ADOBE PDF)

Safe Church
Resources

Making Our Churches Safe for All-- Frequently Asked Questions The UCC Insurance Board and the Southern Conference compiled these questions and answers to provide congregations with the latest information. MS Word format

Making our Churches Safe for All This is an introductory guide on creating a safe church from the UCC. It highlights the need for abuse prevention policies and procedures at the congregational level.

Safe Sanctuaries--Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church Author Joy Thornburg Melton has written an excellent step-by-step guidebook to help your congregation become a safe sanctuary. You may order this book through the UCC warehouse at (800) 537-3394.

The Time is Now An excellent planning guide developed by the UCC's Parish Life and Leadership Team.

Church, Child, and Youth Protection Manual
The Southern Mutual Church Insurance Company has developed this excellent resource for churches. This guide covers hiring practices, administrative oversight, safe activities and provides a series of checklists, sample forms and policies. (These materials should be used in conjunction with the UCC materials.)

Protecting the Children, Protecting the Church and Protecting Yourself. This is an introductory PowerPoint presentation created by the United Cabarrus Insurance Agency and Southern Mutual Church Insurance Corp. to help churches begin the process of implementation site-based Safe Church policies and procedures. Note: This is a vendor presentation provided to the Southern Conference for informational and educational purposes only. Vendor coverages, policies and recommendations vary. Please consult your church's insurance policy to determine your level of coverage and discuss your Safe Church initiative with your vendor.

Sample Policies
and Templates

Sample Safe Church Policies
Generic policies and disclosure forms
Sample Disclosure "Example A"
Sample Disclosure "Example B"

Criminal Background Checks for Clergy, Congregations, Associations and Conferences are now required!

The United Church of Christ now requires all clergy candidates who begin a ministerial profile to authorize and pay for a criminal background check with Oxford Document Management. The cost is $140 for the search. Candidates should download the new policy follow the step-by-step guideline for compliance. (MS WORD ADOBE PDF)

Note: This is a separate process from the Southern Conference Safe Church background check process and procedures.

For more information contact H. E. "Hunter" Thompson (919) 880-6431 or het101@nc.rr.com
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Web Servant: H. E. Thompson