Are there Resource Materials Concerning Screening and Hiring Employees?

Resource Materials for Congregations Concerning Screening, Hiring, and Supervising Non-Rostered Employees and Volunteers

Web Resources:

Called to be a Safe Place: Addressing Sexual Misconduct in Our Church - A Web site containing a variety of resources dealing with sexual misconduct issues offered by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Early in the life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, this church expressed clearly its intention to take whatever measures it could to help prevent sexual abuse and misconduct within the ELCA. In other words, the church is "Called to be a Safe Place."

Creating Safe Churches: Addressing Sexual Misconduct    A Web site containing a variety of resources dealing with sexual misconduct issues is offered by the Presbyterian Church.  The theme of the site is "Safe Churches." The Web site contains sexual misconduct-related definitions, awareness-raising resources, guidelines for creating sexual misconduct policies for congregations, protocols for reporting incidents of sexual misconduct, resources for rebuilding trust that has been shattered in a religious community by incidents of sexual misconduct.

Books and Pamphlets:

Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in Church
by Joy Thornburg Melton

This 80-page book provides guidance to help develop policies and procedures for reducing the risk of child abuse in the church. The book defines the scope of child abuse, outlines the different types of abuse, notes the indicators of abuse, discusses the legal requirements for reporting abuse, and provides guidelines for screening and hiring workers and volunteers. The book also outlines basic
procedures of safe ministry with children and youth and outlines a congregational plan for responding to allegations of abuse. Sample forms included for screening workers, requiring background checks, doing reference checks and reporting suspected abuse. A suggested training session plan for people who work with children and youth is outlined, and a bibliography of suggested resources is included

This book (order number DR220) can be purchased for $13.00 from
Discipleship Resources,
P. 0. Box 1616,
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009-1616,
Telephone: 800-972-0433;

No Surprises: Controlling Risks in Volunteer Programs - 2nd Edition
by Nonprofit Risk Management Center

A 100-page guide to help in preventing injuries, lawsuits, and other surprises. It provides practical strategies for controlling dozens of risks, including: staff selection and service, board functions; finances; abuse; emergencies; and information management. The guide is produced in cooperation with the American Bar Association and the Points of Light Foundation.

This guide can be purchased for $15.00 from
Nonprofit Risk Management Center,
1130 Seventeenth St. NW, Suite 210,
Washington, D.C. 20036-5504,
Telephone: 202-785-3891;

Resource Kits:

Selection and Screening Kit for Church Employees
by Richard R. Hammar and James F. Cobble Jr.

This kit provides the forms a congregation needs in the selection and hiring of non-rostered employees. It is designed for use by congregations and contains ten complete sets of booklets and detailed instructions. Kit includes in part: employment application, telephone interview form; annual review of employment; interview form; and sample letters.

This kit can purchased for $29.95 from:
Christian Ministry Resources
P.O. Box 2600
Big Sandy, TX 75755
Telephone: 800-222-1840
Fax: 800-882-6643

Selection and Screening Kit for Church Volunteers
by Richard Hammer and James F. Cobble Jr.

This kit provides the forms required in the selection and screening of volunteer workers. The kit can be used by congregations of any size. Forms and information includes in part are: form for driving church vehicles, assumption of risk form; review of applicable laws, and maintaining a safe environment.

This kit can purchased for $29.95 from
Christian Ministry Resources,
P. 0. Box 2301,
Matthews, North Carolina 28106,
Telephone: 704-821-3845;

Staff Screening Tool Kit - 2nd Edition
by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center

This 135-page guide provides help in screening, position descriptions and selection criteria, recruitment and applications, interviews, reference checks, record checks, other screening techniques, and the increased focus on official agency records as tools for staff screening. It features a state-by-state directory of agencies that maintain records useful for screening.

This guide can be purchased for $30.00 from
Nonprofit Risk Management Center,
1130 Seventeenth St. NW Suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20036-5504,
Telephone: 202-785-3891;