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Family Discipleship Worker Screening Policy

Purpose of the Policy

Every application to work in nursery, children, youth, and young adult ministries in the church must be familiar with this policy and satisfactorily complete our screening procedures. This policy is motivated by several concerns:

  1. We believe that it will help us to guard the honor, reputation, and name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
  2. Recognizing God's tender love and concern for children (see Luke 18:16), we want to do all that we can to protect our children, youth, and young adults from any kind of mistreatment including physical or sexual abuse. 
  3. Our church is not immune to the effects of sin, and it would be presumptuous for us to assume that this problem could never occur in our body. Therefore, while we should strive to be as “innocent as doves” we must also be as “shrewd [prudent, sensible, and practically wise] as serpents” (Matthew 10:16), especially with regard to the children God has placed under our care. 
  4. We want to protect our volunteer workers from being suspected or falsely accused of wrongful behavior toward a minor. 
  5. We want to protect our church from the scandal and trauma that an incident of abuse could bring upon our congregation. 

The Policy

  • All applicants desiring to work with minors (birth-Senior High) must have completed applications for Family Discipleship on file in the church office.   
  • All applicants are required to submit references from people who are not relatives or employees. 
  • All applicants will be interviewed by a qualified representative of the Family Discipleship Department.  
  • After applicants have been approved and assigned a ministry position, they will be asked to keep their ministry obligation and covenant. 

The Screening Process

We view the screening process as an opportunity to promote teamwork (1 Corinthians 12:12-31), to demonstrate mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21), and to get to know one another better. By learning more about each other’s gifts, abilities, and ministry goals; we can better encourage workers in their ministry to the children, youth, and young adults of Bethlehem Baptist Church (Hebrews 10:24,25).

  • Personal Questions: A few of the questions we ask in the screening process deal with unpleasant issues, such as the use of pornography and sexual misconduct. (You may answer these questions either in writing or during a private interview with a pastor or an elder.) One purpose is to identify those people who statistically are a higher risk to our children. Furthermore, God has used these questions to move some people to talk with a pastor or an elder about painful past experiences or embarrassing sin problems. These discussions have opened the way for pastoral counseling, leading to a new freedom in the Lord. Answering ‘yes’ to any of these questions may, but does not necessarily, disqualify a person for ministry in Family Discipleship. 
  • Background Investigations are conducted on all applicants 18 and older for paid and volunteer staff positions. This investigation may include: (1) contacting churches or other organizations where the applicant has served; (2) contacting employers for whom the applicant worked within the past five years; and (3) requesting a criminal record check in this state and, if feasible, in states where the applicant has lived during the past seven years. 
  • Confidentiality: All information acquired during the screening process is treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to others outside the immediate individuals involved in the screening process unless the elder in charge of screening or the elder board deems that limited disclosure is necessary to protect a young person from possible harm.   
  • Final approval to work with children, youth, and young adults shall be made by a Family Discipleship elder/pastor. 

We appreciate your cooperation in this screening process to ensure that our volunteer workers are well qualified for ministry to the children, youth, and young adults of our church. We look forward to working with you as you use your gifts and talents to nurture the children God has placed under our care. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to talk with an elder or someone from the Family Discipleship Department.