By Aaron Earls
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Many churches have begun using background checks to help prevent abuse, but fewer are trained in reporting potential abuse. Lifeway Christian Resources and Clear Investigative Advantage (CIA) hope to help congregations do both.
According to the 2023 Annual Church Profile, 58% of Southern Baptist congregations have used background checks. Only around a third (36%), however, say they have been trained in reporting sexual abuse.
Through Lifeway One Source, churches can purchase background checks through CIA and receive a free sexual abuse awareness course for staff and volunteers.
“We understand many churches want to make training available to their staff and volunteers but are worried about the cost. This free training helps churches equip their people to recognize and respond to red flags before harm can occur,” said Jennie Morris, who coordinates Lifeway’s relationship with CIA as the One Source Business Development Strategist.
Morris specifically noted that this free training can help many mid-sized and smaller congregations access training. In the 2023 ACP, the largest churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, those with 250 or more in attendance, were the most likely to say they had provided training for reporting sexual abuse, while the smallest, those with 50 or fewer, were the least likely (24%).
Most newer churches, those started since 2000, have been trained in abuse reporting (53%). Around 3 in 10 of the oldest congregations are trained, including 29% of those founded from 1900-1949 and 28% of those started before 1900.
Churches in the Northeast (69%) were most likely to have received training on reporting sexual abuse, while congregations in the South (32%) were least likely, according to the 2023 ACP.
Since the training first became available in June, Morris said Lifeway has provided the free training video to more than 2,100 individuals representing 255 churches.
Background checks
While performing background checks is more common among Southern Baptist congregations, it is still less than universal. Almost all churches with more than 250 in attendance run background checks (94%), but the smaller the church, the less likely they are to do so. Most congregations with 100 to 249 (82%) and 50 to 99 (61%) in worship attendance use background checks, but only around a third (35%) of churches with fewer than 50 in attendance say they do.
Since 2023, CIA has conducted more than 43,000 background checks for Lifeway customers, with 12%, more than 5,000, returning a record. Of reported cases, 57% were misdemeanors, 33% were felonies and 10% were other crimes.
“Churches use background checks to screen staff, VBS volunteers, bus drivers, children’s workers and more,” said Morris. “They are an important first step in protecting the most vulnerable in a church.”
CIA is a full-service background screening agency providing churches with background checks since 2001. All results are reviewed and verified by CIA’s compliance department to ensure they comply with federal and state laws before they’re sent back to purchasing congregations.
“CIA provides a substantial discount that makes background checks affordable for churches,” said Morris. “They also provide excellent customer service and support to churches, including directing leaders to which background checks are best for their churches.”
Due to the relationship between Lifeway and CIA, churches purchasing through the One Source program receive significant discounts on each of the three levels of background checks. The base background check costs $9 per search, 31% off CIA’s standard pricing.
For more information, visit Lifeway.com/BackgroundChecks. Churches can also visit SBCAbusePrevention.com to access a ministry toolbox for additional resources.
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Aaron Earls is a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources.
In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.
