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| Don’t Put numbers over safety... we need Biennial background checks https://www.acts20.com/viewtopic.php?t=88460 |
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| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | SouthFloridaman: Don’t Put numbers over safety... we need Biennial background checks |
| I would like to bring up some concerns I have about background checks at the assembly. My understanding is there is a push to water down the proposal for required background checks from every 2 years to only being mandatory when a pastor changes churches. There are concerns that beinnal check would knock a large number of those with low involvement off the licensed roles. I was told there are concerns about numbers declining because this requirement would require more accurate records. Some fear this decline in numbers would hurt the “Growth†portrait that the officials are trying to portray.1. Putting numbers over safety will not protect the Church of God. What if a minister never changes churches? What about a minister that plants a church? What about those who do not go the traditional pastor route?2. You mean to tell me someone who got an exhorter license in the 90’s never pursues a higher rank than exhorter is properly vetted? What if They just sit on there license until today and decides to plant a church? . This person is licensed with the COG..... who is checking on them???? Who is going to tell that person he cant plant a church till a background check is done? Who will background check them? They are licensed... how will bringing that church into the COG be handled? even if the Church don’t come in the cog the minister serving that church is still operating with a license and serving as a Church of God licensee even though he is operating outside of the system. or what about those ministers who don’t change churches??? 10, 20, even 30yrs is along time not to hve a background check. What if they only pastor 1 church? The only way to protect the church of God is to require all ministers to have there license renewed ever 2 years with background checks. If the minister doesn’t renew there license just make there license not valid until they renew there license. The renewal program also protects pastors because the background check is handled by the state office and not the local church. The state office has a legal requirement to be discreet when there is a something unflattering in the background check that may not disqualify one from the ministry. I don’t believe a volunteer church board is capable of deciding if a man is fit for ministry. The main reason the fight over background checks is happening is not over background checks. The fight is about numbers and the unrealistic standards the church of God requires for restoration when a minister falls morally. I think 2 year restoration is WAY to harsh. I would like the see the restoration period for a fallen minister be 1 year. The 2 year restoration is just way to restrictive it destroys a man. I would like to see a restoration program of one year. With a 2nd year of supervised ministry.Background checks are coming wether we do it now or do it later after another bad thing happens. |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | diakoneo: |
| I appreciate your concern!What about missionaries? What about the 70ish year old retired pastor license holder who only peaches occasionally and who has an impeccable reputation? I am sure if you look at the profile of the past problem pastors/leaders you would probably find some common element. Why make a broad sweeping rule (make grandma go through a strip search so to speak)and not just focus in on those who might cause problems? I know these are not expensive but they are not free either. The background check itself will not be the issue, it will be administrative costs related to the check. |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Nature Boy Florida: |
| And still becomes a registered sex offender at 70.It happens.In the COG.In FL.It is not very expensive. It should be done |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Carolyn Smith: |
| From the 2018 Agenda:XVI. Ministerial Position Criminal Background ChecksRATIONALE: In 2004, the Church of God mandated that “All applicants for the ministry, including those advancing in rank, must give consent to the state/regional office to conduct criminal background checks†(See S21 IV. 6., page 95—2016 Minutes).Since that time, background checks for all persons in certain categories, such as those working with children and youth, have become a required part of ministry qualification. Given the accessibility, expectation,and prevalence of criminal background checks in today’s business and legal communities, it is deemed helpful and necessary to expand this concept to all persons placed, appointed,or hired in local church congregation positions. While this might create possible cost concerns for churches or individuals involved, the benefits of conducting such background checks far outweigh any factors otherwise.We recommend:That we amend page 108, S29. INSTRUCTIONS FOR MINISTERS, I. General Instructions for Ministers, by adding the following as item 11:11. Any person placed/appointed/hired for a ministry position in a local congregation of the Church of God should have a criminal background check More of Him...less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Nature Boy Florida: |
| And the proposal SFman wants to make to that is: every two years (or every one year |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Carolyn Smith: |
| And the proposal SFman wants to make to that is: every two years (or every one year) So...isn't there a process for that? I don't think posting here is going to make much of a difference More of Him...less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | diakoneo: |
| And still becomes a registered sex offender at 70.It happens.In the COG.In FL.It is not very expensive. It should be done. Okay. I get that but what about the administrative costs? There are a LOT of exhorters running around out there. That is why I suggested the deal about the local church taking care of that and reporting it to state headquarters. As I recall the local church 'sets forth' exhorters. I think within two years if they have not moved forward in the licensing process they should have to start over.Again, I believe the local churches need to have more skin in the game in this. They are far more capable of keeping tabs on what is going on in an Exhorter ministers life than some one in the state office. I believe the minister's reputation in the community should be impeccable! |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | SouthFloridaman: |
| The church of God uses CDM+ for records it is an OLD program very combersome. There are some technology improvement that the demonination should make to save money. That said.... the route I am talking would just cost us the process of adding the names to database. Planning center online gives free access to its people platform. He people platform allows emails, address tracking and the option to purchase a background check. I know a lot of our larger churches currently use this program. They can actually forward the charge to the person to pay for there own background checks. Most churches require the volunteers to pay for it. Planning center makes that process very easy. Just set the program to place the background check payment responsibility on the minster. The cost is only 8 dollars. That is not some earth shattering expensive proposal. Plus we are modeling proper background checks for every church in our denomination. This is Immensely needed. Just have every state create there own planning center account and have each state responsible for it. That way we divided the responsibility among each region instead of just being place squarely on Cleveland’s shoulders. This is the people platform - it is free and easyplanning.center/people/Here is how the background check feature works. There is a very informative video On how it worksplanning.center/2017/secure-your-church-with-background-checks/This can very easily be translated to a denominational role.Here is how to make the applicant for license renewal pay for the 8$ background checkplanning.center/2017/background-checks-now-support-applicant-pay/ |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | diakoneo: |
| The church of God uses CDM+ for records it is an OLD program very combersome. There are some technology improvement that the demonination should make to save money. That said.... the route I am talking would just cost us the process of adding the names to database. Planning center online gives free access to its people platform. He people platform allows emails, address tracking and the option to purchase a background check. I know a lot of our larger churches currently use this program. They can actually forward the charge to the person to pay for there own background checks. Most churches require the volunteers to pay for it. Planning center makes that process very easy. Just set the program to place the background check payment responsibility on the minster. The cost is only 8 dollars. That is not some earth shattering expensive proposal. Plus we are modeling proper background checks for every church in our denomination. This is Immensely needed. Just have every state create there own planning center account and have each state responsible for it. That way we divided the responsibility among each region instead of just being place squarely on Cleveland’s shoulders. This is the people platform - it is free and easyplanning.center/people/Here is how the background check feature works. There is a very informative video On how it worksplanning.center/2017/secure-your-church-with-background-checks/This can very easily be translated to a denominational role.Here is how to make the applicant for license renewal pay for the 8$ background checkplanning.center/2017/background-checks-now-support-applicant-pay/ Okay, thanks! |
| Author: | acts [ Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | SouthFloridaman: |
| And the proposal SFman wants to make to that is: every two years (or every one year) So...isn't there a process for that? I don't think posting here is going to make much of a difference. |
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