Our church's personnel committee has recommended we conduct economic and criminal background checks on our staff and all our volunteer workers. I've known most of these people nearly all my life. The checks seem intrusive and unnecessary. What do you think?
In business, education and finance, background checks are part of any hiring process. In fact, we as customers would be appalled if we learned our bank had not run a financial background check on the person handling our money. How much more protective ought we to be of people, and specifically children, than of money? Imagine you are new to the community. You've just moved to town, have only met a few people and have no real friends.
The one neighbor who has reached out to you invites you to come to church. You're a little wary, since your 4-year-old will have to spend a couple of hours in the care of complete strangers. But your neighbor reassures you all the nursery staff are trained, experienced and have passed complete criminal background checks. You decide maybe you should give these people a chance. After all, these workers have had the same kind of background check as the workers at the preschool where you've enrolled your son to start next week.
At the very least, followers of Jesus should do everything possible to create a welcoming and open environment for those who entrust us with their lives, their children and their tithes. We often assume churches are safe, protected environments where no worldly evils could be present. Unfortunately, the history of the church tells us otherwise. It takes only a quick scan of the headlines to see churches are not immune to the evils of embezzlement or sexual abuse. In fact, because churches are such trusting, open communities, they often attract those with ill intent, or at the very least provide fertile ground for temptation due to lax policies and safeguards.
We may feel uncomfortable to ask long-time volunteers and friends to submit to a background check. It is helpful to create overarching policies adopted by the entire church. This ensures that requests for background checks do not appear to be personal intrusion and instead become a part of routine protection measures, like maintaining safe facilities and checking smoke detectors. Perhaps you can remind volunteers and staff members these procedures protect them as well. By submitting to a background check, these individuals help maintain an environment that indicates the church is trustworthy.
When Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to preach the good news, he warned them they should be on guard (Matthew 10:16). We would do well to continue to heed that admonition. Of course, we are to be loving, gracious and trusting, but Jesus also tells us to be "wise as serpents."
Emily Row Prevost, interim director
Great Commission Center
East Texas Baptist University, Marshall
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
Right or Wrong? is co-sponsored by the Texas Baptist theological education office and Christian Life Commission. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to [email protected].
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.