Effective March 2020, the primary service provider for background checks for the conference will be MinistrySafe. This change was made so that churches can more easily use a single online platform to manage both background checks and the new no-cost online training to enhance the Safe Sanctuary program components at your church.
This process includes several value-added features from MinistrySafe. First, your church will be able to monitor the training and background check status of all staff and volunteers on one simple online dashboard. Your church can also choose to initiate and complete background checks at the local church level without having to send the forms and payment to the conference office for processing and verification. While the connectional ministries office will continue to process background requests for churches as detailed below, this self-service option will be very appealing to most of our medium and large-size churches. If you would like to discuss whether this self-service option might be good for your church, contact Debbie McNeely at dmcneely@mississippi-umc.org or 601.354.0515.
If your church is interested in initiating your own background checks, you can simply update the payment method on your online MinistrySafe dashboard to begin ordering backchecks directly for your church. If you have any questions about this process, contact Ministry Safe at 817.737.7233 or via email at cmurray@ministrysafe.com.
It is important to understand, that the new online training is a requirement of the Mississippi Conference’s insurance coverage through Philadelphia Insurance Company. Each church and ministry must have a consistent and comprehensive abuse prevention safety system, and this new online Sexual Abuse Awareness Training fulfills that training requirement for all staff and volunteers who work with children or vulnerable populations. In addition to this training, there are other online resources available to your congregation like sample policy forms, screening forms, helpful articles and more.
Below you can see the five different options available to churches under this program. To read a detailed explanation of the various search components click here.
To utilize the conference office to process your background checks: mail the completed consent form(s) and enclose a check for total of all services made payable to Mississippi Conference. To download the consent form for:
Mail your payment and completed and signed forms to:
Office of Connectional Ministries
Attention: Background Checks
320-C Briarwood Drive
Jackson, MS 39206
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