New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro has used background checks in its ministry for more than 10 years.
“It gives us peace of mind,” said Kellie Clem, financial assistant at New Vision. “Also, there are occasions where it becomes a chance to talk with volunteers about their faith walk due to results that have come back.”
According to the 2023 Annual Church Profile (ACP), most Southern Baptist congregations, like New Vision, use background checks for volunteers. Fewer, however, say they have been trained in reporting sexual abuse or caring for sexual abuse survivors.
Almost 3 in 5 congregations affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (58%) use background checks. More than a third (36%) are trained in reporting sexual abuse, while 16% are trained in caring for survivors.“Many within the Southern Baptist Convention and other denominations have been expressing a desire to do more to prevent sexual abuse,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “To better understand what sexual abuse prevention and response practices were already occurring, several state conventions used the ACP to ask congregations questions about what they have done with their volunteers and workers.”