Bethlehem Life Church
Friday, April 19, 2024
Mission Statement: To give of ourselves so others may know Jesus Christ.
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 What is Safe Sanctuaries?
(an easy explanation from our friends in Ohio)
In 1990, Frank O’Neal, a teacher in Tennessee, set up a fund in honor of his mother (Mattie) and his wife (Eleanor) to challenge and assist local congregations in ministering to families and children, targeted toward prevention, intervention, and elimination of child abuse. He believed that if information on abuse was made available to pastors that they would act.
Today, each Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church has a written and accessible policy. These policies stress the importance of the Biblical mandate from Matthew 19:14, “Allow the children to come to me, don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.”
Safe Sanctuaries® allows our sanctuaries, classrooms, mission encounters, camps and retreats, and all spaces where we gather to worship and serve God to be places of trust.
Anyone who has access to or works with children, youth, or vulnerable adults will have a background check prior to interaction with them covering three years prior to service with subsequent background checks every two years. Background checks include but are not limited to criminal record checks, sexual predatory list checks, social security number check, address history check, and employment history check. Each volunteer must be actively engaged in the life of the congregation for at least six (6) months prior to service.
In addition, groups of children and youth will be supervised by two non-related, non-cohabitating adults, and each supervising adult will be five years older or more than the oldest child or youth in the group.
Our steps to success:
 +  +  +  Step 1: Volunteer Affidavit
Click on the picture above, print and complete our volunteer affidavit.
STEP 2: How do I get my PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE CRIMINAL HISTORY REPORT?
a. Click on the picture above to go to https://epatch.state.pa.us
b. Part way down click on “New record check (Volunteers Only)”.
c. Follow instructions. (Call the Helpdesk at 1-888-783-7772 if assistance is needed.)
d. This is free of charge once every 57 months if volunteer swears or affirms in writing that: the background certification is necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law; the volunteer has not received a background certification free of charge within the previous 57 months; and the volunteer understands that the certification shall not be valid or used for any other purpose.
e. If no criminal record, clearance will be generated immediately - print yours immediately.
f. Original must be reviewed by church for verification of authenticity, and a copy is made, initialed and dated by person viewing it for the church’s records and give the original back to the individual.
STEP 3 : How do I get my PENNSYLVANIA CHILD ABUSE HISTORY CLEARANCE?
a. Click on the picture above to go to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
b. This will be completed online
c. Create Individual Account and get a Keystone ID
d. Continue to do the clearance. Check “Volunteer Having contact with Children.”
e. Volunteer Category is “Other.” For Agency Name, type: BETHLEHEM UMC
f. You will need your Social Security number, email address, phone number, current address, all previous a dresses since 1975, and names of all household members with whom you’ve shared a residence since 1975. At least one parent’s name is needed, even if they are deceased.
g. This is free of charge once every 57 months if volunteer swears or affirms in writing that the background certification is necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law; the volunteer has not received a background certification free of charge within the previous 57 months; and the volunteer understands that the certification shall not be valid or used for any other purpose.
h. If clearance is approved during the online process, you will be able to see and print your clearance. Use your Keystone ID to return to the site
i. Call the helpline at 1-877-343-0494 if assistance is needed.
j. Check that you want a copy mailed to you.
Clearance certification will come in the mail to the person requesting the report –
Original must be reviewed by church for verification of authenticity, and a copy is made, initialed and dated by person viewing it for the church’s records and give the original back to individual.
For those who have moved to PA within the past 5 years from out-of-state
 a. Click on the picture above to IdentoGO - State Agency Enrollment
b. Your service code to schedule an appointment is 1KG6ZJ (a DHS volunteer)
d. Original clearance must be reviewed by church for verification of authenticity, and a copy is made, initialed and dated by person viewing it for the church’s records and give the original back to individual.
Other Forms:
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification (Form CY 113) to mail in request
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