Virginia UMC Conference Partnered with Safe Gatherings
Welcome
The Virginia UMC Conference is committed to providing safe places of worship and fellowship to everyone they serve and has partnered with Safe Gatherings to promote and implement this belief. Below, we have put together information and resources we hope you will find helpful. It’s our shared goal that 100% of the churches in the conference will complete the Safe Gatherings designation and become approved through this program. It’s our deepest desire that church members and visitors feel comfortable and confident trusting your team with their loved ones. This designation is an additional formal layer of protection for everyone from children to adults, and church staff to volunteers. We believe we are all called to protect the vulnerable in our world and encourage all Safe Gatherings organizations to do the same by leveraging these resources.
How it Works
Quick and easy online application.
The application portal can be found at www.safegatherings.com. Click on the red “New User” button to begin
Online abuse prevention training.
Applicant will have access to the training course once their application has been submitted. Course is about one and one-half hours in length and covers best practices, how to recognize signs of abuse, and how to handle reporting.
Electronic reference checks.
Electronic reference checks are emailed to the two references the applicant specified on their application
Background check processed.
Multi-level options available
Safe Gatherings approval!
Completed training + clear background check + positive references = Safe Gatherings approval!!
Components
| Service | Included |
|---|---|
| Background | ✓ |
| References* | ✓ |
| Safe Gatherings Abuse Prevention Training | ✓ |
| Online Management System | ✓ |
| Driving Record |
Approval is valid for 3 years
*References must know you for at least 6 months and NOT be related to you. To efficiently process your application, please let your references know they will be receiving an email from Safe Gatherings. Additional reference criteria can be found on the application.
A great compliment to the Safe Gatherings program is our library of online courses offered through CongregationU. As a partner of Safe Gatherings, you will receive a 20% discount on an unlimited package through CongregationU. Contact us to take advantage of this offer!
How Do I Get Started?
Resources
Through Safe Gatherings’ parent company, Validity Screening Solutions, we can offer additional resources to complement your Safe Gatherings approval package. These services would be run by Validity Screening Solutions, outside of the Safe Gatherings approval process.
If you are interested in learning about Social Media Screening, Drug Testing, or other complementary services, please contact Validity Screening Solutions HERE.