Lifeway program connects churches with free training in abuse prevention, response

By Aaron Earls, Lifeway

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Many churches have begun using background checks to help prevent abuse, but fewer are trained in reporting potential abuse. Lifeway Christian Resources and Clear Investigative Advantage (CIA) hope to help congregations do both.

According to the 2023 Annual Church Profile, 58% of Southern Baptist congregations have used background checks. Only around a third (36%), however, say they have been trained in reporting sexual abuse.

Through Lifeway One Source churches can purchase background checks through CIA and receive a free sexual abuse awareness course for staff and volunteers.

“We understand many churches want to make training available to their staff and volunteers but are worried about the cost. This free training helps churches equip their people to recognize and respond to red flags before harm can occur,” said Jennie Morris, who coordinates Lifeway’s relationship with CIA as the One Source business development strategist.

Since the training first became available in June, Morris said Lifeway has provided the free training video to more than 2,100 individuals representing 255 churches.

Background checks

While performing background checks is more common among Southern Baptist congregations than it used to be, it is still less than universal. Almost all churches with more than 250 in attendance run background checks (94%), but the smaller the church, the less likely it is to do so. Most congregations with 100 to 249 (82%) and 50 to 99 (61%) in worship attendance use background checks, but only around a third (35%) of churches with fewer than 50 in attendance say they do.

Since 2023, CIA has conducted more than 43,000 background checks for Lifeway customers, with 12%, more than 5,000, returning a record. Of reported cases, 57% were misdemeanors, 33% were felonies and 10% were other crimes.

“Churches use background checks to screen staff, (Vacation Bible School) VBS volunteers, bus drivers, children’s workers and more,” said Morris. “They are an important first step in protecting the most vulnerable in a church.”

CIA is a full-service background screening agency, providing churches with background checks since 2001. All results are reviewed and verified by CIA’s compliance department to ensure they comply with federal and state laws before they’re sent back to purchasing congregations.

“CIA provides a substantial discount that makes background checks affordable for churches,” Morris said. “They also provide excellent customer service and support to churches, including directing leaders to which background checks are best for their churches.”

Due to the relationship between Lifeway and CIA, churches purchasing through the One Source program receive significant discounts on each of the three levels of background checks. The base background check costs $9 per search, 31% off CIA’s standard pricing.

For more information, visit lifeway.com/backgroundchecks. Churches can also visit sbcabuseprevention.com to access a ministry toolbox for additional resources.

Judge places Planned Parenthood defunding on hold

By Laura Erlanson, Baptist Press

BOSTON (BP) — A federal judge on Monday (July 7) granted a request from Planned Parenthood to temporarily block the Medicaid funding cuts included in the recent budget bill approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump.

Southern Baptists and other pro-lifers hailed the “Big Beautiful Bill” for its one-year moratorium on Medicaid funds going to abortion providers, of which Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest.

Miles Mullin, chief of staff at the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), called the abortion giant’s legal action “not surprising.

“Planned Parenthood is not going to quietly acquiesce to losing nearly $2 million a day in taxpayer dollars that funded its diabolical efforts prior to the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill,” Mullin said.

“We’re hopeful this court action will be overturned quickly so that this legislation, which was properly passed, can take effect and more babies can be saved.

“As the ERLC’s brief in Medina v. Planned Parenthood unequivocally demonstrated, Planned Parenthood’s primary mission is to promote and perform abortions under the guise of providing ‘health care.’ They claim this is a free speech issue, but the First Amendment does not mean that taxpayers should be forced to fund an organization whose ‘speech’ is zealously promoting abortion.”

The ruling, from Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts, applies only to Planned Parenthood while allowing the discontinuation of funds to other abortion providers. However, there appear to be few that aren’t affiliated with Planned Parenthood.

The group has indicated it’s not going down without a fight.

“Already, in states across the country, providers and health center staff have been forced to turn away patients who use Medicaid to get basic sexual and reproductive health care because President Trump and his backers in Congress passed a law to block them from going to Planned Parenthood,” it said in a statement on July 7. “There are no other providers who can fill the gap if the ‘defunding’ of Planned Parenthood is allowed to stand. The fight is just beginning, and we look forward to our day in court.”

A hearing in the case is scheduled for July 21.