St. John's Lutheran Church
Youth Photos
Please take a look at highlights from our youth activities at St. John’s Church!
UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS:
Blessing of the Backpacks – This year we invite all students (teachers too) to bring your backpack/bag to worship with you on August 25th. We will include a special blessing during the service to help prepare you for another year of learning!
Rally Day is scheduled for Sunday, September 15th. Meet us at 9:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall – Parents, please register your children for the new Sunday School year (registration forms can be found in the narthex or CLICK HERE). We will have classes for toddlers through adult. WALK-INs welcome. We hope to see you there! We are looking for volunteers who may be interested in being teachers or helpers for the upcoming year. Please consider this ministry and contact the office if you would like to help.
Background Check Info
For Volunteers
CLICK HERE for info on the NEPA Synod website. There are direct links to the sites where you can complete your clearances online. (Click on the “Background Checks” tab.)
We have also compiled a file of useful information and paper copies of the required clearances if you wish to submit them by mail. CLICK HERE for the PDF file.
Once you have completed your clearances, YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY TO THE CHURCH OFFICE. We MUST have: PA Child Abuse History & Criminal Background. They will be kept on file and will be valid for 5 years.
PA Child Protective Services Law
At the end of 2014, new laws took effect that required all employees and volunteers working with children to receive background checks. Laws were amended in 2015 that changed the requirement from every three years to every five years and made some of the background checks free for volunteers. If you just began this process in 2014 it is time to think about renewal of these checks.
The laws that came about in 2014 also put into place the new reality that our church volunteers became mandated reporters if they became aware of or suspected abuse or neglect toward a child. If your employees and/or volunteers have not been informed or trained in what this requires now is as good a time as any to make that happen.
Mandated Reporting
The new laws expand the definition of “mandatory reporters” to include all rostered leaders, paid church employees who work with children and also volunteers over age 18 who work with children in activities and programs. For churches, this means ALL Sunday school teachers, nursery attendants, VBS volunteers, youth group leaders, etc.
Mandatory reporters are those who, when they have reasonable suspicion of child abuse, are required to call the state ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. The new law puts the burden on each mandatory reporter to notify state authorities. They are required to follow up with a written report. Willful failure to report is punishable by law.
