Employee Background Check Information

For all church pastors, and paid staff

In October of 2014, the state of Pennsylvania passed Act 153 requiring that all persons (14 and older) with direct contact with children must have state and/or federal clearances every 60 months.

In the sections outlined below we'll explain what is required for all employees of the Pittsburgh District or one of the local churches on the Pittsburgh District.

Which employees need to have the three background check clearances before they begin their employment?

Employees who have direct contact with a minor that involves the care, supervision, guidance or control of a minor AND has routine interaction with a minor must have completed the full set of background check clearances BEFORE they start their employment.

Routine interaction (which is part of the definition of “direct contact”) is “regular and repeated contact that is integral to a person’s employment responsibilities”.

Examples of employment which meet this requirement include, but are not limited to:

  • Senior Church Pastor
  • Children’s Ministry Pastor
  • Youth Ministry Pastor
  • Church Secretary
  • Church Custodian / Janitorial Staff

 

What Background Checks are required for employees who work with minors?

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, under Act 153, requires employees who work with minors to complete the following:

  1. Pennsylvania State Child Abuse Clearance Check is a check that includes a certification from the Department of Human Services as to whether the applicant is named in the statewide database as an alleged perpetrator in a pending, indicated or founded child abuse investigation in Pennsylvania.
  2. Pennsylvania Criminal History Records Check is a check of criminal history information obtained from the Pennsylvania State Police that is maintained in the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.
  3. Federal Criminal History Records/FBI Check is a check of federal criminal history information obtained by the submission of a full set of fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police or its authorized agent.
Where must background checks be submitted?

Employees who work with minors on the Pittsburgh District or the local church therein must provide all three clearances to the office of employment.

All pastoral staff must submit copies to the District Office. PDF copies may be emailed to the District Office at: [email protected]

Alternatively, you may mail copies to: 177 North Rd, Butler PA, 16001

 

How do I get started?
How long are these clearances good for?

New clearances must be obtained every 60 months.

 

I recently had these same checks completed for other service. Do I need to obtain new checks for the Pittsburgh District if they were completed within the last 5 years?

No. As long as the clearances were completed within the last 5 years, you do not need to obtain new clearances.  But copies MUST be kept on file at the office of the church related employment.