A registered sex offender wants to attend our church.  What should we do?

We receive more crisis calls from churches about dealing with registered sex offenders who attend church than any other issue.  Church leaders do not have the training in managing registered sex offenders in churches.  It is imperative for church leaders to utilize professionals with years of experience managing sex offenders.

Our goal is to keep kids safe and help church leaders deal with registered offenders who attend church.  This is not possible unless a church places some expectations on offenders who attend their church.  Offenders who attend church must always demonstrate they are seeking God and not seeking kids. 

How do offenders demonstrate they are growing in Christ and being accountable?  Our ministry provides three tools:

Verification:  This helps church leaders verify with probation and treatment providers that the registered offenders are meeting all probation and treatment expectations.

Covenant and Commitments:  This is a list of expectations for registered offenders to follow and expectations for church leaders to provide support and guidance.

Spiritual Growth and Accountability:  This is a spiritual accountability program that the offender completes with his assigned covenant partner.

Would Jesus welcome sex offenders at His church?

WWJD!  What would Jesus do?  We know that he chose to give His life for all sinners.  We know he protected a woman who was caught in adultery from being put to death. We know he publicly rebuked some and privately rebuked others.  We know He even took a whip and ran some people out of the temple.  The implied question is how should Christians respond?  Our response to people should be as varied as Jesus' was.  It will take Jesus leading you through this tough issue.  As Christians we are to grow to be like Jesus every day, but accepting a sex offender in the church is a real emotional stretch of our faith.  In most churches, there are victims of sexual abuse.  This ministry understands the complexity, the negative emotions involved, and how difficult it can be for victims of sexual abuse to attend church with an offender.  Our ministry will provide churches with consultation to deal with this issue.  It is wise for church leaders to deal with this issue before a registered offender shows up at the church door.

Can a sex offender change?

Yes!  Extensive research has demonstrated sex offenders are successful at changing.   Most re-offense recidivisim studies on sex offenders indicate 85% or higher do not re-offend.  Studies on low risk offenders (majority of offenders) show that 90% or more do not re-offend.  This ministry believes offenders who are growing spiritually, have received sex offender specific treatment, and are court supervised (probation/parole) are the most successful in changing.  If an offender wants to change, he/she can be successful.

How can you tell if someone is a sex offender?

There is no set of identifiable characteristics or profile of a sex offender.  This is why it is difficult to detect sex offenders in churches. There are warning signs of possible sexually abusive behaviors.  Stopitnow.org is a great resource for sexual abuse prevention and it provides a listing of warning signs that indicate a child might be experiencing abuse.

We are doing what our insurance company directed us to do.  Why should we do anything different?

Insurance companies provide valuable information how to protect your church from sexual abuse and reduce your risk of financial liability.  Insurance companies are experts in insurance.  Keeping Kids Safe Ministries are experts in dealing with sex offenders in churches. 

The following are types of sex offenders who are likely to be at any church:

1.  Hidden sex offenders who remain anonymous because they are actively seeking children.

2.  Hidden sex offenders who are attending church as an avenue to stop their sexual sin.

3.  Registered sex offenders who are seeking God instead of children.

4.  Registered sex offenders who are seeking more victims.

5.  Adolescents/children sexually acting out on other kids at church. 

A background check will help idenitfy #3 & #4, but can't distinguish between them.  What about the rest?  And what do you do once a background check identifies a registered offender?