We appreciate your taking the time to fill out this application. You must attend Calvary Old Town for 6 months in order to begin serving. This application is to be completed by all those seeking a position in the Ministry here. This application is strictly confidential and will be reviewed by the Pastoral staff and the Director of the ministry in which you will serve. The purpose of this application is for the church to provide the highest quality of ministry and the safest possible environment for the children and youth of this church.

We ask that you answer the questions being as specific as possible. Please add additional pages if needed.  Some of the questions may appear too personal but we assure you that each question has a purpose based on scriptural and practical qualifications for ministry, protection and safety for the body of Christ, as well as our experience in placing people into ministry. If you have a problem with answering any of the questions, please feel free to approach one of the pastors with your concern. Please answer every question. Write "N/A" if the question is Not Applicable. If you don't know the answer write that down.

(If Applicable) 

When?

Do you have any children? Please list names and ages.

If yes, please attach a photocopy of your license.

List your previous addresses for the last five years:

You may choose to answer the following five questions in confidence with one of the pastors rather than on this form.

List three personal references (not former employers or relatives):

Please list the churches you have attended before coming to Calvary Old Town:

Period you attended:

Period you attended:

What Ministry (service) position (s) are you interested in? Check the boxes that apply.

List any previous non-church volunteer positions held that involved children or youth:

 

Write a brief concise statement of your belief regarding the following quoting scripture references:

A.  God and the Trinity:

Calvary Chapel has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only to their overemphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ.

 

We believe the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ’s (Agape) love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

 

We believe worship of God should be spiritual.  Therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.

 

We believe worship of God should be intelligent.  Therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshipped.

 

We believe worship of God should be fruitful.  Therefore, we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have been truly worshipping Him. 

 

We believe in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity, which are:

-         We believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible Word of God.

-         We believe in the One Eternal God, eternally existent in three distinct persons, each person being fully God and one in essence.

-         We believe that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator of all things.

-         We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for us.

-         After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the Gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today.

-         We believe that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to eternity with the Lord.

 

We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today if they are exercised within the scriptural guidelines.  We as believers are to covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified.  We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without this love all the exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless.

 

We believe that the church government should be simplistic rather than a complex bureaucracy, and we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion.

 

We await the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe that the second-coming of Christ with His saints to rule on the earth will per personal, pre-millennial, and visible.  This motivates us to holy living, heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God’s Word, regular fellowship, and participation in adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion.

 

We seek to teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual’s life, leading that person to greater maturity in Christ.

 

We reject:  (1) The belief that true Christians can be demon possessed; (2) “5-point Calvinism” (i.e. a fatalistic Calvinistic view that leaves no room for free will; specifically, we reject the belief that Jesus’ atonement was limited, instead we believe that He died for all people, and we reject the assertion that God’s wooing grace cannot be resisted or that He has elected some people to go to hell; instead we believe that anyone who will to come to Christ may do so); (3) “positive confession” (the faith movement belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles according to man’s will); (4) human prophecy that supersedes the Scripture; (5) the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology and philosophy into Biblical teaching; and (6) the overemphasis of spiritual gifts, experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of Biblical teaching.

 

In our services, we focus on a personal relationship with God through worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Word of God.  We teach both expositorily and topically.  We do not allow speaking in tongues loudly during services, nor prophecy while a Bible study is in progress, because we do not believe that the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself.  We have specific “after-glow services” and believers’ meetings when these gifts of the Spirit may be exercised.

 

 I certify that I have read and understand the above statement of faith and have noted any areas of disagreement.

All who serve at Calvary Old Town and all who desire to be considered as members are required to be in agreement with the following:

WE BELIEVE that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons:  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all.

 

WE BELIEVE that the SCRIPTURES of Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.

 

WE BELIEVE the King James Version and the New King James Version are faithful translations and we teach and develop our standards and policies from them.

 

WE BELIEVE in GOD the FATHER, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

 

WE BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit.  We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth.

 

WE BELIEVE in the HOLY SPIRIT, who came forth from the Father and son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide.  We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit.

 

WE BELIEVE that all PEOPLE are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord; that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service, often subsequent to regeneration.

 

WE BELIEVE in the universal CHURCH, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members.

 

WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ORDINANCES to the church:

1.)    Baptism 

2.)    The Lord’s supper

We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers.

WE BELIEVE also in the LAYING ON OF HANDS for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for ordination of pastors, elders, and deacons and for receiving gifts of the Spirit for healing.

 

WE BELIEVE also in the personal, visible RETURN OF CHRIST to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.

 

WE BELIEVE in what is termed ‘THE APOSTLE’S CREED” as embodying fundamental facts of Christian faith.

 

WE BELIEVE marriage has been ordained (or established or instituted) by God.  This church defines “marriage” as the exclusive covenantal union of one biological man and one biological woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment.  A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of “marriage” found in these Articles.

            “We believe that term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.”

            Marriage is a union ordained by God.  It was first instituted by God in the early chapters of Genesis, codified in the Levitical law, the Old Testament prophets compared it to a relationship between God and His people, examples of it are in the historical narratives and the wisdom literature discusses the unique unity of this relationship.  Jesus explained the original intention and core element of marriage, and several New Testament epistles give explicit instructions on this union.  Marriage is a typology of Christ and the Church.  As such, the Church views marriage as a profound spiritual institution established by God. 

 

WE BELIEVE concerning human sexuality:

“We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other.  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.”

           

“WE BELIEVE that any form of sexual immorality (activities outside of marriage referred to in the Greek New Testament as “porneia”, such as adultery, fornication, premarital sex, pedophilia, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or any attempt to change one’s sex or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful, inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church, and offensive to God.

 

Further, lascivious conduct, transgender behavior, and the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography, are incompatible with the biblical witness.

 

“WE BELIEVE that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this statement of Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.”

 

“WE BELIEVE that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.”

 

“WE BELIEVE that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are neither in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the church.”

 

Due to the importance of marriage in the biblical witness, this church adopts the following policy.

Clergy:

1.       Only duly ordained pastors shall officiate at marriage ceremonies conducted on church property.

 

2.       Pastors employed by the church shall be subject to dismissal and/or loss of ordination for officiating a same gender marriage ceremony.

Applicants:

1.       Applicants wishing to have a ceremony performed by one of the pastors employed by the church, or to use the church facilities, shall affirm their agreement with the Articles of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent therewith.

2.       Applicants shall receive 13 weeks of premarital counseling by a pastor employed by the church or other persons who, in the sole opinion of the pastoral staff of the church, have appropriate training, experience, and spiritual understanding to provide such counseling.

In addition, applicants will be given assignments to be completed at home. 

For example:  workbook assignments may require twenty (20) to thirty (30) hours or more of homework.

Premises:

1.      Any marriage performed on church premises shall be performed by a member of the clergy.

2.      Clergy officiating marriage ceremonies on church premises, whether or not employed by the church, shall affirm their agreement with the Articles of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent therewith.

3.      The clergy assigned by the church to implement the procedures contained in this Marriage Policy may, in his or her sole discretion, decline to make church facilities available for, and/or decline to officiate at, a ceremony when, in his or her judgment, there are significant concerns that one or both of the applicants may not be qualified to enter into the sacred bond of marriage for theological, doctrinal, moral, or legal reasons.

 

I agree with Calvary Chapel Community Church of Victorville’s Articles of Faith and Marriage Policy.

Calvary Old Town will continuously provide a safe and secure environment for minors to learn and grow in Christ.  We also intend to protect volunteer and compensated workers from any false accusations by providing adequate supervision during church-sponsored activities.

Reference and background checks are to be done on all paid staff members and all volunteers.

Persons convicted of child sexual abuse cannot be employed or volunteer to serve in the children's ministry or otherwise have opportunity on church grounds to interact with minor children.

This church family loves and accepts survivors of sexual and physical abuse.  It is our hope and desire that survivors of abuse recognize the need to discuss their desire to work with or around children or in the youth ministry.  It is our hope and desire that those who serve in the ministry of Calvary Old Town recognize the need and value of screening employees and volunteers in order to be proper stewards of the minors and young children entrusted to our care and supervision.

 

As a general rule two adult supervisors should be present during any church activity.  One of the adults should be a parent or someone over 21 years of age.

 

Currently on Sunday mornings we have an adult monitor who routinely observes classes through the door glass or open door.  They also watch over the hallway and control who has access or who exits from our children’s ministry building.

We expect the following:

Always keep your reputation as a Christian in the forefront of your mind.  This includes your home, the internet, and personal life outside the four walls of the church.  Remember that we represent Jesus.

 

1.    Do not sit too close or touch a child or adult inappropriately.  (Any place a bathing suit would cover, do not touch).  Avoid close body contact whenever possible.

 

2.    Hugs are great and needed by most children and adults, but do not force anyone to hug you.  Avoid body to body hugs; do side to side.

 

3.    Whenever possible correction and counseling of girls or women should be done by a woman or at least with one present.

All one on one cross gender encounters (i.e. male alone with female or vice versa), discussions and counseling should be avoided.  This heightens accountability and eliminates problems of credibility that occur with person-to-person encounters.

 

4.     Never use any language or talk about anything that would be considered questionable, flirtatious or too personal (this would include hand written, e-mail, social media, or text communications.

5.    Never show a movie without obtaining prior approval.

 

6.    Lap sitting should not be encouraged by any workers.  Children, first grade and up, are not to sit on male teacher’s laps.

 

7.    Never tickle, swing a child by the arms, wrestle, or kiss a child on the lips or coax a child to kiss you.  (Be very wise how you treat a child physically.)  Stay above reproach.

 

8.    All ministry workers should avoid being alone with any one child behind closed doors or where visibility is obscure.

 

9.    Children’s ministry workers, ushers, or staff members should not be alone, one on one, with any child at any time.  For men, this would include the restroom in so far as you have control.

 

10.    Paid church staff, ushers and everyone who would be working with children must fill out a ministry application form which includes this policy.  Ministry applications will be reviewed, applicants will be interviewed and background checks completed before anyone can work with children without approved and present supervision.

 

11.    Our goal, if possible, is to have at least two unrelated adults in classes and or supervising activities with minors.

 

12.    Approved Children’s ministry workers are to insure no uncertified persons of any age are left alone with minor children.

 

13.    Never cover the window in your classroom door.  It will appear as if you are hiding something.

 

14. Teachers are to have their students go to the restroom and get a drink before or after class.  Children should not be sent out of class to do either unless it is an emergency and then only if monitors are on duty.

 

15. Children 4 years old and up should go into the bathroom alone.  Just wait at the door and remind them to wash their hands.  Check the restroom first to make sure no other adult is in the room.

 

16. Teachers of 3 year olds and younger:  a female teacher should take them into the women’s bathroom and they should only help those who need help.

 

17. Men are not to change diapers unless they are the father of the child.

 

18. Never lay a hand on a child during discipline.

 

19. If a child is unruly and disrupting the class, you may enlist the aid of the Children’s ministry monitor.  Do not send a child out of your classroom.

 

20. Do not release a child to anyone who is a stranger to you and the child.     

All of these things will help us stay above reproach and any accusation that could come against us.  One accusation that may not be true can wipe out a ministry. We live in an evil world.

 

Please feel free to talk with the Children’s Ministry Director and or Pastor, if you have any questions concerning these things.  We are not to be over reactive, but we are to be wise and careful.

 

Other guidelines:

 

 Field trips are great to do with your class.  Always make sure you have a permission slip for each child, and NEVER do such a trip by yourself.  All field trips need to be planned ahead with all required information.  Get all forms from the Children’s Ministry office.  Every child must have a permission slip.  All drivers on a field trip must have good insurance coverage.  Give Children’s Ministry office details.
 

Teachers and aides are responsible to keep classrooms clean and neat. Snacks are allowed but keep in mind water is preferred over punch, and cookies over cakes.  Remember you are responsible for clean-up.

 A. Reporting Obligations
California Penal Code – the church has legal and moral obligation to report any questionable or inappropriate behavior.  Under California law, with some limited exceptions, “child abuse” means a physical injury that is inflicted by other than accidental means, cruel or unjustifiable punishment, sexual abuse, unlawful corporal punishment, or neglect of child in out-of-home care.  California Penal Code Section 11165.6.  Child care custodians must report abuse to a child protective agency when they have knowledge of, or observe, a child whom they know or reasonably suspect has been the victim of child abuse.  California Penal Code Section 11166, subd. (a).  Child care custodians may be “mandatory” or “permissive” reporters.

 

“Mandatory Reporters” are those church employees who are (a) teachers, (b) youth pastors and paid assistants, (c) pastors, (d) involved in a day care center, (e) administrators of the church whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of children.

 

“Permissive Reporters” include volunteers at churches, who are in contact with and supervise children, and are “encouraged” to obtain training in the identification and reporting of child abuse.                   

California Penal Code section 11165.7.

Factors Indication Possible Abuse / Inappropriate Behavior:

 

a.      Physical signs of abuse and molestation:

-         Lacerations and bruised

-         Irritation, pain, or injury to the genital area

-         Difficulty with urination

-         Discomfort when sitting

-         Torn or bloody underclothing

-         Venereal disease

 

b.     Behavioral signs:

-         Anxiety when approaching church nursery area

-         Nervous or hostile behavior toward adults

-         Sexual self-consciousness

-         “acting out” of sexual behavior

-         Withdrawal from church activities and friends

 

c.      Verbal signs – statements from the child such as:

-         Telling of repeated nightmares

-         “I don’t like [a particular church worker]”

-         “[A church worker] fooled around with me.”

Mandatory reporters are subject to civil liability for failure to report.

All ministry workers, employed or volunteer, should immediately address any inappropriate conduct or relationships between an adult worker and a child.  Immediately inform your ministry leader or a pastor.

 

If you or any other worker in your department suspect a child is being abused at church or outside the church, these are the steps you should take.

 

1.       All allegations are needed to be taken seriously and reported to your Children’s Ministry director or Ministry Leader.

Write down the facts and the names, phone numbers and addresses of those involved if you know them.

THEY WILL REPORT TO A PASTOR.

2.       A PASTOR WILL HANDLE IT FROM THIS POINT.

 

3.       It is very important not to discuss your suspicions with anyone other than the Children’s Ministry Director, Leader, or Pastor.  Children and adults can be seriously harmed by them.

 

4.       Do not discuss it with the parents.  It may scare them off or it could cause undue hard feelings for those who are suspected, but not offenders.  If the parents are abusive, they may abuse the child further as a result of your talking to them.

 

Please note Latino, African American, and Asian children may have skin discoloration, which resembles a bruise.  If markings remain unchanged for several weeks, it’s probably not a sign of abuse.

 

I agree to the terms and conditions stated here for suspected child abuse.

 

Why Churches and Church Leaders are sued:

            Most of the lawsuits filed against churches for acts of child molestation have alleged that the church was legally accountable either on the basis of negligently hiring or negligent supervision.  Both theories of liability are pivotal issues.  The term negligence generally refers to conduct that creates an unreasonable risk of foreseeable harm to others.  It connotes carelessness, heedlessness, inattention, or inadvertence.  Negligent hiring simply means that the church failed to act responsibly and with due care in the selection of workers (both volunteer and compensated) for positions involving the supervision or custody of minors.  A church may exercise sufficient care in the hiring of an individual, but still be legally accountable for acts of molestation on the basis of negligent supervision.  Negligent supervision means that a church did not exercise sufficient care in supervising a worker.  Churches are not “guarantors” of the safety and well-being of children.  They are not absolutely liable for every injury that occurs on their premises or in the course of their activities.  Generally, they are responsible only for those injuries that result from their negligence.  Victims of molestation who have sued a church often allege that the church was negligent in not adequately screening applicants or for not providing adequate supervision.

Applicants Statement

I acknowledge that I have read and understand the information, guidelines a procedures contained in Calvary Old Town's Ministry Application for working with Children and Youth.

The information contained in this application is correct to the best of my knowledge.  I authorize any references or churches listed in my application to give you any information (including opinions) they may have regarding my character and fitness for the Children or Youth ministries here at Calvary Old Town.  In consideration of the receipt and evaluation of this application by Calvary Old Town,  I hereby release any individual, church, or organization, including record custodians, both collectively and individually, from any and all liability for damages of whatever kind or nature which may at any time result to me, my heirs, or family, on account of compliance or any attempts to comply, with this authorization.  I waive any right that I may have to inspect any information provided about me by any person or organization identified by me in this application.

Should my application be accepted, I agree to be bound by the By Laws and policies of Calvary Old Town, and to refrain from unscriptural conduct in the performance of my services on behalf of Calvary Old Town.

I further state that I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING RELEASE AND KNOW THE CONTENTS THEREOF AND I SIGN THIS RELEASE AS MY OWN FREE ACT.  This is a legally binding agreement, which I have read and understand. I also understand that Calvary Old Town has the authority to deny my application.