As GCC continues to enhance its protection for our most vulnerable members and to comply with CA law, the church will now require you to complete a Live Scan background check and complete a 1-hour abuse awareness training. If you are no longer serving with minors (anyone under the age of 18) or special needs ministries, please email gccbackgroundcheck@gracechurch.org to let us know.
There are three steps to completing this process:
This is a brief appointment where your fingerprints will be taken to complete a Live Scan background check.
A. Please print and complete the following forms:
If you are unable to print these forms yourself, physical copies are available for you at the trolley located by the Children’s Center on Sunday mornings.
B. Arrange to complete a Live Scan background check at a Certifix Location.
There are two locations where you can turn your forms in on campus:
Your information will be stored in a lockbox and only accessed by the Background Check Administrator.
Once you have completed your live scan and turned in your forms, you will receive an email from Ministry Safe with a link to complete a one-hour abuse awareness training. This will go to the email GCC membership has on file.
Completing this process is extremely important. Those who do not complete this process will not be able to serve in ministries working with minors or those with special needs.
We understand there may be several questions and we’ve prepared FAQs below to assist you. If your question is not answered there, please email gccbackgroundcheck@gracechurch.org and we will be happy to help you.
Leadership thanks you for your support!
What if I’ve already completed a Live Scan background check through Grace Church, does it have to be redone?
Recent changes to CA Penal Code 11105.3 now require volunteers to complete a state and federal Live Scan background check. If you have completed a Live Scan background check through Grace Church prior to April 2025, you may need to redo your live scan as the previous live scan forms did not include an FBI check.
What if I have done a Live Scan through my employer or another organization?
Due to privacy laws, Grace Church does not have access to other Live Scans you’ve completed, and you will still need to complete a Live Scan for Grace Church.
How often will I have to do this?
The Live Scan background check and training only needs to be done once and expires when you are no longer serving in the ministry that requires it. Each year you will be asked to sign an authorization that continues to allow GCC to perform a background check.
What if I work at Grace Church?
If you currently work for Grace Community Church, please email gccbackgroundcheck@gracechurch.org for further instruction.
What if I no longer attend Grace Church or am not serving with minors or special ministries?
Please email gccbackgroundcheck@gracechurch.org to let us know that you are no longer apart of these ministries.
What if I have done abuse awareness training through Ministry Safe?
Please email your certificate to gccbackgroundcheck@gracechurch.org and we will confirm the training is the same as is required by GCC..
What if I have done abuse awareness training through my employer?
Due to the nature of our ministry, our training is specifically geared towards a ministry setting. Therefore, we ask that you still complete the one-hour training.
Why is this a requirement at GCC?
Grace Church continually evaluates best practices to protect our most vulnerable members. This is also required by California law AB506.
Do minors have to complete a background check or training?
At this time, minors will not be background checked or do the training. Although minors do not need to complete a Live Scan or Ministry Safe training, they should contact the ministry leader where they wish to serve to learn of other volunteer requirements (i.e. application process).
Can I view the results of my Live Scan?
Yes, you can request a copy of your results on the Background Check Authorization form.
What if I'm uncomfortable with the background check and/or training, may I continue to serve in some way?
If you are not able to complete the background check or training, we encourage you to explore other GCC ministries that have a variety of needs.
Will I have to pay to get Live Scanned?
To ensure that you do not pay the Live Scan fee, please visit a Certifix Live Scan location (certifixlivescan.com) to schedule an appointment. Be sure to bring to bring your Request for Live Scan Service forms (found under Step 1 at the top of this webpage) to the Live Scan vendor to ensure that your Live Scan is processed at no cost to you.