Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Cedarville United Methodist Church. For all volunteers who work with children, youth or vulnerable adults we require you to complete the volunteer application, background checks and training as specified by the State of Pennsylvania and Cedarville UMC’s Safe Sanctuaries policy. We also require that you review and sign a copy of Cedarville UMC’s Technology policy.

Cedarville UMC Volunteer Application

Below are the instructions for updating or obtaining your PA Criminal Record Check and PA Child Abuse History Clearance (please note; photocopies are not acceptable – you must bring original documents to the Church office). The church has set funds aside to cover these costs and will reimburse you.

These instructions are also available as a PDF document.

1. Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal History Record Check (SP4-164A Clearance) The quickest way to process this clearance is to log on to https://epatch.state.pa.us. You should receive instantaneous results if no record exists. If you do not have access to a computer, you should complete and mail the “Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Record Check” to the Pennsylvania State Police at the address listed on the right side of the form. [Please note that requesting this clearance by mail will result in a significant delay – up to six to eight weeks. Therefore, it is recommended that you utilize the online request process.] If you wish to use the “paper process,” please call or stop by the Church office for the form.
2. The next clearance needed is the PA Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151 Clearance). You can either mail in this form (see #3 below) or complete the process online (see #4 below).
3. Mailing in the form: upon completing the “Response for Criminal Record Check” complete the Child Abuse History Clearance Form. Download the form from www.dhs.pa.gov or you can obtain one from the Church office. Complete the form and mail to the address on the form. Certifications for the purpose of “volunteer having direct volunteer contact with children” may be obtained free of charge once every 57 months.
4. You have the option of doing the Child Abuse Clearance Request on-line. Go to www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis. Be sure to request a paper copy be mailed to your home address – you will be given this option.
5. FBI clearance report (fingerprinting) required for all volunteers UNLESS they have been a resident of Pennsylvania for all of the last ten years and affirm in writing they have not been convicted in any other state of any of the Pennsylvania offenses that prohibit service. Visit this site to initiate the process.