The Big Book of Checklists

• How to Use the Checklists

  The checklists in this book are designed to help you take the first steps toward improved risk management by assessing risk in key areas of your ministry. You can complete the checklists individually or all at once—whichever works best for you.

  • If you answer “yes” to questions on a checklist, that means your ministry is already following some generally accepted best practices.
  • If you answer “needs attention” to any of the questions, you can use the checklist to note issues that need more attention and create a follow-up plan for improvement.

  Each checklist contains room to make notes for specific needs that are discovered while completing the checklist. These notes will become the building blocks of your plan.

  You may want to create a binder of the completed checklists. Consider storing relevant notes, estimates, receipts, and other related paperwork in the binder.

  Evaluating risk throughout your ministry is not a one-time procedure. Rather, it will become an ongoing process that you continually evaluate and improve upon.

  What should I do first?

  Find the right person to oversee this responsibility. A team of people may be needed to do the work of evaluating your ministry’s risks, and someone with a heart for risk management should lead the team. Then, decide which area of ministry to tackle first. Once you have improved safety in one area, you can build on that success to make changes elsewhere.

• 1. Risk Management
  • Developing a Risk Management Mindset
  • Creating a Risk Management Plan
• 2. Building and Property
  • Building Security Checklist
  • Property Inventory Checklist
  • Fire Safety Checklist
  • Arson Prevention Checklist
  • Lending Your Church Facilities
  • Hiring a Contractor Checklist
  • Cold Weather Maintenance
  • Preventing Slip-and-Fall Accidents
  • Swimming Pool Safety Checklist
  • Ministry Construction Planning
  • Wildfire Preparation Checklist
  • Water Damage Prevention Checklist
• 3. Children and Youth
  • Nursery Safety Checklist
  • Playground Safety Checklist
  • Water Safety Checklist
  • Youth Activities Checklist
  • Youth Texting/Communication
  • Safeguarding Against Sexual Abuse
  • Youth Supervision and Discipline
  • Background Screening
  • Creating Your Program, Policies, and Procedures
• 4. Emergency Preparedness
  • Developing a Disaster Plan
  • Disaster Relief Teams Checklist
  • Providing Temporary Shelter
  • Violence in the Church Checklist
  • Emergency Medical Care Checklist
  • First Aid Kit Contents Checklist
  • Setting Up an AED Program
  • AED Maintenance Checklist
  • Demonstration Response Checklist
  • Disaster Recovery Planning Checklist
• 5. Managing Employees, Volunteers and Members
  • Employment Practices Checklist
  • Employee Training Checklist
  • Employee Discipline Checklist
  • Volunteer Labor Checklist
  • Safe Mission Travel Checklist
  • Short Term Mission Trip Release
• 6. Health and Wellness
  • Pastoral Counseling Guidelines
  • Keeping Healthy Checklist
  • Food Prep Safety Checklist
• 7. Legal and Finance
  • Financial Controls
  • Offerings and Disbursements
  • Payroll Checklist
  • Documents and Records Checklist
  • Membership Discipline Policy
  • Payroll Tax Checklist
  • Subpeona Checklist
• 8. Digital and Web
  • Cyber Security Checklist
  • Copyright and Fair Use Checklist
  • Social Media Risk Management
  • Social Media Disclaimer Checklist
• 9. Vehicles and Drivers
  • Driver Screening Checklist
  • Loaning or Renting Church Vehicles
  • Ministry-Owned Vehicles
  • Non-Owned Vehicles Checklist
  • 15-Passenger Van Safety Checklist
  • Driver Pre-Trip/Post-Trip Inspection Checklist
  • Auto Accident Checklist
  • Roadside Emergency Preparedness
• 10. General Risk Management Forms
  • Sample Reference Response Information Checklist
  • Sample Activity Participation Agreement
  • Sample Notice of Injury
  • Sample Photo Use Agreement

The information provided on this page is intended to help you understand issues of risk management as you develop a program for your ministry, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.