The Rio Texas Annual Conference is committed to the well-being of every person entrusted to its care as well as those persons entrusted to the care of the districts and local United Methodist Churches throughout our conference borders. Therefore, we will strive to create safe places for all of God's children. Our safety policy and procedures help us to do this holy and hard work.

This page is dedicated to helping individuals and faith communities know what steps to take as they seek to complete the required safety certification for ministry with children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

Are you certified for safe ministry with children, youth, and vulnerable adults?

3 Step certification for safe ministry with children, youth, and vulnerable adults

1. Register with Safe Gatherings

  • Go to Safe Gatherings Dashboard

  • Begin Application:

    • New Application: Click on the red New User button at the top right hand corner of the page.

    • Renewing an Application: Click on the blue Login button at the top right hand corner of the page. If you cannot remember your user name and password contact safe gatherings at: 888.241.8258.

  • Fill out the online application (see Application tips below)

  • Safe Gatherings will go to work processing the background check and reaching out to the applicant's designated references.

Need help? Contact Safe Gatherings at: 888.241.8258.

2. Complete the Safe Gatherings training course:

This is an approximately 90 minute presentation of information on safety guidelines and best practices. Persons will take a test at the end of this training.

This is a 30-minute interactive training on safety guidelines and best practices as defined by the Rio Texas Conference for ministry in our churches, districts, and beyond. This training will become available via a link on your Safe Gatherings dashboard once you have completed step two of the process. You will need to complete this module in one sitting as it does not save your progress and will require you to start over if you navigate away from the training window. Please make sure you move through all slides ending at the slide where you hear: “You have completed the Rio Texas course” and see this slide:

3. Complete the Rio Texas certification training module

The Adapted Process became available as of: January 1st, 2024

Tips for Certification

Filling out your application

  • Choosing your organization

    • laity should choose their church

    • clergy should choose their district as their organization

  • References:

    • One reference will automatically be sent to your senior pastor or the designated person for your organization's account (check with your organization if you are unsure of who this is)

    • Applicant will need to provide 2 additional references:

      • 1 personal or vocational reference

      • 1 clergy reference or another vocational reference. (Note: this reference must be an individual that is not the clergy person who is administrating your organization's account- see above),

    • Alert your references and encourage them to watch for an e-mail from Safe Gatherings. The reference will only take 2-3 minutes of their time.

  • Cost: The Rio Texas conference pays each individual’s application fee. The church and/or individual pays the background check fee and driving record check fee (when applicable).

Completing the certification process quickly:

Applicants should:

  1. Verify the references contact information as up to date and current.

  2. Inform their references so they will be responsive to calls and/or emails from Safe Gatherings.

  3. Take the Safe Gatherings training as soon as possible upon application submission

  4. Complete the Rio Texas Conference Training Module in one 30-minute sitting (this module does not save your progress and will require you to start over if you navigate away from the training window.) Before closing out the Rio Texas Training Module make sure to view all the slides. You should see a Thank You video before you get to the page with the “Exit Course” button. After you click the “Exit Course” button you will see and hear: “You have completed the Rio Texas course.”

  5. Monitor progress by logging into their Safe Gatherings account

Church leadership should:

  1. Make sure staff and volunteers understand this 3 step certification process

  2. Check their church's Safe Gatherings account regularly to monitor progress of their ministry leaders

  3. Respond to any reference requests from Safe Gatherings as soon as possible (references take an average of 1-2 minutes to complete)

  4. Work to ensure all leaders in their community working with children, youth, and vulnerable adults are certified. This includes helping their leaders to complete the Safe Gatherings Training Module (Step 2) and the Rio Texas Interactive Training Module (Step 3). Need help? Contact us using this form.