Policy on Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Volunteers

Response Volunteer Policy

Individuals who claim Christ as their Savior and feel called to serve are invited to participate in Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Ministries. Those who respond will be trained in a variety of Disaster Relief and Response disciplines according to each person’s individual choice, gifts, and
skill set.

Upon completion of training and approval by the Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Director the volunteer will be certified, credentialed and issued an approved identification badge. Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Ministries may also provide training for and with other organizations that may or may not have a religious affiliation. Credentialing of these individuals or groups will be at the discretion of the Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Director.

Those seeking training in our Disaster Relief and Response disciplines who are members of churches belonging to other Baptist Conventions will be trained and certified but not credentialed to serve through Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Ministries. For example, a person who is a member of a church belonging to the North Carolina Baptist Convention will be permitted to receive training but would need to seek credentials and ID badges from North Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief Ministries. Certification will be sent to the appropriate leadership on this person’s behalf.

In order to renew one’s credentials (credentials will be issued for no more than a three year term) a person must meet at least one of the following criteria during the valid period of their credentials:

Respond affirmatively to a Disaster callout and serve on the field

Attend additional orientation/training sessions

Participate in an approved Disaster Response field exercise

If one or more of these criteria are not met during a person’s valid credentialed period, then that person will be placed in an "inactive" status and can only be removed from that status by attending a Virginia Baptist sponsored training session. A person with an inactive status will not be called upon to serve until properly credentialed.

The Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Director (or his/her designee) has the authority to:

Revoke a person’s credentials for behavior deemed inappropriate to
Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Ministries

Grant temporary credentials to individuals who can perform certain tasks
that are in demand during any particular disaster

For details and clarification, please contact the
Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Director,
Dean Miller.

VBMB Disaster Relief ministries are supported by gifts to the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s
Cooperative Missions budget, the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions, and individual donations.

Your help is welcome and appreciated!
Make a donation to our Disaster Relief Ministries.