Occasionally, the church may experience uncomfortable moments when a person or group interrupts worship service, Bible study, or special event, with loud proclamations of their ideology. These outbursts can cause significant anxiety and fear for others in attendance and may result in anger and disappointment toward churches unprepared or unwilling to respond to these situations. How should faith-based organizations respond to disruptive person(s) in church?
Responding to Disruptive Person(s) in church
These outbursts can come from individuals suffering from a mental crisis or people with strong passions and belief’s incongruent with that of the church. Other times the interruptions are planned for political or ideological reasons. Regardless of the reason, it can be difficult to determine whether an interruption is benign or calculated and what the person(s) intentions are in the heat of the moment.
In The News
A man stood up during a church service and began physically assaulting multiple members of the congregation. He was restrained by other members of the congregation and held until law enforcement arrived and took him into custody. Seven (7) congregants were assaulted during the attack – Click to see law enforcement press release here.
Developing a church policy to guide a church’s response to disruptions, will help reduce negative impacts of such incidents when they occur. A policy helps by providing the church community guidelines on how to respond and serves as a training tool that helps safeguard the church and congregation from both harm and liability. The policy should focus on “Action Steps” that protect the church staff and congregation, requests law enforcement intervention, when appropriate, and prepares the church community to react immediately when an incident occurs.
Preparing The Church
The initial contact with disruptive people can often escalate the situation in the wrong direction if not managed appropriately. It is important that church safety teams and volunteer groups (Ushers/Greeters) are trained to handle these types of situations before trying to resolve them. Even when law enforcement is called, the church should have resources on site who can work to contain these situations for 5-10 minutes (Average Police Response Times) or more, until law enforcement arrives at the church and takes over.
Training
Training in managing disruptive behavior should include several components to ensure effective and compassionate handling of these situations. Teaching staff and volunteers how to identify signs of disruptive behavior (Behaviors of Concern), such as aggression or refusal to comply with rules. This is important because identifying behaviors of concern early provides a church more options to stop or delay disruptive behavior from occurring.
Training in de-escalation techniques, such as active listening, maintaining a calm demeanor, using non-threatening body language, together help to defuse tensions peacefully. Communication skills are important, focusing on clear and respectful communication to manage expectations and address concerns calmly. Additionally, conflict resolution skills are taught to help resolve disputes and find mutually agreeable solutions.
Understanding boundaries and safety protocols ensures that interventions prioritize everyone’s safety, with awareness of legal implications and procedures for documenting incidents. Scenario-based training allows for practice in realistic situations, ensuring readiness to handle disruptions effectively while upholding the church’s values of compassion and safety for all involved.
Church Safety Team
For churches with established volunteer safety teams, many of the previously discussed topics should already be part of their training. However, team supervisors should regularly challenge members with scenario-based training using “What Would You Do If?” situations—specifically focused on disruptive individuals.
These scenarios should cover incidents that may occur both inside and outside the church, including the sanctuary, foyer, and Children’s Ministry areas. Regular practice helps reinforce readiness and builds team confidence to respond with calm and compassion.
Volunteer Groups
For churches without a dedicated safety team, it’s essential to train staff and volunteer groups—especially those most likely to engage with disruptive individuals, such as ushers and greeters. These frontline ministry teams should receive training in the key areas outlined above to equip them with the skills and confidence needed to de-escalate situations effectively.
Incorporating this training into your church’s annual Emergency Preparedness sessions not only strengthens your overall readiness but also helps reduce the church’s liability by demonstrating a proactive approach to safety and risk management.
Disruptive Person(s) – Security Strategies & Tactics
When dealing with disruptive individuals, one of the primary objectives is early identification—recognizing concerning behavior before the person enters the church building or sanctuary. Early recognition allows your team to implement strategies that protect the congregation and prevent potential escalation.
By identifying disruptive behavior at the earliest stage, you gain valuable time to request law enforcement assistance if needed and position your team to respond with calm, safety, and authority.
- Call 9-1-1 and request law enforcement assistance.
- Form a Screen: The primary objective to this strategy is to form a visual human barrier between the disruptive person(s) and the rest of the congregation. A screen is used to direct the individual to a more appropriate location to resolve the problem and/or safeguard the church staff and congregation.
- Physical Contact: Church staff and members should avoid physical contact with the disruptive person(s) as much as possible.
Deny/Deter Entry
If a disruptive individual has not yet entered the church or sanctuary, it’s critical to deny or deter entry whenever possible. Simple actions like locking doors, forming a human screen, or physically positioning team members in their path can help redirect the person to a more appropriate location—away from the congregation.
Remember, it is far easier to prevent entry into our buildings and sacred spaces than it is to remove a disruptive person once they’re inside.
Remove from Sanctuary
If a disruptive person has already entered the sanctuary, calming them and guiding them out becomes a much greater challenge. In this situation, forming a human screen and gently directing the individual away from the congregation remains an effective strategy. It’s also appropriate to ask the person to leave and clearly inform them that refusal to do so may result in trespassing charges—a legal option that law enforcement can act upon once they arrive.
At the same time, we must remember to honor the God-given worth of every individual, regardless of their behavior or beliefs. As church safety stewards, our responsibility is to protect the flock, but our approach must always reflect Christ’s love, compassion, and wisdom. Our goal is a peaceful resolution, using verbal de-escalation and calm presence—avoiding physical contact whenever possible.
Law Enforcement
Calling law enforcement immediately when dealing with a disruptive individual—especially someone not affiliated with the church—should be standard protocol. Disruptive behavior can be highly unpredictable, and involving law enforcement early is a prudent step in protecting your congregation.
Police officers are highly trained, carry legal authority beyond that of civilians, and their mere presence often helps to de-escalate tense situations. Additionally, once law enforcement is on scene, their actions are no longer attributed to the church, which helps to limit liability for your ministry.
Legal
Case law affirms that churches, as private property owners, are not required to allow anyone to remain on their property simply because their doors are open to the public. If a church has reasonable cause to believe that a person may disrupt a service or activity, the ministry is legally within its rights to deny access or ask that individual to leave (Brotherhood Mutual).
If a group of demonstrators enters church property, the church has the legal right to ask them to leave. Should they refuse, they may be subject to trespassing charges. While individuals have the right to protest or demonstrate, that right does not extend to private property without consent—a principle upheld by the courts.
Demonstrators may legally relocate to public property adjacent to the church, such as sidewalks or public parks. It is recommended that a designated church spokesperson politely ask the group to leave church property. If they do not comply, law enforcement should be called to handle the situation.
Once the church’s intent has been clearly communicated, it is important to allow law enforcement to enforce trespassing laws. Church staff and volunteers should not attempt to physically remove anyone from the property. If law enforcement response is delayed, consider locking doors or securing access points to prevent demonstrators from entering the building. Once inside, it becomes significantly more difficult to remove them safely and legally.
faq
Yes. Churches are private property owners, so they can restrict access to their property. This is supported by Case law, which says that churches are not required to allow anyone to enter or remain on their property simply because a church is open to the public. When a ministry has reason to believe that a person will disrupt its service or activity, the ministry may deny access and require the person to leave.
Training blocks to manage disruptive behavior should include identifying disruptive behavior, de-escalation tactics, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, safety protocols, training, and legal issues.
De-escalation is used universally, in all environments where human beings interact with one another. De-escalation techniques are used to calm and defuse tense and stressful situations from escalating into violence.
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Summary
Churches have a sacred responsibility to provide a safe environment where guests can enter, worship, and fellowship in peace. When individuals enter church property and disrupt services, ministries must be prepared to respond quickly and appropriately to protect both staff and the congregation.
Having a clear policy, trained personnel, and a solid understanding of the legal rights and responsibilities in these situations enables churches to respond with confidence, compassion, and wisdom—reflecting both their duty of care and their commitment to Christ-like stewardship.
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Author
Michael Elerick is the President of Public Safety Training LLC and a retired Special Operations Commander and SWAT Commander. A career law enforcement professional with over 30 years of experience in risk management, tactical operations, and security; he served as Executive Director of the Public Safety Training Institute from 2010 to 2020.
Since 2010, Michael has trained and consulted with faith-based organizations across the country. He is the author of Church Safety & Security 101, Emergency Preparedness for Church Volunteers, Church Safety Team Development, Church Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), and other works focused on equipping ministries to protect their people and fulfill their mission.
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