Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Our God given task to watch over our flock brings a wide range of responsibilities and considerations for every church pastor and security director. With incidents of church violence and crime on the rise, churches must be deliberate and intentional in their efforts to create barriers of protection in and around their sanctuaries. In this article we discuss 10 things that promote church safety and security.
Our Savior Jesus Christ demonstrated a model ministry that showed care for both the physical and spiritual needs of those to whom he ministered. We too must be mindful to care for the physical needs of those we have been commanded to teach. In this regard, church safety and security are an essential component of every ministry.
10 Things That Promote Church Safety & Security
Annual Risk Assessment
Regardless of the size of your ministry, churches should conduct an annual risk assessment. This process will help you better understand the inherent risks associated with your daily operations and can identify vulnerabilities that may be exploited by others intending to do harm.
During a risk assessment, you should objectively inspect and evaluate your ministries protocols, your active security measures in place, and then scan the exterior and interior of your properties to identify natural hazards or obvious weaknesses.
When churches conduct a self-assessment risk assessment, it is critical to remain objective and honest. You may even consider having additional members from your church board, security director, or pastoral staff complete a separate assessment and then submit their findings for a final joint review. This overlapping approach can help to ensure items are not overlooked due to being commonplace. Our risk assessment (Free Download) form can help.
During a risk assessment of your ministry, you should review all existing written policies and procedures to determine if they need updates or modifications. As a good practice, make sure you have clearly written job descriptions and child safety procedures in place for all volunteers and staff members. You should also review your files to make sure you have applications, background checks, and current personal information on file for all persons serving with children. These written procedures and documents will serve as the groundwork for your church safety program.
In addition to the steps already mentioned, you should also consider photographing or recording the present conditions of the exterior and interior of your facilities. Inspect all CCTV, security equipment, and fire safety equipment, to ensure they are fully functional and in good working condition. Make a notation of “Things To Do/Fix” during the assessment that will be memorialized in your written assessment.
Alarm and Monitoring Equipment
Church properties should be properly equipped with alarm and monitoring systems. Partnering with an off-site security monitoring company is recommended to oversee the church’s access points and provide the ability to dispatch law enforcement and fire services when necessary. Additionally, churches should consider installing video surveillance equipment to monitor key areas, such as parking lots, children’s ministry areas/classrooms, offices where church monies are handled, and common gathering spaces.
While budget constraints have limited such measures in the past, there are now many affordable solutions available. For example, an 8-camera system with recording capabilities and remote access via smartphone or web-based devices can be purchased for around $400 and installed using in-house labor.
Electronic & Media Equipment
All church owned media, and electronic devices should be adequately secured to prevent theft and unauthorized access. This includes mounted projectors, television monitors, sound and lighting equipment, computers, laptops, musical equipment, etc. These are just a few of the most common items taken during incidents of internal theft and burglaries.
In addition to properly securing high valued items, churches should also maintain a current inventory record of the equipment that can be used to depreciate the item and used for any potential future insurance claim or loss. It is prudent to document and record the brand, make, model, serial number, and estimated value of each item. Churches should additionally mark, engrave, or label each item that identifies it as your church property.
Establish A Church Security Team
Every church should consider establishing a volunteer security team using selected members from within the congregation who are trained and prepared to assist the church during emergencies and times of need. Church security teams operate under a clear set of policies and procedures and under the direct oversight of an appointed security director or pastor.
The church security team should only function with qualified candidates and should never be any larger than the qualified pool of candidates available to serve. Security team members should be individually selected after being thoroughly screened and vetted for a position. Many churches will look within their membership for retired or currently serving law enforcement or military members to apply for these positions, as the church can greatly benefit from their training and background.
Just like any other group within your church, the church security team is first and foremost a spiritual function and the selected members should be required to participate in church worship services and meetings and must possess the spiritual maturity and self-control necessary for these roles.
Screen Volunteers
Churches have a legal obligation to ensure that every child and young teen attending church is safe and protected from those who may seek to harm them. Conducting background screening on all volunteers, prior to being allowed to serve, is an industry best practice and should be the standard practice of every church. All volunteers should complete an application process, undergo a criminal background check, and be trained in the churches child-safety policies and procedures.
Courts have consistently ruled that churches are responsible for making sure they prioritize the safety of minors who attend or participate in church activities. If an allegation of abuse or negligence arises involving a staff member or volunteer, an investigation will evaluate whether or not a background check was completed on the person(s) involved. Failing to conduct these checks (best practice) can make it difficult to prove a church took the necessary steps to ensure a safe environment for children and open the door to legal claims of negligence.
In addition to background checks, it is best practice to retain all applications of employee and volunteer files in a secured format for a minimum of 7 years, or for the specified statute of limitations for offenses involving minors within your state. Also, when using an online background screening firm, ensure they are following the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), otherwise, the screening cannot be used for employment or to meet the obligated standard of due regard for volunteers.
Document Accidents & Incidents
There are a variety of incidents that can occur on church owned property. From vehicle burglaries, thefts, medical emergencies, accidents, and complaints of improper conduct. Regardless of the nature of the incident, you should properly document the occurrence and corrective steps taken on a church incident report to memorialize the circumstances.
Incident reports should include: the time and date of occurrence, the specific location, person(s) involved, witnesses present, claimed or documented injuries, services provided, public safety agencies who may have responded, and a short summary of the event. Pictures and video should also be included when applicable. The incident report should be completed by an assigned security team member and be reviewed by the security director and/or pastor and permanently retained in file.
Documentation helps to establish and document compliance with protocols and procedures. It also aids in recollection, in the event of litigation or allegations by individuals. A copy of our Church Incident Report form can be downloaded below.
Prepare and Train the Congregation for Emergencies
When people enter your church, they assume the church has put adequate security measures in place to ensure their safety. Courts have shown that this is a reasonable expectation and responsibility. For that reason, churches should ensure that they have basic first aid supplies readily available and on hand, properly working fire prevention equipment, and posted fire evacuation routes for areas in which children are housed.
Churches should also facilitate Emergency Preparedness Training to prepare the congregation for what to do during an emergency, evacuation, lock-down event, or when faced with an active threat inside the church. This training responsibility usually falls upon the Security Director to complete. Public Safety Training LLC | Church Security-101 can assist with training and policy guidance that helps your church become prepared for these needs.
Youth and Children’s Ministry Protocols
For churches who have Sunday School programs, Daycare programs and School components to their ministry, using a secure check-in/check-out procedure is very important and eliminates significant risk for the organization. There are many programs available, and they vary in cost and technology from very low to very high and everywhere in between. It doesn’t matter what program the church is using as long as the program is being properly utilized to ensure the kids are safe and secure and accounted for at all times.
In addition to safety procedures, you should have assigned people to monitor and restrict access to areas in which classes with minors and juveniles are being held. It is also essential that childcare workers have some form of direct communication with church security members, or have been trained and empowered to call 9-1-1, in the event of an emergency.
Financial Controls
The collecting, counting, and securing of church monies and tithes should always be performed with no less than two appointed members present. Preferably, one of which is trained and/or serving as a member of the church security team.
Any funds retained on site should be properly verified and then secured in a location that has adequate secure storage (safe) and the ability to be monitored with alarmed entry points and/or CCTV. Unsecure locations, like desk drawers, closet boxes, etc., should be avoided. Instead, consider using mounted safes or depository devices that can be installed in selected areas to ensure safe retention of funds until deposits can be transferred to a bank.
Use good judgment and develop adequate policy and procedure protocols to ensure proper auditing and oversight. You should also ensure that you have sufficient safety practices in place when transporting funds for deposit and avoid developing set patterns that are easy to identify. Each of these things promote church safety and security.
Maintenance Required
One of the greatest contributors to criminal activity is opportunity. In law enforcement, there is a concept known as the “Broken Window Theory.” In essence, if items go unaddressed, the perception is that nobody is around to fix it.
If broken windows are ignored, the surrounding community may perceive the property as uninhabited and discarded trash and abandoned vehicles may follow. After all, nobody is there to fix it (or stop it). Ultimately, the community begins to lower its standards and what was once un-tolerated activity becomes readily accepted as the new norm.
If you have broken windows, faded signs, or parking lots full of debris, what sign are you sending to your community? What behaviors, attitudes, and activity are bring projected onto the property? Being good stewards of God’s House and maintaining its appearance sets a clear image that there is life within its walls and a body that cares and is present and active. Maintaining your church property will deter criminals looking for opportunities. The opposite is equally true as well.
Each one of these “10 things that promote church safety and security” work toward creating a safe haven for all who enter your church intending to grow closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.
FAQ – Promote Church Safety and Security
Completing a risk assessment can be intimidating at first, but once you’ve completed the first one, it becomes much easier and manageable. We can provide a Risk Assessment mask that you can use as a starting point. Use our mask to customize a risk assessment that is specific for your church needs.
We have found that holding Emergency Preparedness Training in September, which is National Emergency Preparedness Month, is highly effective. The entire congregation quickly engages, as they see similar messaging on television and recognize the alignment with training they receive at school and work.
Churches are known for having a friendly, trusting, and welcoming environment in which we open our doors to everyone to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. This environment has an adverse impact on those who may have a criminal intent or succumb to temptation. This is a recipe for disaster if your church has little or no financial controls in place to alert it to suspicious activity.
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Summary
These “10 things that promote church safety and security” help to create safe havens for church communities. As stewards of the Lord’s House, we must prioritize the safety and security of our congregations. By being proactive and vigilant, we not only fulfill our responsibility to protect our church communities but also create an environment where worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth can thrive without fear.
Public Safety Training LLC is here to serve and has established training and consulting programs and publication resources available to help. We would be honored to assist your church and security team in any way that we can. Contact us today!
Michael Elerick is the President of Public Safety Training LLC, a church safety and security training and consulting company. He retired from law enforcement as a Special Operations Commander and SWAT Commander. He served as the Executive Director for the Public Safety Training Institute (2010-2020), a non-profit public safety training organization, and has over three decades of experience as a Risk Manager and Security and Tactical expert. He is the author of Church Safety & Security 101, Emergency Preparedness for Church Volunteers, Church Security Team Development, Church Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), among other works.
