A church security plan is a critical step in protecting the congregation of a religious organization. While most churches will never be the target of a mass shooting or other terrorist attack, many events can threaten the safety of congregants and staff. A security plan addresses key areas, including protection of church facilities, establishing communication with authorities and providing emergency response procedures.
Church security teams should be a mixture of church members with different skills. A few members should have experience in law enforcement, military service or other security professions. These individuals are invaluable in bringing expertise to the taskforce and creating effective protocols for an emergency situation.
Developing a Church Security Plan: Key Steps to Get Started
Other team members should be familiar with common threats to churches in the area, such as fires and severe weather. This is accomplished by performing a risk assessment that involves evaluating the church premises, determining vulnerabilities and developing customized controls to reduce the chance of an emergency event.
It’s also important to make sure the church’s plan is updated regularly, taking into account any changes in the congregation or the surroundings of the building. It is also helpful to have a designated contact list in case of an emergency, with phone numbers for the pastor, facility manager and security coordinators. This should be posted in multiple locations, such as on bulletin boards and the church website. Church employees, committee members and volunteers like ushers should also be familiar with the plan.