Strengthening Church Security: How to Improve Church Safety

Church safety has become a growing concern in recent years due to increased violent incidents and property crimes occurring at places of worship. Congregants and visitors need to feel safe and secure while attending church, and the responsibility to ensure their safety falls on the church leadership.

Today, more than ever, it’s essential that churches work to create safe and secure environments and take proactive steps to address the need, from organizing a safety program to implementing security protocols and training their staff and volunteers.

Understanding the risks

Recent data and statistics from the Family Research Council show that churches are facing an increasing risk of violence and criminal activity. The research shows that violence against churches has increased in recent years, with a significant increase in hate crimes targeting religious institutions. The report highlights that churches are particularly vulnerable to violent attacks due to their open-door policy, which makes them accessible to anyone, including those with malicious intent. The study also points out that many churches lack adequate security measures, which makes them an easy target for criminals or, even worse, a preferred target.

Overall, the data and statistics from the Family Research Council underscore the need for churches to be vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety of their congregations. While the risk of violence and discrimination may be increasing, there are steps that churches can take to minimize these risks and protect their members.

According to the FBI’s 2019 annual report on hate crime statistics, there were 1,521 victims of anti-religious hate crimes in the United States, and 220 reported incidents of crimes committed against houses of worship in 2019 alone. Even though this data is concerning, we know that crimes against houses of worship are not adequately tracked, and the true scope of concern is even greater and growing.

Church safety doesn’t happen by accident

A survey by LifeWay Research found that 81% of Protestant churches have some security plan in place. Still, national averages for ministries that have a structured safety program with a full-time security director or staff member fall below 30%. Based upon this factor alone, there is concern that although ministries are having the discussion, they lack the actionable steps needed to address the risk.

full armor church security Having a Bible does not automatically make someone a believer and simply talking about safety does not make you safer. Taking action is the only way to create real protection. It is important to have a firm conviction that leads us to take action. We must be willing to invest in the necessary resources to ensure that our churches are safe and secure. This includes training staff and volunteers in safety protocols, investing in security systems, and having a comprehensive emergency plan in place. Unfortunately, many ministries mistakenly believe that having someone assigned to “watch over” the services is all that is needed. This is simply not enough. We must be willing to go beyond the basics and take the necessary steps to ensure that our churches are actually safe and secure.

We should also remember that safety is the by-product of prudence. 1 Peter 5:2 tells us, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.”

The easiest way to improve safety is to prioritize it

Churches are inherently vulnerable, and the same features that make them successful can also put them in danger—from open facilities to children’s programs, feeding the homeless, and pastoral counseling. The solution is not to avoid doing ministry but to identify the associated risks and take steps to ensure ministry can be done safely.

The first step in improving church safety is to create a structured safety program. This is one that is overseen by the local leadership and carries out the heart and vision of the pastor. The initial steps in the process should include conducting a risk assessment of the facilities and activities and developing, reviewing, and adopting written procedures and plans for responding to emergencies. Once the structure and oversight are in place, a training program for staff and volunteers should be developed. This training should cover topics such as recognizing suspicious behavior, responding to emergencies, dealing with disruptive guests, and responding to active threats. The next step includes conducting regular safety drills, becoming familiar with evacuations and lock-downs, and providing safety equipment such as two-way radios, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits.

Members of the church safety and security program are also responsible for monitoring the church and its members for potential threats. This includes patrolling the church grounds for suspicious activity, as well as monitoring the church’s social media accounts for any potential threats. Additionally, members of the church safety and security program are responsible for responding to any potential threats that are identified.

It is important to remember that each ministry is different and what works for one may put another at risk. There is no one size fits all approach and opinions, preferences, and even state and local laws can influence the overall model. However, at the end of the day, your program needs balance and maturity, and team members should be properly vetted to make sure they support and reinforce the ministry culture.

10 Essential Steps for a Safer Church

About Us:

Full Armor Church is a safety firm that provides comprehensive training programs for ministries, including curriculum, customizable safety policies, forms, and other resources designed to help churches create a safe and secure environment for their congregants and visitors.

The Full Armor Church training curriculum is designed to be used by safety and security directors and covers a wide range of topics, including active shooter response, emergency readiness, child safety, de-escalation, communication, firearms safety, and more, Full Armor Church also offers on-site training courses designed to equip and educate volunteers and church safety team members.

One of the benefits of Full Armor Church’s training program is that it is designed specifically for churches and takes into account the unique challenges churches face when it comes to safety, such as the need to balance safety with maintaining a spiritual identity and welcoming environment.