Why Your Church Needs a Security Team
At a gathering of pastors I attended in this last year, one of the liveliest topics discussed was whether a church should have a security team. I was intrigued that nearly every leader was in favor of it. In fact, most of them had specific situations as to how having a security team served them well.
While these pastors led large churches, the situations they described are common to churches of all sizes.
Here are some reasons why your church may need a security team as well.
A congregational gathering is a vulnerable place.
We’ve seen grim evidence of this within the past few years. The nature of our work opens the doors to everyone. It’s easy to get into an unprotected place and take advantage of the trust that’s assumed.
While I never had to face a major threat such as a bomb scare or an active shooter when I was a pastor, we did have to deal with other situations that required intervention. For example, we’ve had suspicious individuals behave in a threatening manner in our worship center and angry, non-custodial parents accost our children’s department volunteers.
We also experienced thefts both in our building and in the parking lot.
A prepared security team that is well-trained and in contact with one another allows for threats to be recognized and action to be taken.
The possibility of emergencies increases as the size of the crowd increases.
It just makes sense that the more people there are gathered in one place, the more likely it is that sooner or later something will go wrong.
In my tenure as pastor, we experienced dozens of medical emergencies – everything from a person tripping and falling to a child getting injured during a play activity to someone passing out during a service. We even had to respond to a fatal heart attack.
We also dealt with non-medical emergencies such as an accident in the parking lot, or various weather-related threats such as tornado warnings.
But because we had security systems in place and could easily communicate with our team, all of these were handled efficiently and effectively.
A security team provides a visible deterrence.
A common theme among security experts is the proactive effect of having the security team visible to both the congregation and potential threats. Often looking for “soft” or easy targets, the latter will be frightened off by even the potential for pushback.
Rather than having security hidden or blended into the people, an identifiable and obvious presence among the people can both reassure and protect.
Our churches often have qualified people who can serve in these roles.
Many times there are police officers, firefighters, EMTs, physicians, and nurses sitting in our gatherings. Recognizing their skills and putting them on a rotational team gives them a place of service and improves the church’s safety.
As well, when it’s commonly known that such people are “on call,” it will prevent other well-meaning and untrained individuals from jumping in to help in what could be an unhelpful way.
Church parking lots are especially vulnerable to theft.
We went through several seasons where there was a rash of vehicle thefts (both the contents and the cars themselves) during our Sunday gatherings. Left unwatched and unprotected, scores if not hundreds of empty cars are at risk – especially if expensive items are left in view.
We have addressed this in multiple ways over the years. For one thing, we had a “parking lot team” outfitted in green vests. These individuals offered a friendly smile at the entrances and, if the lot was filling up, they pointed out open spaces.
During the services, members of the team would stroll through the lot with their eyes open to any threat. As well, one of the members had yellow flashing lights on his truck and cruised the lot.
Finally, a parking lot team can be helpful in assisting folks who might need a helping hand or an escort to the building.
A security team will ease the pastor’s mind.
Pastors deal with a lot of stuff on a Sunday. Knowing that this team is in place helps ease at least one burden.
When a crisis would arise during the service, I could be confident that my security/medical team was on the job and I could be free to reassure the congregation and offer prayer.
On other occasions, I was totally oblivious to issues that took place in other parts of the building or in the parking lot. My team leader recognized that it wouldn’t serve me well to interrupt what I was doing, and I was grateful to be left out of the loop.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” as the old saying goes. Likewise, going to the effort and expense to make sure you have a security team in place will bring you and your congregation a load of peace and reassurance.
Going to the effort and expense to make sure you have a security team in place will bring you and your congregation a load of peace and reassurance.
It is essential, however, that your security team volunteers are well-trained. This is not the time or place for wanna-be soldiers to be given free rein.
There are best practices that have been learned by experts in the field. These experts can help you put together and train a team for your church. They may also be able to come in and help you identify places where your church and congregation may be weak or vulnerable. They can then help you design strategies that are unique to your situation and your Body’s needs.
While this might cost a bit, keep in mind that NOT addressing this can create liability issues which could be even more costly. I believe that in the end, you will find the investment to be well worth it.
With that in mind, rest assured that there are resources available to help churches access this kind of training and consultation. A bit of research would be time well spent.
For instance, your church’s insurance company may offer resources (such as THIS ONE .) Or if you are in Indiana, check out the grants offered through Center for Congregations.
Finally, while thinking through security is beneficial, no security plan is foolproof. So, even as I have outlined some practical measures churches can explore to help strengthen their security processes, I want to remind us that we have to resist the urge to act out of fear.
We live in a world groaning and broken under the weight of sin where evil knows where to find and harm the good. Yet despite this, scripture consistently reminds us that our God is our ultimate Protector.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
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