Hello to all of you! I enjoyed our time at Hosanna! Church
very much. You were a wonderful group! (Except for a few
of you, and you know who you are!  )
These slides are the foundational material you might like to
have for presentations in your own place of worship.
They are very basic in appearance and fundamental in
concept, so you may wish to add to them or change them in
some way. I hope you will keep the Five Components
together, because I believe those, combined, can make for a
tremendously effective safety and security program.
Best wishes to you! Tina Lewis Rowe, Denver CO
Advanced Safety and Security
For Places of Worship
Hosanna!
Church
Lead Pastor
Bill Bohline
I hope you found a crystal
or two during the day!
Thanks to……
And especially to…..
My hero,
Jim Caauwe
Crime Prevention Specialist
Savage, MN Police Department
Your Personal
Safety and Security Check Anywhere
Exits and how far away you are from them.
Barrier, protection or obstacle in an emergency.
Who is sitting in back of you and near you.
Move if you don’t feel comfortable.
What is happening near you and in the room.
If a situation
looks or sounds like a
serious problem,
assume it is-and respond reasonably
and immediately.
Personalize and adapt everything
for your place of worship
and what works for your situation.
“Our spiritual homes
are special places
that nourish
our souls.
Indeed,
we take a lot
for granted.”
Your Whole Church
All of the:
People
Places
Property
Programs
Processes
We have a
responsibility
to keep them
safe and secure.
Consider what a whole-church
(whole-congregation)
safety and security program
can be and do.
Our goals for today:
1.To encourage you to see safety and security
as a whole-church concern.
2.To provide ideas, information and
inspiration.
3.To let you see and believe that any church--including your church—can be much more
safe and secure, easily, inexpensively, and
in a way that is engaging to many people.
The goal of a
Safety and Security Program:
Making safety and
security part of the stewardship
of the place of worship, through:
Inspection/Assessment
Prevention, Detection,
Protection and Response.
Whole-Church Program Components
1. A Safety and Security Committee.
*Security Response Team
*Medical Response Team
*Security Liaisons
Safety and Security Committee
1. Safety and Security Committee
(Team, Council, etc.)
*Allows a wide range of participants.
*Can be a training tool for leadership.
*Increases the chances of keeping a big
picture approach, because of the
different interests of participants.
*Increases the number of people
available to do work!
Develop or suggest
safety and security policies, procedures,
checklists,
assessing schedules.
(Input by security team, pastoral team,
staff, attorneys,
insurance company, etc.
Produce signs, etc.
Be a resource for information.
www.churchlawandtax.com
Safety and Security Committee
Security Team
1A. Security Team
Options for a mix of participants.
*Police officers, military, firefighters,
(current or retired).
*May be a team of alert, aware adults who
are ready to respond and to get assistance.
*Under the guidance of committee or church
leadership regarding activities, apparel,
equipment, etc.
*Worship leader focus.
*Patrol during services and special
events.
*Lobby presence during services.
*Ready to evaluate situations quickly
and either call 911 or handle it on-site.
*Assistance in any kind of emergency.
Planning and Training
by Security Team Members
What might happen?
What might prevent it?
How could we detect it early?
What could provide protection
and reduce the harm?
What will each of us do when it happens?
Greeters and Ushers.
They are often the first to observe
problems or be aware of a threat.
Look out
Get out
Take out
An option for a violent or physically
confrontational person,
with or without a weapon.
Confront, Contain and Control
Physical force to overpower;
the use of actual or
improvised weapons.
Congregation
and
Pastor
Two approach options
for what seems to be non-violent
disturbances and disruptions
1. Shield and Guard
2. Divert and Direct
Shield and Guard
Put a barrier between the threat
and the protected person or group.
Congregation
and
Pastor
Divert and Direct
*Distract and delay.
*Guide the disturbance away and outside.
*Leave a way out, in the direction of an exit.
Congregation
and
Pastor
Security team members should
plan general actions each will take.
*Who will call 911?
*Who will talk to the problem person?
*If it gets physical, who will grab legs, feet, arms, body?
*Who will shield congregation and/or pastor?
Expand the Role of the
Security Team
*A leadership role in whole-church efforts:
support, encourage and train.
*Training, briefings, consulting for pastors, staff
and members. Be an active resource for
safety.
*Research situations and use as scenarios for
discussion and training.
Briefings:
Conferences and camps
Travel--domestic and foreign
Mission trips
Food pantry staff, money handling,
vehicle safety, personal safety.
Before they leave…………..
Vehicle safety?
Driving requirements and
restrictions?
Behaviors that are not allowed?
Safety tips?
Advice?
Weapons?
This issue is one that is best decided based on two key factors:
1. Local law.
2. Pastoral and membership preferences.
(Those preferences are often based on specific issues within the church or community.)
Also to be considered:
1. Does the church want to “authorize” some people to carry a weapon but not
others?
2. What about problematic situations now or in the future, involving those who are
armed? (Lack of training, physical or mental disabilities, violations of rules, etc.)
If weapons are likely to be carried in the church, a good practice would be to hold
periodic training or briefing sessions about requirements or restrictions and suggested
training and certifications.
Check with your insurance provider about liability issues.
The reality is that many people who have concealed weapons carry them without the
knowledge of others. At least attempt to provide written or verbal guidelines for all
those who are or who might be carrying a weapon.
Safety and Security Committee
Security Team
Medical Assistance Team
1B. Medical Assistance Team
(Or some other title)
*Minor first aid. CPR, AED.
*Assistance while waiting for 911 response.
*Trained responses if appropriate.
*A wide range of other activities can be
developed………..
Other activities and projects.
*Blood drives.
*Health Fairs.
*Safety talks for children. (Playground,
classroom, etc.)
*Health and Fitness.
*Newsletter quarterly.
*Website articles.
Triumph Lutheran Brethren Church—Moorhead,
MN
1C. Safety and Security Liaison
*Be responsible for keys, open-up and
lock-down, final look-around.
*Be aware and alert.
*Ensure that safety procedures are followed.
*Be ready to give and get assistance.
*Report concerns and problems in a
timely manner. Emergencies or crimes: 911.
Safety and Security Committee
Security Team
Medical Assistance Team
Security Liaisons
Whole-Church Program Components
1. A Safety and Security Committee.
*Security Response Team
*Medical Response Team
*Security Liaisons
2. Safety and Security Assessments/Inspections.
2. Safety and Security Assessments
An inspection to evaluate the current condition
as it relates to risks and concerns, and.....
Preventing
Protecting
Detecting
Responding
Emergency Preparedness
Continuity of Operations
Inspect and Assess
the BIG Picture
You can conduct a
thorough and effective
inspection and assessment:
1. Use the guidelines in the Assessing portion of the
large download document.
2. Look at each thing being assessed and think:
Is anything worrisome? Could it lead to something
else?
What could go wrong?
Could it be detected? Could it be prevented?
What protection would help?
3. What needs to be done right now to make this
better?
1. Vary days, times and conditions.
2. Inspect throughout the year, at many
events and in all seasons.
3. List obvious and known risks and
concerns, then think some more.
4. In rooms: Above, below, in walls,
outside the doors and windows, in use
and not in use.
5. Report on your findings and follow-up.
(Take immediate action about hazards.)
Schedule inspection times and vary the focus of each.
Also inspect mechanical, plumbing,
appliances,
general maintenance
and anything that might
cause a problem
when no one is around to detect it.
Double inspect while any construction or renovation is happening.
Congregation Kahilath Jeshurun-Manhattan
A church that is very, very clean is much
more likely to be maintained
in other ways as well.
Every member should
have a role in this.
Inspect special programs:
Senior lunches, food pantry, thrift store,
homeless ministry, youth outreach, etc.
Stand back and watch,
then talk to those who are active in the programs.
Note: This often creates some conflict, since those involved may
have developed some habits that are not optimally safe and
secure. Work with them as much as possible, to help them
develop better methods.
However, ultimately, it is the responsibility of the place of
worship to ensure that things are done right. Don’t let fear of
hurt feelings, cause you to overlook concerns.
Inspect outside areas, secured
buildings, vans, trailers, etc.
Lighting,
status of parking areas,
pedestrian issues, etc.
Money handling procedures,
Security of assets,
Professional auditing of
financial records
or close, regular review.
Came to a Monday night service and talked with
members about his interest in the church.
Hid until after everyone had left,
then stole gift cards and cash.
(They could have used an
opening and closing checklist.)
Whole-Church Program Components
1. A Safety and Security Committee.
*Security Response Team
*Medical Response Team
*Security Liaisons
2. Safety and Security Assessments/Inspections.
3. Procedures, Plans and Checklists (and training).
Prevention
Detection
Protection
Response
What needs to be
known and done?
By whom?
How, When and
Where?
Checklists are procedures
made simple to read and follow.
They are not made
to be remembered,
they are made to be followed.
(But they help the memory too.)
Checklists are especially useful
for mental alarm bells.
.
Have checklists
for special services and events:
Lord’s Supper/Communion
Baptisms
Candlelight services
Youth functions
Children’s functions
Big events
Equipment needed/status
Safety issues and risks and how to
prevent/respond
Set-up/Break down
What must be done/can’t be done.
Remember the incident where
two year old Brayden King
fell into the baptistry and drowned.
The baptistry had been used the Sunday before and was
still full on Friday, when Brayden’s mother was in the
building next door and thought her teen-aged daughter
was caring for him.
What procedures, protocols, rules
and/or checklist items
would have made
a difference?
Procedures and checklists for:
Opening/Closing the building (s)
Securing equipment/ musical instruments.
Turning on and off electronics
and equipment. Lighting furnaces,
using kitchen appliances,
Hygiene and food preparation requirements
use of supplies, cleaning methods, etc.
Policies, procedures and checklists
especially apply to working with youth,
from infants to young adult.
Best practices:
Adults with children?
Children in an activity?
Counseling?
Create approved or suggested
procedures for things staff
are often asked about.
*Benevolence requests
*Wedding ceremony requirements.
*Children without vaccinations?
*Volunteer information, requirements
and restrictions.
When writing policies, procedures and
checklists, format isn’t as important as
usefulness.
Easiest approach:
*A combination of text and numbered lists.
Consider including photos or scans.
*"Walk through" an activity on paper.
*Don’t assume everyone will know the
steps. Be specific. Say the do’s AND the
don’ts.
*Have others read it for clarity.
Every teacher, volunteer and coordinator,
should help write the procedures for their
classroom, program or activities
in a variety of settings.
Keep adding as you conduct assessments.
What might happen?
What is your church/pastor’s
philosophy, protocol, intention,
as it relates to many societal
issues?
Have a plan for how you can
respond when those things occur.
Whole-Church Program Components
1. A Safety and Security Committee.
*Security Response Team
*Medical Response Team
*Security Liaisons
2. Safety and Security
Assessments/Inspections.
3. Procedures, Plans and Checklists (and
training).
4. All of the material in one file/folder/binder.
The Plan is really a group
of plans, procedures and
checklists.
*Hard copy and computer file.
Safety and
Security
Manual
*Contact numbers
*Checklists and lists
The important thing is to
start getting everything
together and keep
adding to it.
Whole-Church Program Components
1. A Safety and Security Committee.
*Security Response Team
*Medical Response Team
*Security Liaisons
2. Safety and Security
Assessments/Inspections.
3. Procedures, Plans and Checklists (and
training).
4. All of the material in one file/folder/binder.
5. Participation: Education, information and
involvement.
1. Be consistent, persistent and insistent
about safety and security. Exceptions
weaken the safety and security of your
church.
2. Be creative: Quizzes, surveys, handouts,
combine home and church safety, etc.
3. Make a safety and security concern part of
every activity. “What could go wrong?”
Or, “How could this be made more safe?”
You can have a leadership role:
1. Balance concern with reason, logic and optimism.
2. Keep a dual focus: Safety and Security.
3. Think basic before high tech or high cost.
Start with people solutions.
4. Think and talk of safety and security as something
you and everyone can help achieve.
You can!
Thank You,
Hosanna!
Church
and Jim!