Houses of worship have become more frequent targets for gun violence over the past few decades, taking dozens of lives and injuring many more. Having a thorough church security strategy in place is an important step towards protecting congregations and creating a safe space. This article explains why security in houses of worship is needed, identifies unique vulnerabilities, and provides suggestions and best practices for implementing safety measures to keep every community safe.
The Case for Investing in Church Security
Protecting people in their place of worship is the heart of church security. Keeping everyone who comes into churches and other religious centers for worship and community activities safe is the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, shootings and other attacks in recent years have exposed security weaknesses in religious centers. For example:
- Annunciation Catholic Church School Shooting (2025): A person opened fire during a morning Mass at a catholic school in Minnesota, killing 2 children and injuring 21 others.
- Tree of Life synagogue synagogue shooting (2018): A shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue resulted in the deaths of 11 people and wounded 6, including 4 officers who responded to the scene.
- First Baptist Church church shooting (2017): 26 people were killed and over 20 additional people were injured during an attack on a church in Sutherland, Texas.
- Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting (2015): A racially-motivated attack on a historically black church in Charleston left 9 people killed and one other person injured.
- Living Church of God shooting (2005): 7 people were killed and 4 were injured during a shooting in Wisconsin
Because places of worship are considered safe spaces for people to gather, each shooting can be especially traumatic for religious communities.
Religious spaces can be more vulnerable to attacks because of their open-door policies, limited security budgets, and regular community gatherings. Having a security plan allows churches to better prevent and respond to harm, like theft and violence. Investing in safety and modern security can help build trust and comfort among congregations, while still respecting the sacred space of the worship environment.
Main Components of a Church Security Plan
A comprehensive church security plan should be made up of trained personnel, risk assessments, emergency response protocols, access control strategies, and security camera systems. Coordinating security across different ministries in the church is key to having a unified approach. A security plan should address multiple risks and physical, procedural, and technological measures should be integrated to protect the congregation and facilities.
Conducting a Thorough Risk Assessment
The first step to improving security is conducting a risk assessment. Houses of worship have specific risks that vary by location and community. Common risks may include graffiti or vandalism, breaking and entering, and vulnerability to hate crimes, but each organization is different.
Having regular risk assessments can help to identify threats before they turn into an incident. They may include reviewing the physical layout of the church (both the main sanctuary area and other gathering and administrative spaces), identifying key assets, peak traffic times, and blind spots.
Developing Emergency Response Procedures
Having tailored emergency response plans is a large part of managing different types of crises in a church environment. Developing plans based on real life scenarios can help to improve response time in the case of a real incident. Additionally, improving congregational awareness about these protocols can make people feel prepared and in control of their own safety.
Holding drills may help security teams assess their readiness for an emergency by identifying strengths and areas for improvement during scenarios.
Implementing Access Control and Physical Security Measures
Access control systems and physical security can be highly beneficial in places of worship, as they have a high number of visitors, congregation members, and ministry gathering and passing that can be hard to monitor.
Access control systems can help make sure only authorized people can get into sensitive areas of the church, like financial offices, thus improving overall security. Elements of access control include:
- ID badges
- Lock systems
- Monitored entry points
Physical security measures, like security cameras, can help to monitor entryways, perimeters, and less visible spaces at all hours of the day. When enhanced with artificial intelligence that can detect firearms, security cameras can become a proactive tool, enabling an early response and preventing potential tragedies from happening.
Developing a Security Team to Maximize Church Safety
A church security team can have several positions, each with their own responsibilities. These roles may include a team leader, security coordinator, patrol officers, and an emergency medical responder.
- Security team leader: A team leader or coordinator is responsible for things like developing a church safety plan and emergency plans, risk assessments, training team members, and leading the security team. They oversee the team’s operations to ensure compliance with any policies and laws.
- Security team members: Team members should be chosen based on their past experiences, trustworthiness, crisis management skills, and the ability to work under pressure so that security operations are effective. Assessing maturity, decision-making skills, and the ability to handle tense situations helps in building a strong security team for the church.
Each position in a church’s security team is designed to support the overall safety of the church, with the pastor, priest, or other religious officials playing a leadership and communication role in guiding and supporting the team. The collaboration between these actors is key to a successful security plan and keeping houses of worship safe for everyone.
Involving Church Leadership in Security Protocols
Church leaders can help support the security team by providing direction, resources, and oversight for security operations.
Church staff should be involved in security planning and emergency preparedness, as they are most attuned to the church’s workings and can help in implementing safety protocols. They can also ensure security aligns with the church’s mission and values by providing active support and oversight.
Training and Preparedness at Churches and Houses of Worship
Church security teams should undergo regular training for emergencies. Offering specialized training for volunteers and leadership can also equip more people with the skills they need to be ready for crisis situations.
Comprehensive Security Training Programs
Teaching community members about security practices can increase their knowledge, awareness, and readiness. Training and response models, like ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), can help congregations prepare for and respond to active shooter situations. First aid and de-escalation training can also be beneficial for many situations.
All of these skills are transferable outside of just the house of worship, so all community members can benefit from them.
Regular Drills, Simulations, and Equipment Testing
Situations change. Churches may have additions built that change their floor plans, shifts in leadership, changes to the security team, or differences in their needs. A lot of things can impact the operations and scope of church security. To make sure all plans are up-to-date, regular drills, simulations, and equipment testing are essential.
Drills and simulations should be done to see how effective protocols are. Regularly testing equipment, like security cameras and access control systems, can ensure they are working properly. Any issues can be addressed proactively.
Collaboration with Local Law Enforcement
Partnering with local law enforcement can be helpful for communication and coordination… both of which are critical for real-life responses.
Good partnerships with local law enforcement can improve overall security by:
- Leveraging their expertise and resources to help houses of worship deal with potential threats and emergencies.
- Involving law enforcement in drills to allow security teams to simulate joint operations.
- Having a unified response to potential threats.
Technology and Tools for Enhancing Church Security
As mentioned previously, technology can be a great way to enhance church security measures. They can address issues that are more difficult for people alone to do, like nonstop monitoring of entrances and exits.
Using modern technology like AI-enhanced cameras, alarms, and mass communication systems can help to improve safety and security operations. Supported by trained personnel, these tools can boost security measures and create a safe environment for worship and community activities.
Video Surveillance Systems
Houses of worship that are equipped with advanced video surveillance systems may be able to spot potential threats earlier and prevent situations from escalating. Surveillance systems can monitor after hours and enhance real-time safety during services by capturing high-definition footage.
When enhanced with artificial intelligence, surveillance camera systems can be even more beneficial. AI can take cameras from something needing to be monitored (which can cause fatigue and lead to missed threats) to proactive tools that can actively scan footage for specific dangers, like firearms, without getting tired.
Some AI software can be integrated with a church’s existing surveillance cameras, adding ease to the transition and preventing additional costs.
Alarm Systems
Alarm systems are key to alerting both security teams and congregants in case of emergencies so that a swift response can be made. Integrating alarm systems with access control can be a good way to monitor churches outside of services and gathering times, like overnight, and can potentially deter threats.
Mass Notification Systems
When something does happen, mass notification systems can be an effective way to get out information to large amounts of people, like a congregation. Messages can be sent through multiple channels, like SMS, email, and app push notifications. Mass notification systems can be especially useful during times when people may be spread out, during events, or before and after services.
Maintaining Records and Reporting Incidents
Good record keeping is pivotal to church safety, as it can help with communication and the reviewing of policies. Incidents, big or small, all need to be documented.
Accurate record keeping and incident reporting can find weaknesses in security and improve overall church protocols.
Incident Report Forms
Every incident that happens on church property should be documented. These include things like property damage, injuries, security issues, and any accidents that may occur. Standardized incident report forms can be used to record relevant information and can help to identify patterns in church security, like a specific door continually being left unlocked.
Ensuring all incidents are documented can also be a proactive approach to communication. By having all details written down at the time of the incident, leadership can effectively and truthfully communicate about any incidents later on.
Involving the Community in Security Efforts
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure. This is to be expected in houses of worship; however, it’s not always guaranteed. It’s becoming clearer than ever that safety is a shared responsibility. Encouraging community involvement in safety efforts can help leaders create a safer space for everyone.
Educating the church community about security measures can both protect the congregation and create a culture of awareness, where people feel informed.
Additionally, offering volunteer training programs (like previously mentioned), where church members can get involved in church safety and security efforts, can help to build the community’s resilience and allow people to feel in charge of their own safety.
By developing the skills and commitment of members, these programs can make a big difference in church security.
Prioritizing Church Security on a Budget
All of these safety measures can be financially and technically overwhelming, especially for smaller churches and other worship spaces. To help fund religious organizations’ safety and security efforts, a wide range of grants exist.
At the federal level, religious institutions can apply for FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program or DHS’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program. Certain states offer their own grants, like New York’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant Program or Pennsylvania and Florida’s Nonprofit Security Grant programs.
To explore all governmental funding options, houses of worship should regularly check the Office of Management and Budget’s Grants page.
Summary
A well-thought-out church security plan is vital to protect churches and the safety of the worship environment. Preparedness for shootings and any other incidents that may occur at houses of worship is critical to managing situations effectively.
Understanding the need for church security plans, using technology, creating and training security teams, and documenting all incidents are all pieces of the big picture of church safety. By involving the community and keeping records up to date, houses of worship can continually improve their security and create a safe and welcoming space for all.
Omnilert understands the unique challenges that religious organizations can face and offers a wide range of solutions that can be tailored to each space’s needs. To learn more about how Omnilert’s AI Gun Detection, ENS, and Emergency Response Automation can be used in your house of worship, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is church security important?
Church security can help to protect the congregation from threats and create a safe environment for worship and other community activities. There have been a number of attacks and shootings at churches and other houses of worship in recent years, and having a strong security plan can give people peace of mind.
What are the key elements of a church security plan?
A church security plan should have routine risk assessments, emergency response procedures, technology, and training. Each worship space has its own unique needs and capabilities: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to security. Each plan should be developed around those specific needs.
How can technology help in church security?
Technology can be beneficial to church security and safety efforts by adding additional layers to traditional security measures and covering some bases that can be more difficult for people to cover. Installing alarm systems, access control, using mass notification systems, and using video surveillance that can be enhanced by AI can all be beneficial to the day-to-day operations of houses of worship.
How can houses of worship deal with the cost of security?
There are a number of security grants that houses of worship can apply for to assist with the cost of security. The federal government offers a Nonprofit Security Grant Program and Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program. Many states also offer their own nonprofit security grant programs.
