Church Security Planning Can Address Safety Concerns

For more than thirty years, I have worked in the security and fire protection industry. My company installs and monitors life safety and security systems for hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, warehouses, high-rise buildings, and churches.

Over the years, I have learned something very important about safety: the safest organizations prepare quietly and wisely in advance. Because of that preparation, they don’t panic when potential security issues arise.

Today, security professionals consider churches – and schools and nursing homes – “soft targets.” This term is not meant to be alarming. It simply describes places where people gather openly as part of normal operations. That openness is part of what makes churches welcoming—but it can also increase risk without thoughtful security planning.

Why Houses of Worship Receive Security Warnings

Across the country, federal and state agencies regularly issue security briefings reminding communities that houses of worship can become targets.

Sometimes these threats arise from terrorism. At other times, they come from individuals with personal grievances or involve unstable individuals looking for a public place to act out.

Several organizations regularly share guidance and threat awareness information with communities.

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – DHS publishes national threat bulletins through the National Terrorism Advisory System, available at www.dhs.gov. These bulletins periodically warn that large gatherings—including houses of worship—should remain aware of potential threats.
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – CISA maintains guidance specifically focused on protecting houses of worship and community organizations.
• State and Local Fusion Centers – Local intelligence information is often shared through organizations called Fusion Centers. These centers distribute situational awareness reports and security alerts to organizations upon request. In Alabama, this information flows through the Alabama Fusion Center (AFC), operated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Churches that want to receive regional security alerts directly from the Alabama Fusion Center can contact them at afc@alea.gov or work with their local police department, which regularly receives threat awareness bulletins and security updates.
• FBI InfraGard Program – The FBI InfraGard program allows private organizations and community leaders to receive threat bulletins and security briefings related to infrastructure and public safety.

All of these resources exist for one purpose: to help communities stay informed and prepared.

Security Is Built in Layers

According to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, houses of worship have increasingly been included in security awareness guidance for public gathering spaces because they are designed to be open, welcoming environments that host large numbers of people at predictable times.

In my experience as a security professional, safety rarely comes from a single measure. It comes from layers. Effective security combines both people and technology. Situational awareness from greeters and volunteers works best when paired with tools such as video surveillance cameras, access control systems, and monitored life safety systems.

Many churches believe that having a police officer present solves the problem. Police officers are a blessing, and we should always appreciate their service. But their role is typically reactionary—they respond when something happens.

Good security works earlier than that.

Think about fire safety. We do not rely only on the fire department. We install smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers. We train people where exits are located.

Those steps happen before the fire department ever arrives. Security works the same way.

Understanding Baseline Behavior

Most security professionals talk about establishing a baseline. A baseline simply means understanding what normal activity looks like in a particular environment. Once you understand what normal looks like, unusual behavior becomes easier to notice.

Example behaviors outside of norms might include:

• Someone sitting in a car watching people arrive for thirty minutes may not belong there.
• Someone walking around the building repeatedly without entering may deserve a friendly greeting.
• Someone who becomes agitated when approached by a greeter may require additional attention.

The goal is awareness and engagement, not confrontation.

A simple greeting like, “Good morning, we’re glad you’re here today,” lets someone know they have been noticed. Individuals planning harm prefer anonymity, so when they realize people are paying attention, many simply move on.

In the security world we often say: “The best incident is the one that never happens.”

A Simple Church Safety Checklist

When hundreds of people gather in one place, church leadership has a responsibility to consider safety, just as they do fire protection, building maintenance, and child protection policies.

Below is a basic five-point checklist that any church can begin implementing. (And many of the same awareness and layered security principles used in churches are also used in schools, healthcare facilities, and other organizations where people gather regularly.)

1. Parking Lot Awareness

Have someone observing the parking lot before and during services. Many potential issues can be identified early outside the building.

2. Greeters Who Observe

Door greeters should do more than hand out bulletins. Friendly eye contact and awareness are powerful deterrents to suspicious behavior.

3. Establish a Safety Team

Identify several responsible individuals who understand situational awareness and basic emergency response procedures. Be sure to consider coverage across various service times, mid-week activities, and other group gathering times.

4. Child and Volunteer Screening

Standardize and document a process for conducting background checks for those working with children or vulnerable members of the congregation.

5. Basic Emergency Planning

Know what your church will do if a medical emergency, disturbance, or evacuation becomes necessary.

These five steps do not require turning a church into a fortress. They simply involve awareness, preparation, and people paying attention.

Helping Churches Prepare

Churches should always remain welcoming places. But wisdom also tells us to be prepared. When awareness and preparation work together, our places of worship can remain both open and safe for everyone who walks through the doors.

If your church leadership would like guidance on safety planning, training, or life-safety systems, please contact Prestige Alarm and Specialty Products in Trussville, Alabama. For more than three decades, our company has helped organizations protect their people and facilities. We would be glad to help your church evaluate practical steps that can improve awareness and preparedness.

Frequently Asked Questions About Church Security