CHURCH SECURITY PLAN
WHERE DO WE START?
A sanctuary is a welcoming place of refuge and safety. In today’s increasingly violent world, however, even our churches have come under attack. We no longer live in a time when we can ignore this fact and we must now find ways to protect our church families. This has led many church leaders to ask the question, “Where do we start?”
First and foremost, you must Create a Church Security Plan. Southern Mutual Church Insurance Company is responding by partnering with local law enforcement officials and key security consultants to provide our churches with the comprehensive information you need to create a security program suited to your church’s specific needs. We will continue to update our website with information and links to resources to help guide you as you provide a more secure church campus, without losing the welcoming environment your church is called to be in the community.
The way to secure peace is to be prepared. They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked, than the negligent. – Benjamin Franklin
SMCI is receiving many questions and concerns from our churches, with the most frequently asked question being, “Can church members with a concealed carry permit bring their firearms onto the church premises?” This is a question that is becoming more common with the increase in violence. The final decision on allowing firearms on the premises rests with state law and the church leadership. However, if the church leadership decides to allow certain members to carry a concealed firearm, the church should be sure the person has a valid license/permit, along with firearms/security/safety training that goes well beyond what most states require to obtain a license/permit. Please note that just because someone has a license/permit doesn’t mean they should be allowed to carry a firearm on church premises, as some people are not suited to handle this responsibility. Obviously, this is a difficult issue and one that should be addressed in a Church security plan. Be sure to enlist the expertise of local law enforcement and those in the legal field when developing your Church security plan
Download Our Sample Church Security Policies & Procedures Manual
More links to security and medical resources