Ensuring Church Safety and Security

By Rev. Tom Parkinson

Sanctuary – “a sacred or holy place where one goes to seek refuge.”

Every Sunday morning, Christians around the world gather in sanctuaries to worship God. While they come in many different styles and sizes, church sanctuaries are intended to provide a place set apart from the rest of the world where we come into the presence of God to be refreshed, renewed, and restored through prayer and praise.

Tragically, we are increasingly hearing stories of sanctuaries where peace-filled worship is disrupted by terror, chaos, and violence. From the horrific shooting at Emmanuel AME Church in 2015 to the more recent shootings at Crosspointe Community Church in Wayne, MI and Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN, the safety and security of houses of worship is a growing concern across our country.

Churches are wrestling with how to respond to these crises. On the one hand, for the church to be faithful we need our sanctuaries to be open, warm, and inviting to both our church members and new guests. On the other hand, churches need to be vigilant, watching over the safety and security of their facilities.

 At Dutilh Church, we are working to improve our safety and security to preserve and enhance the warm, hospitable environment we seek to foster. Earlier this year our Leadership Board appointed a committee of seven church members to study best practices, develop policies, and position Dutilh Church to be better prepared for the variety of emergencies that could occur.

 The committee is developing policies and procedures to be taught to staff and volunteers. They are exploring grant funding to upgrade our church facility with features like security cameras, door access control systems, and additional site lighting. Our women’s ministry is organizing an opportunity for anyone in the church to come and be trained in basic first aid and CPR. As these plans are finalized, there will be opportunities for everyone in our church to learn what we are doing to promote a safe and secure environment.

 I share this not to alarm you, but so that you know that your church is being attentive to matters of safety and security. It is important for all of us to be aware of our desire to maintain a safe and secure church building so that we can all do our part to be vigilant and hospitable. May God, who is our refuge and strength, place a hedge of protection around our church, that we may be a true sanctuary where people come to worship Jesus in peace.