Church security discussion

Zbizzle911

Zbizzle911

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So the recent events in the news have made me think about security at church. I have a friend who is on his churches security ministry. They have several people who are positioned in the sanctuary during the service and a couple who make rounds of the church grounds during the service. I was wondering if any of you have these types of ministries at your churches and if so how'd you go about starting them? Do you train regularly? is there a certain criteria that has to be met to be on the team?
 
Zbizzle911 said:
So the recent events in the news have made me think about security at church. I have a friend who is on his churches security ministry. They have several people who are positioned in the sanctuary during the service and a couple who make rounds of the church grounds during the service. I was wondering if any of you have these types of ministries at your churches and if so how'd you go about starting them? Do you train regularly? is there a certain criteria that has to be met to be on the team?
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We had a security team at the last church I was a member of after a rash of break-ins, robberies and the like at some churches.

I was the youngest at the time - it was sort of a collateral duty for the ushers. There wasn't anything in the way of tactical training other than table-topping scenarios.

Most of the guys in the detail we're older gentlemen who knew everything about everything, and convincing them otherwise was tough.
 
Zbizzle911 said:
So the recent events in the news have made me think about security at church. I have a friend who is on his churches security ministry. They have several people who are positioned in the sanctuary during the service and a couple who make rounds of the church grounds during the service. I was wondering if any of you have these types of ministries at your churches and if so how'd you go about starting them? Do you train regularly? is there a certain criteria that has to be met to be on the team?
Click to expand...

@Wahoo95 has posted some great info in the past about how security detail is set up in his church.
 
I'd defintely have a plan that involves some work in the neighborhood trying to spot people planning something, and maybe intercepting them before they walk in the door. If they get in with a rifle you've already failed.

Sucks we have to discuss this.
 
My manager is very active in his local parish, small congregation in JoCo.
He asked his Pastor about carrying at the church, Pastor said sure thing, he and his brother
also have their permits as well as their wives.
 
My stepdad heads security at my wife's church. He's a transporter for the sheriff's department.

I'm sure it sucks. Time for a talk. Or, time for me to start attending services. Ugh.
 
Zbizzle911 said:
So can you share a bit about it?
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They have 4 teams that rotate weekly. Not sure exactly how many per team but all have walkies and armed. Patrols outside the church, in the hallways and people setup inside the sanctuary. Plus a command post with monitors covering the entire complex. From what I understand they do pretty extensive firearm and active shooter training together. All of this goes on and most arenā€™t aware of it. You just see a few guys walking around in polo shirts.
 
Crazy thing is I just spoke with a friend of mine that is a pastor of a church on Saturday afternoon that ask me to help them setup some security measures. I will assume he will speed up that meeting in the coming days.

All places should have an emergency plan for an active shooter including churches with the proper equipment, training, etc.
 
Sneakymedic said:
Should this be in "members only" if we are giving out intel on how to protect ourselves? These guys don't get better on accident. If you know what I meanā€¦.
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I didn't think about that and thats fine if an admin moves it.

Edited to add that theres a bunch of videos on this subject on youtube so I'm not sure that it matters at this point
 
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Sneakymedic said:
Should this be in "members only" if we are giving out intel on how to protect ourselves? These guys don't get better on accident. If you know what I meanā€¦.
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Was Intel given out? Letting it be known that your area is protected is preventative, in my book.

I was always known as a gun guy at work. Now, I'm beginning to be known as the surveillance camera guy. Works for me.
 
kcult said:
I'm beginning to be known as the surveillance camera guy. Works for me.
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Until they find that one in the bathroom. :D


I have no issues with people knowing about having security at church. We have five teams that work the same rotation with 4 guys on each rotation and at least one with a carry weapon. The outside doors are locked and double checked once the crowd is in for Sunday school leaving one entrance. We stay outside most all the time and all carry radio's. I have stopped a romeo once sitting in the parking lot and asked him what he was doing and who he was waiting for. you know most people just don't wait outside a church. Kid got pissed I actually asked directly what he was doing and told his girlfriends mom and dad I was rude. Like I give two craps what that little hair ball wanted to say and I told the girls parents the same. We had a ex boyfriend come to church one sunday and grab the girls arm. Even though it was inside on of the guys saw it and told him that he was security and if he wanted a bad day to not leave. The guy is a big dude that was in the air force special forces and a kick boxer kind of hate he left. Most just a bunch of old guys that don't want to be inside all the time.
 
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I organized a one day seminar last fall for church security teams for about a dozen congregations. We used https://www.carolinafirearmstraining.com/ (Carolina Firearms Training) out of Sanford. The owner, Kevin Dodson, could not have been more professional and helpful and he is willing to travel all over the state. If your church has any interest in organizing a security team, I highly recommend dealing with Kevin.
 
@Zbizzle911 I asked my wife about this a few weeks ago. As I remember, she said her pastor carries during services but don't remember what other "arrangements" they've made. Sucks to have to discuss this!!!!!
 
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I'm a young guy with no military training but I'm the guy everyone comes to at my small church that people ask gun related questions. I'm going to be getting up with my preacher and talking to him about setting up a security team. There are several that carry but I think it would be a very good idea to at least talk about what ifs and many do a little Shooting together.
 
It's been 10 years since my wife and I joined a church. I immediately joined the "property and maintenance" committee since that's where my "talent" in the time talent and treasure thing lies. I was appalled at what I found out was going on at that church in regards to an open door policy. This is a downtown Raleigh church and the only time the doors were locked was midnight to 8am. They do have a burglar alarm system which was subsequently found to be only partially functional. Numerous incidents of break in's, theft, & vandalism in the last 10yrs. I pointed out many security issues including some obvious illegal activity during weeknight AA meetings. The committee chair made some policy changes regarding those meetings and then we had a dumpster fire set by an AA member. After pleading with the church to hire a security consultant to "harden" the perimeter and hire some rent a cops, they did nothing and now I no longer attend. My wife still does and I told her she is on her own. She is a head in sand type anyway and doesn't understand why congress can't legislate away the gun violence problem.
 
Tim said:
After today, I am seriously considering changing that with the express purpose of carrying and keeping my family safe.
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Security and keeping them safe requires more than a few armed people in the pews. Granted they would be a response force and it's a good idea, but you need a lot more. The armed patrols, and proper surveillance, controlling access, etc, which will help stop and dissuade a potential threat before it gets too far and at worst will serve as an advance warning should things go south instead of having everyone caught flat footed. Undoubtedly the BG will go through some sort of interview process, even if it is just in his head. The goal needs to be to stop his process before he gets too far.

The example about approaching the guy sitting in a car is a good example of this.
 
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I admittedly don't have anything but a "feel" for this stuff. I have carried at church for years. My own (ubsubstantiated) feelings are that the best "security team" is in fact a congregation where a high number of folks are armed, though I have nothing against security planning.

Just a funny note. At a bible study one Sunday night in a member's home, we were eating afterwards. A small group of guys were standing around, and someone asked what we felt about guns. I went on a leftist tirade (not loud, just emphatic) that a typical anti gun moron would spout off. The guy who asked was a sweet guy and very "tolerant." He was all like "well, I respect your opinion" and all that, and I asked him if he had one of those instruments of death in the house with his children. He said yes, he did, and I asked him how he could be so irresponsible.... you know, just typical tripe you would find on facebook. He is gently responding that his guns are secure and he is very careful, and expresses surprise that I am so vehement in my opinions, and asks me if I have ever shot a gun. I proceeded to move my knee up onto the bench, where the print from my Sig 228 shows thru my baggy cargo pockets, but he does not catch it at all. I responded that I have shot a gun, maybe once or twice, and then point to the weapon under the pocket. He broke into a big grin and said "ok, you really got me" and then "I should have known."

As we have a literal explosion of witchcraft, Satanism, atheism and anti God stuff here in the apostatizing West, I look for a corresponding rise in attacks on institutions that remind people who hate God why they hate him. To the atheists and others on this board, don't take that as a personal swipe at you. It is not. There are people of all stripes in all the sectors of society, and I don't mean to paint everyone with the same brush.

Just as an offhand thought, though...... (which many may find weird) If I am going to die anyway (and I am, unless I am around for the big homecoming), then what better way to go than to be the unprovoked target of hatred for God, and literally be killed because I love Christ? When I think of the multitudes of people through history who have left this planet and the last sounds they heard were people venting obscenities against Christ, and they KNEW they were dying for Him....., and I consider the honor accorded to such persons in the snippets of scenes in the "real realms"..... then dying because some satanic madman decides to shoot up a church doesn't seem quite so horrific. (the shooter was a pretty vicious atheist and hated God ....http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...devin-kelley-outcast-preached-atheism-online/)
Maybe that is weird, but I will guarantee you one thing....... If all those people who were killed were true believers..... NOT ONE of them would return, were they given the chance. They are home and safe, and even the ripping away from family is completely swallowed up in joy and the sense of "I am where I was created to be."

Not a bad deal, really. After the WORST can be done, we win. Checkmate.

sorry. just coffee ramblings this a.m.
 
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noway2 said:
Security and keeping them safe requires more than a few armed people in the pews. Granted they would be a response force and it's a good idea, but you need a lot more. The armed patrols, and proper surveillance, controlling access, etc, which will help stop and dissuade a potential threat before it gets too far and at worst will serve as an advance warning should things go south instead of having everyone caught flat footed. Undoubtedly the BG will go through some sort of interview process, even if it is just in his head. The goal needs to be to stop his process before he gets too far.

The example about approaching the guy sitting in a car is a good example of this.
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I agree. But seeing as I'm not a member, and don't plan to become one, I doubt they'd include me in any of their planning. I'll do my part by sitting with the family ready to do what I can for them.
 
I carry sometimes when I go to church, but after the events in South Carolina, Tennessee, and now in Texas, I don't think I am going to step foot in the building without a gun on me. I'm following this topic as I am wanting to try to coordinate a group of guys in my church that CCW and not sure how to go about it. We have a security team, but they have left out any mention of CCW in the official policy (probably for liability reasons). I am a deacon, but not on the security team. There's a bunch of anti-gun people there, but I know of some that are very pro-2A and we'd need to coordinate something under the radar. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm specifically thinking about arranging some training from a professional for those of us who might be willing to participate.
 
Are y'all trying to tell me the "no weapons allowed" signs on all our doors aren't enough?
 
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