Church Crisis Planning refers to the deliberate and detailed plan of how to manage a crisis. A crisis can be described as any event or sequence of events that threaten to harm the church as an organization, its stakeholders or the general public. Planning for a crisis is important since one of the elements of a crisis is surprise, the other elements include, short decision time, a very serious threat to the organization and most of the time change of systems. A church, being an organization with many stake holders( both internal and external) and very many processes, would definitely require a crisis plan in place. Worth noting is that crisis management differs with risk management in that risk management aims to prevent a possibility of a loss causing event while crisis management deals with reaction when such an event occurs in a large scale so as to shake the systems and operations of the organization
Identification and Classification of crisis
Identification of the sources of crisis can effectively enable the church crisis planning more effectively. Crisis can be classified generally to have 8 types of crisis
- Natural crisis– These are caused by natural disasters and cause massive destruction of not only the organizations property but also infrastructure for supporting the organization and the general public. For a church, being a community agent, preparing for this type of a crisis would also require a plan of dealing with those who might seek assistance from the church. Examples of natural crisis involve, crisis caused by floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, mudslides etc
- Technological crisis– This are crisis caused by misuse of technology or failure of such technology. His occurs when the technology systems become complex and something goes wrong with the system. In enhancing the church security crisis planning technological crisis planning is important especially in regards to electronic records loss and use of software. Examples of technological crisis involve, software failure, industrial accidents etc.
- Confrontational crisis– This crisis occurs when groups fight within the system for control or for their interests. In a church this would include splinter groups fighting for control, employees going on go slows, sit-ins, boycotts or sabotaging the church’s work etc.
- Crisis of malevolence- When opponents or disgruntled individuals use criminal or other extreme means to met out hostility or anger toward, or seeking gain from the organization. These include crisis caused by kidnappings, assassinations, malicious damage to property, espionage, rumors, etc.
- Crisis of organizational misdeeds-This is a crisis caused when the management of the church takes actions which may jeopardize the whole organization. These crisis are divided into 3, crisis of skewed management, crisis of deception and crisis of management misconduct
- Crisis of skewed management- These are caused when the management of the church favors the interests of some stakeholders over others. Eg. The church leaders putting their interests before those of their congregation and the community as a whole
- Crisis of deception- These are caused when they is a deliberate attempt to conceal the truth and misrepresenting the church or its management or some misdeeds of members. Eg covering up for sex offenders within the church, condoning criminal activity etc.
- Crisis of management misconduct- This is where the management not only skews interests to favor some stakeholders, but go further to do so in a criminal manner. E.g. Misappropriation of funds, transfer of church funs to private accounts etc.
- Crisis of Violence– This occurs when a member of the congregation, or a non-member, part of the management or any other person results to use of violence against members of the church, employee or the management of the church.
- Rumors– This involves attacking the reputation of the church or its leadership by spreading falsehoods and damaging stories.
Church Crisis plan
Before any crisis take place the crisis to be dealt with should be understood to be sudden or from smoldering. Sudden crisis is caused by unforeseen events which the church could not have put measures to mitigate e.g. natural disasters and terrorism. Shouldering causes are those that could be detected early and measures for remedy made early before the crisis e.g. skewed management.
Church Crisis planning involves looking at all aspects of possible crisis and laying plans before they occur so as to enable the church take calculated steps when dealing with a crisis when they occur as opposed to making the decisions under pressure during the crisis.
Church crisis management is an important activity to ensuring continuity of the church.