Small Church Safety Plan

Small churches, with their cozy atmospheres and small congregations, also face emergencies and risks that may endanger those who worship there. These risks include fires, natural disasters, security threats, medical incidents, etc. Being prepared is therefore necessary to ensure that everyone responds appropriately and lives are saved.

Importance of a small church safety plan.

1. Everyone in the church will be prepared for emergencies and know how to respond.
2. Vulnerable individuals and children will be kept safe.
3. There will be fewer incidences of theft and vandalism.
4. Congregants will feel safe and protected against threats of violence.
5. Knowing that there is a safety plan in place will foster a sense of security in the church community.

How to set up a small church safety plan

1. Set up a safety and security policy
   • First, put together a safety policy for the church. This policy will state what the safety and security needs of the church are, who is involved in the implementation of the policy, and what measures will be taken to safeguard the church. Setting up of this policy should be done in various stages, with each stage involving a different segment of the congregation so that everyone feels like they are part of the process.
2. Set up a security team
   • In addition to having a church security director, the church should set up a church security team consisting of:
     1. Board members
     2. Security guards (either trained from a security company or members of the congregation)
     3. Trained first aiders and medical personnel
     4. IT personnel (members with IT experience)
     5. Law enforcement liaison (members who liaise with or are part of local law enforcement agencies)
     6. Church staff members
     7. Church members with a background in the military, police force, fire service, or any other law enforcement agency
     8. Volunteers (trusted congregation members)
3. Carry out a risk assessment
   • This risk assessment should identify the vulnerable areas in the church premises, focusing on those that need immediate attention. Vulnerable areas include entries and exits, the children’s church, and the parking lot.
   • The church security director should also identify risks that may come from the area surrounding the church by studying local crime reports.
4. Seek professional assistance
   • Consult members of the congregation with a background in security to review the risk assessment findings and advise on the church safety plan.
   • Build a relationship with local law enforcement agencies to get advice on potential security threats and provide them with updates on the safety plan the church has put in place.
5. Develop emergency procedures
   • The next stage in the small church safety plan is the development of procedures for different types of emergencies, like lockdown procedures for security threats and evacuation routes during natural disasters.
   • All these procedures should be documented and accessible to everyone on the security team.

6. Select the appropriate security equipment for the church
   • The information gathered from the risk assessment will guide what technology to put in place to enhance security in the church.
   • Examples of appropriate technologies are biometric access to sensitive areas, children’s church check-in and check-out systems, and internet-enabled security cameras.
7. Train church security team members
   • The next step in setting up a church safety plan is training the church security team members. They should be trained on security procedures, how to operate the security equipment, how to respond to emergencies, and correct incident reporting.
   • The safety plan should be documented and made easily accessible for all the security team members to refer to when they need clarification on any procedure.
8. Develop an efficient communication plan
   • The church security team should also develop a reliable communication system for communicating during emergencies. This system may involve the use of different methods like text alerts, social media updates, etc.

9. Develop child safety policies
   • The safety plan should have specific policies to safeguard children, as they are more vulnerable than the adult members of the church.
   • Some of the considerations to be included are background checks, access restrictions, and collection of safety information.
10. Have a system for incident reporting
    • As part of the small church safety plan, the church should have a system for incident reporting that involves maintaining incident report logs. These logs should be standardized to include the date and time of the incident, the location, the persons involved, and the action taken by the security team.
    • The incident report log should also include a detailed summary of what transpired during the incident.
11. Review and update the church security plan regularly
    • The church security policies should be reviewed every 6 to 12 months, as threats and risks are constantly evolving.
    • The plan should also be reviewed to establish what works and what needs to be modified or adapted to deal with current security challenges.

A small church safety plan, when set up and implemented properly, will ensure that all congregants feel safe as they enjoy the warmth of a small church community.