Security Team Planning: More Than Just Showing Up and Looking Good

The task of putting together a safety or security team can seem overwhelming, and depending on your circumstances, it can be a huge task.

1.      Where do I start?

2.      Who do I talk to?

3.      What equipment do we need?

4.      How do I get trained?

5.      How do I convince church management that we need a team?

You NEED a plan of action.

The results of your efforts will be dramatically affected by your planning, and if you plan incorrectly the results can reflect poorly on your church, pastor, and membership.

The following list of action items will provide a framework to start implementing your churches safety team.

The Task List

1. Evaluation church risk.
2. Developing a written plan to present to the Pastors and Board for getting their support
3. Funding the team (It may require some investment)
4. Establishing a Team Policy Handbook – Procedures and Responses
5. Selection Security Team Members (STM).
6. Training of Team Members – Policy/Procedures.
7. Selection of Equipment – Radios, Flashlights, Team Identification (Shirts, Name plates, Etc), Firearms, ASP, OC, Etc.
8. Establishing incident reports, report logs, etc.
9. Announcing the team to the members without causing panic – (Why does the Church need a Security Team?)
10. Building relationships with the local Police and Fire Departments
11. Maintaining the ST without burning out the members – (Staff so you and they don’t work every weekend)
12. Requiring in service training to maintain an edge
13. Understanding that you are NOT Police Officers
14. The time frame for initial and total implementation of the Team
15. Creating the Bond of Christian Men in the team

Congratulations on making the choice to investigate the viability of starting Safety/Security Ministry at your church. Welcome to the ranks of the “Church Sheepdogs”. You will find a wealth of information, policies, training videos and articles here to assist you on your journey.