[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Church Security (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 6/1/2010 2:44:15 PM EDT
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This is a fairly new subject. But it is going to be the next new thing in many churches. The church security team.
This is a touchy subject for some to talk about. . I am on our church's security team. Our church is about 2000 in size. I know that it is a good idea to have a game plan in case of emergency. However The team of about 30-40 guys on the security team is having trouble within the church as to what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to security. The "security team" is comprised of a few off duty officers etc. and in general most have a level head on there shoulders. My problem is this...... The elder board of our church waffles on policy: Most do not even want to think about this stuff and therefore it gets swept under the rug. The church just obtained a camera system for the nursery area. However, it was a very cheap system and it is more to appease those who pushed for it. Bottom line the elder board does not want to decide on anything on the subject of security......because it hasn't happened yet. Should there be a gun or guns in church? Right now there are no guns allowed on the church campus. Should certain people be asked to C.C. in church? I volunteer to be on the security team. I am about to quit because of all the ignorance or lack of care on the subject. It is very important to me especially in a church this size. Would you blame me if I left for this reason? |
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I can understand your frustration with those who claim to want security, but don't take it seriously.
Can you compile case studies on the subject and present them to board members who have more sense than the others? If you need a contact who is pretty well versed on church security, I can put you in touch with a guy. IM me. |
There's at least one gun in my church every Sunday...  ETA: Seriously, if there are off-duty officers on your security team, they should be CCW. I encourage every gunowner in my church whom I *trust* to CCW. There's only a couple of us who do. One of the deacon's (I happen to be one as well) once asked me how I reconciled carrying a gun in church with my faith. I responded that I'd have no problem putting a bullet in someone coming to harm my family and friends in a peaceable assembly. Jesus said something about a millstone, if I recall... She agreed with me... (she's an honorably discharged Marine, BTW). |
| You would be justified in leaving just based on the no guns policy. And I would. There are many other churches. I would also send a letter/email to several other there to explain my decision to leave. If the elders have gone so far off base to ban guns, they aren't about to change. |
My church does not have a security team. We have a Captain of the local police force who stands with the ushers when they collect to tythes. He then stays with the collected tythes untill it is put in the safe. The policy for his department is to carry a firearm at all times whether on duty or off. My father and I both carry concealed firearms at chruch. There has never been a memo or anything put out by church leaders stating we can't, however we don't advertise the fact that we carry so they may not know.
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I belong to a "megachurch" (in size only... they still teach the bible, they don't fall into "I'm-OK-you're-OK" Christianity, and they avoid false doctrines like the prosperity gospel)... and AFAIK, they do not have a "security team."
They do have a decent video system, but I'm aware of no "armed" response plan. |
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Remember what this woman did??
Jeanne Assam Stops Gunman at New Life Church VIDEO OF HER INTERVIEW AFTER THE SHOOTING Her book on the experience I thought she was brave, smart and good looking. Too bad she made some stupid decisions to get her fired from the Police force. If this incident does not get your church leadership to consider armed security, then only an attack on your chuch will. I would also recommend: SHOOTING BACK: The right and duty of self defense - A book about a church attack in SA. |
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He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke 22:36
If banning guns is bad in the outside world, it is bad in church. If your elders refuse to see the truth in this matter, you may have a bigger problem on your hands in this matter. |
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Quoted:
This is a fairly new subject. But it is going to be the next new thing in many churches. The church security team. This is a touchy subject for some to talk about. . I am on our church's security team. Our church is about 2000 in size. I know that it is a good idea to have a game plan in case of emergency. However The team of about 30-40 guys on the security team is having trouble within the church as to what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to security. The "security team" is comprised of a few off duty officers etc. and in general most have a level head on there shoulders. My problem is this...... The elder board of our church waffles on policy: Most do not even want to think about this stuff and therefore it gets swept under the rug. The church just obtained a camera system for the nursery area. However, it was a very cheap system and it is more to appease those who pushed for it. Bottom line the elder board does not want to decide on anything on the subject of security......because it hasn't happened yet. Should there be a gun or guns in church? Right now there are no guns allowed on the church campus. Should certain people be asked to C.C. in church? I volunteer to be on the security team. I am about to quit because of all the ignorance or lack of care on the subject. It is very important to me especially in a church this size. Would you blame me if I left for this reason? My church is about 300 so its alot smaller, however, I taught a CCW class last year and the official policy now is, anyone with a CCW and, who is a member, can carry in our church. We have about 15 - 20 who do, including the pastor himself. But thats what you get from a country church in Missouri! |
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I know of a local church that has three uniformed officers outside, a security detail for the pastor complete with Secret Service style radio ear pieces and a security detail assigned to remain with the offerings and escort the offerings to the bank deposit box. Everyone is packing heat though most or all current local LE. |
well I am jealous of the country church with 15 -20 guys out of 300 carrying. Unfortunately, this church is more of a city church. Mentioning a place like possum holler in Missouri would get you a big  . It is more common to mention a location in relation to a local coffee shop. You guys have brought up a few valid points I have not even considered. 
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First question I asked my Pastor many years ago; "When I get my CCW, can I carry in Church." (Here in Ohio, we have to have permission from the Church in order to be legal). Pastor-Yep, the more good guys with guns, the better. I've been there ever since, and carry every Sunday, and at almost all other times. Pastor's son and the Pastor along with 2 others that I know of, just recently recieved or applied for their CCW. There are at least 2 armed people in there every Sunday that I know of currently, and I suspect several others. Sounds like we will be adding several more soon. I love my Church.
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Pastor and elders have to be 100% behind any security program. If not it will fail.
If they won't get behind it. Help them out until you can no longer see positive impact. Then focus on taking care of your family while at church. Come up with a plan for them and carry concealed at all time. |
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Quoted:
This is a fairly new subject. But it is going to be the next new thing in many churches. The church security team. This is a touchy subject for some to talk about. . I am on our church's security team. Our church is about 2000 in size. I know that it is a good idea to have a game plan in case of emergency. However The team of about 30-40 guys on the security team is having trouble within the church as to what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to security. The "security team" is comprised of a few off duty officers etc. and in general most have a level head on there shoulders. My problem is this...... The elder board of our church waffles on policy: Most do not even want to think about this stuff and therefore it gets swept under the rug. The church just obtained a camera system for the nursery area. However, it was a very cheap system and it is more to appease those who pushed for it. Bottom line the elder board does not want to decide on anything on the subject of security......because it hasn't happened yet. Should there be a gun or guns in church? Right now there are no guns allowed on the church campus. Should certain people be asked to C.C. in church? I volunteer to be on the security team. I am about to quit because of all the ignorance or lack of care on the subject. It is very important to me especially in a church this size. Would you blame me if I left for this reason? The elder board wishy washiness is something your church is going to have to deal with. They're living in a fairy tale world if they think it couldn't happen to them. The other stuff... Yes, there should be guns in church. However, who knows that there are needs to be a small group. Who knows who is carrying needs to be an even smaller group. Whether you leave or not is up to you. Personally, I would do everything I could before I left to make sure that everyone knows that there are risks that are going unmanaged. Even then I probably wouldn't leave over something like that. That's me... |
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I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pushed out a memo not too long ago politely asking that members do not carry at church. Yep. But like one poster already noted... There is at least one gun in my LDS chapel every week... No worries. Like I said, they asked politely. Brother Brigham was big on personal discernment. So am I. |
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A mega-church in my area has a very well organized group of off duty police officers and CHL carriers that coordinate their attendance times to cover three services and even train together. Last year they filled the place with airsoft bbs staging mock scenarios. They also don't disallow normal member CHLs. Another large church in my area doesn't have a plan at all and doesn't care. My advice to the O_P is to contact local churches and ask for a meeting with their security man to see how he does it. Also, there are companies dedicated to showing churches how to organize security. Do a search. |