Resurrection Sunday Safety Tips

Scott, one of our experienced Security Consultants serving at a large, 6 campus church, recently shared some valuable safety tips we believe every church should consider this coming Resurrection Sunday.  Feel free to implement these safety tips with your staff!

• Pray

• Treat Security as a Ministry:  Being able to engage with attendees is a ministry opportunity.  Be prepared to handle a situation with care.  You don’t have to be a “Bouncer” in most cases. 

• Pre-Plan with Local Police:  I always recommend checking in with your local police and asking if they are monitoring any potential situations targeting Houses of Worship.  Having a visible police presence can serve as a deterrent. 

• Understand the Power of Hello:  Maintaining a safe environment is a team effort.  I always recommend briefings with your greeters, ushers, parking team, and Guest Services so everyone understands how to engage someone with a smile and eye contact accompanied with “Hello, how can we serve you today?”   This helps determine if you have a visitor or someone who may need greater attention. 

• See Something, Say Something:  I always recommend reminding volunteers and staff that if something doesn’t look or sound right, tell someone right away. 

• Establish a Visible but Friendly Security Presence:  A welcoming, watchful presence can deter threats and provide peace of mind. Consider plainclothes team members in the congregation as well as stationed individuals at key entrances and exits. Your goal is to be seen without being distracting.

• What is Your Disruption Plan?:   Plan in advance with staff what your disruption plan will be.  If your services are interrupted, how will you proceed?  You could have someone protesting or challenging the pastor.  Our team will politely engage while the worship team prepares to have everyone stand and sing Amazing Grace until the situation is resolved. 

• Prepare for Those That Need Extra Time:  Good Friday and Easter can be emotional services.  Some people just need a little extra time.  Many times we see ushers trying to hurry people out of the worship center so they can prepare for the next service.  I recommend having a care team that can respond if needed.  They can always go to a private area if needed but many times, someone just needs a little time to understand what our Savior did for us. 

• Prepare for Medical or Behavioral Incidents:  Have your team ready with basic first aid and a plan to discreetly handle someone experiencing a medical episode, disruptive behavior, or emotional crisis.  Holidays can bring up a lot for people, and being both compassionate and prepared is vital.

• Conduct a Pre-Service Walkthrough and Briefing:  Run a team huddle the morning of Easter to review roles, expectations, and response protocols.  Walk the campus to check exits, fire alarms, AED locations, and anything out of place. Pray together and remember, a calm, unified team makes all the difference.

• Police Presence:  We utilize plainclothes officers onsite to handle criminal and disruptive situations.  They attend our briefings and have radios to communicate with the safety team members.

• Don’t Touch Anyone!: This is important because once you touch someone, they can file assault or battery charges against you.  The only time someone should be touched is if someone fears for their safety or someone else’s.

If you and your Ministry found these safety tips helpful, please let us know!  We would love to hear if these helped out in any way possible! 

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