New Realities of Church Safety
By Sam Rainer
Every church has a dual calling when it comes to the evils of the world: ensure safety and confront danger.
- Ensure safety (internally): The church must be a place where every person is protected from harm.
- Confront danger (externally): The church is also called to send people out to preach the gospel in dangerous places.
A safe church is a threat to the enemy. An unsafe church undermines the gospel and is an asset to the enemy.
The High-Trust and Low-Security Environment
Churches, by nature, tend to be low-security and high-trust places. Their mission to welcome everyone and encourage attendance can make them vulnerable. With frequent gatherings and limited security checks, these environments can be perceived as soft targets for those with malicious intentions. Consider this matrix with different places. I’ve used the word “trust,” but you could replace it with “hospitality” and the same principles would apply.
High security and low trust: Everyone must go through security in airports. No exceptions. TSA agents assume anyone could be a risk and do not show much hospitality.
Low security and low trust: In shopping malls, anyone can come and go, and only a few shops contain security measures like metal detectors or armed guards. Most retailers have limited security. At the same time, these stores assume that anyone is a potential shoplifter. Hospitality and trust are not an emphasis.
High security and high trust: In many casinos, patrons are often treated with higher degrees of hospitality and trust. For the most part, anyone can play the games. Free drinks are offered as if you are an old friend or a longstanding client. But as we all know, hidden just behind the surface, these environments have some of the highest levels of security of any business in the world.
Low security and high trust: Churches have a unique environment in which guests are treated with high levels of hospitality and trust. If a church has a good first impressions ministry, new people receive parking spots of honor, free coffee or water, campus tours, welcome gifts and a proper introduction to the pastor. Rarely does a church have metal detectors, armed guards or any serious security measures.
