Most congregations have established church security measures to protect attendees during worship services. While many pastors prioritize intentional safety plans and the presence of armed members, recent data shows a shift over the last three years: fewer churches report having formal written plans, while a higher percentage now rely on congregants carrying firearms.
The rise in fatal shootings at houses of worship has intensified safety concerns across the country. Following tragic events at locations like The Covenant School in Nashville, as well as attacks on synagogues and temples, many leadership teams are reevaluating their defense strategies. This environment has led to a growing reliance on armed churchgoers as a primary means of immediate protection.
According to a study from Lifeway Research, approximately 81% of U.S. Protestant pastors report having specific security protocols in place. However, 17% of churches still do not utilize any formal safety measures, and 2% remain uncertain of their current status. To bridge this gap, many ministries are now investing in integrated security technology for churches to create a more comprehensive and automated safety environment.
“Churches are not immune to violence, disputes, domestic disagreements, vandalism and burglary,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “While loving one another is a core Christian teaching, churchgoers still sin, and non-churchgoers are invited and welcomed. So real security risks exist whether a congregation wants to acknowledge them or not.”
Security Measures
In terms of security specifics, pastors are most likely to say their congregation has an intentional plan for an active shooter situation (57%). Additionally, most (54%) also say armed church members are part of the measures they have in place.
Around a quarter (26%) use radio communication among security personnel, while 1 in 5 say they have a no firearms policy in the building where they meet (21%) or armed private security personnel on site (20%). Fewer have uniformed police officers on church grounds (5%) or metal detectors at entrances to screen for weapons (1%).
“Most churches are small, so security plans often don’t need to be elaborate or expensive,” said McConnell.
Around half of the fatal shootings in churches since 1999 have occurred in the South. Pastors in that region are the least likely to say they don’t use any of the security measures at their churches (12%). Conversely, they are among the most likely to report their congregation has an intentional plan for an active shooter situation (64%), radio communication among security personnel (34%) and armed private security on site (26%). Additionally, Southern pastors are the most likely to say they have armed church members (65%) and uniformed police officers on site (9%).
More worshipers in attendance often leads to increased security measures. The larger the church, the more likely it is to have armed private security personnel on site and radio communication among security personnel. Churches with 250 or more in attendance are the most likely to have armed church members (74%) and uniformed police officers on site (27%). Those large congregations are also among the most likely to have an intentional plan for an active shooter situation (74%).
Pastors at churches with worship attendance of fewer than 50 people (29%) are the most likely to say they aren’t using any of the methods of preparation considered in this study.
Mainline pastors (22%) are more likely than evangelical pastors (14%) to not use any of the seven potential ways of security preparation at their churches. Denominationally, Lutheran (34%) and Presbyterian/Reformed pastors (30%) are at least twice as likely as pastors at non-denominational (14%), Restorationist movement (13%), Pentecostal (12%) or Baptist (8%) churches to say they don’t use any of the security measures.
African American pastors are three times more likely than white pastors to say they have uniformed police officers on site (12% v. 4%). African American pastors are also more likely than white pastors to say part of their security measures includes radio communication among security personnel (37% v. 25%) and a no firearms policy in the building where they meet (34% v. 21%). Meanwhile, white pastors are more likely than African American pastors to say they have armed church members (56% v. 33%).
More Guns, Less Planning
Compared to three years ago, pastors say they’re more likely to be relying on armed churchgoers and less likely to have a no firearms policy for their building. Fewer also say they have an intentional plan for an active shooter, compared to a 2019 Lifeway Research study.
Previously, 45% of U.S. Protestant pastors said armed church members were part of their congregation’s security measures. Now, more than half (54%) include that in their attempts to keep churchgoers safe. In 2019, 27% said they enforced a no firearms policy at their building. That has dropped to 21% now.
Churches are also less likely to rely on intentional planning to address potential security threats. In 2019, 62% said they had such a plan in place for an active shooting situation. Since then, the percentage of pastors who say that is the case at their church has fallen to 57%.
“While churches may have different convictions on how to maintain security, it is surprising that fewer churches have an intentional plan for an active shooter than did in 2019,” said McConnell. “As churches cut back on activities during COVID, this may have been one of the initiatives that did not resume for some churches.”
This article originally appeared on Lifeway Research and is published here by permission.