The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside

You’ve seen the headlines:

• “FBI Warns of Terror Threats to Churches, Synagogues”
• “Idaho Teen Accused of Planning Church Attacks in Loyalty to Islamic State”
• “Churches Urged to Be Vigilant Against Increasing Threats”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]

Here are practical suggestions to harden your church building and sharpen your defensive practices to keep your congregants and facilities safe from criminal and terrorist attacks:

•  Erect bollards and/or reinforced concrete planters parallel to the entire church building’s exterior that is most vulnerable to vehicle attacks (e.g., doors, glass windows and walls, etc.).

•  Affix security film on all first-floor windows and glass walls, reinforcing them to resist criminal breakage.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Directory of Medical Kit Resources ]

•  Install bright illumination in all areas of the parking lot.

•  Position security cameras covering all areas of the parking lot, structural façade, and building interior.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment ]

•  Ensure that the building’s entrance doors are quickly lockable in the event of an approaching attack and the need to conduct a lockout.

•  Provide each member of the security/safety team, medical team, greeter team, and usher team with two-way radios—including connected microphone and earpiece—to communicate with each other.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security: Radio Communications Best Practices ]

Keep in mind, the best defense preparation is built on concentric circles of security, beginning outside in the parking lot:

First Line of Defense

A security team member arrives early at the church building and drives (or walks) around the outside of it, looking for anything out of the ordinary, such as a car parked where it shouldn’t be or a back door ajar. Take a photo with your smartphone of anything askew.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense and Church Security: Make Scanning Your Priority ]

Second Line of Defense

A security team member at each driveway entrance to observe entering cars and their occupants; help direct them to keep traffic flowing; monitor people walking into the building to assess unusual behavior. During the service, walk around the parked vehicles watching for suspicious activity (e.g., catalytic converter theft, etc.). After the service, assist cars leaving if necessary and keep pedestrians safe as they walk to their transportation.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense and Church Security: Proper Firearm Defense in a Crowd ]

Third Line of Defense

One greeter and one security member standing outside every entrance door into the building, scanning the parking lot and the people walking from their cars into the building, looking for unusual behavior and furtive movements. A security member remains at each unlocked entry door for the duration of the service. Ideally, secondary entry doors would automatically lock after the first 10-15 minutes of the service, with only the primary entry door staying unlocked. Interior doors (with push/crash/bump bars on the inside) into the nursery and children sections/rooms should be locked after the first 10-15 minutes of the service.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Gentle Response De-Escalation Training for Church Security Teams ]

Fourth Line of Defense

At least one security team member roaming each interior corridor, restroom, stairwell, nursery and children section, kitchen, and lobby/atrium/foyer conducting situational awareness of everyone walking into the worship auditorium. Prior to the start of the service, 1-2 security members sweep the nursery and children sections to ensure emergency exits are locked from the outside and no unauthorized person is lurking inside a room or restroom. Entrance doors to the worship auditorium should be lockable with emergency push/crash/bump bars on the inside.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents (Part 2) ]

Fifth Line of Defense

At least four security members in the auditorium during the service: two seated in the front row in close proximity to the steps leading to the platform and the leaders conducting the service; two strategically seated/standing in the back at the end of exit rows or other key access points. Ushers helping congregants find their seats on the lookout for suspicious behaviors, dress, packages, etc. Investigate unattended backpacks and cases.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of CHURCH SECURITY ]

Invite SemperVerus^® to present its 5 life-changing success-generating components—prepare, aware, be, know, do—to your organization to inspire and motivate your members.

Join the SemperVerus Brotherhood™!