Church Security: Most Church Attacks Occur During Activities Other Than Sunday Morning Worship Services
A three-year study by Concilium Inc. concludes that criminal attacks during church services and in church buildings, not motivated by robbery or theft, are usually foreshadowed by warning signs—erratic behavior, severe mental health symptoms (hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, depression, and suicidal thoughts), a major life stressor, communicated threats, or the harboring of a grievance against a church or member—which are visible to people the assailant knows.
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of DE-ESCALATION ]
When these observable warning signs are reported, law enforcement and the potential assailant’s family members, friends, and peripheral contacts stand a good chance of preventing violence.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Criminals and Terrorists Overwhelmingly Select Gun-Free Zones For Mass Attacks in Public Spaces ]
“Church security training typically has a myopic focus on protecting Sunday morning gatherings, and church safety teams usually provide little, if any, coverage for other gatherings,” according to the report, Violence During Church Activities from 2019 to 2022. “This disparity needs to be corrected—especially considering that most incidents occur during smaller weeknight, weekday, and weekend activities. And most incidents occur outdoors, highlighting the need to layer security across a series of concentric perimeters, especially physical security presence in parking areas.”
[ Read the SemperVerus article, The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside ]
One of the report’s main deductions is that security is a task for the entire church, not just volunteer security teams. It “illustrates the need for all church staff members and volunteers to have good situational awareness and some level of training. Churches need to understand that many violent incidents are preventable, and most of them occur during activities other than Sunday morning worship services.”
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ]
Listen to the Concilium podcast, On The Path, episode title, Violence During US Church Activities from 2019 to 2023, which discusses the most recent edition of the report, covering statistics through 2023 and drawing 5-year conclusions.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]
Concilium is committed to advancing the Great Commission by protecting and empowering Christians on the mission field, offering risk management, security training, and safety guidance from a biblical perspective for Christian churches, ministries, and NGOs.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Team Pistol Qualification Course ]
“You cannot be obedient to Jesus and his call and not face negative consequences,” says Scott Brawner, president of Concilium. “This is why the Lord uses the stewardship of security to protect his people in their circumstances instead of from their circumstances.”
Read More SemperVerus Articles of Interest on Church Security
• IDPA: Practical Training for Self-Defense and Church Security
• Church Security Book Review: Defending the Flock
• Self-Defense and Church Security Training Resources
• Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment
• Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security
• Church Security Armament Recommendations By Tom Givens, John Correia, and 6 Other Professionals
• Organizing, Training & Running a House of Worship Armed Congregant Security Team
[ 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™!