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Churches get schooled on safety
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Published: September 17, 2009
Developing safety teams and practicing evacuation procedures might not seem like a priority for church leaders.
But those things, and a number of other safety procedures, should be at the forefront.
That's the message church leaders heard during the first day of a two-day seminar focusing on church safety and security Wednesday on the Barium Springs campus.
The seminar was sponsored by the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, and more than a dozen church leaders attended.
Lt. Rick Eades and Lt. Neil Hayes presented a program that included tips to avoid break-ins and to deal with more serious crimes, such as a shooter coming into the church or an act of terrorism.
The basic message, Eades said, is to take simple precautions, such as installing lighting, putting in deadbolt locks — and using the locks — limiting access to areas of the church frequented by children and trimming bushes or trees that could be hiding places for burglars.
Other parts of the lessons were much more difficult to comprehend for church leaders.
Acts of terrorism or a shooter coming into the church means making changes that stray from the basic principles for churches, said Jeff Owen of Landmark Church of God.
"It makes me angry," he said. "We have to be something other than what we want to be."
Sgt. Alton Price of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office shared stories from across the country of what can happen at churches.
At one church in Texas, a man killed eight people during a Wednesday evening service. In another shooting, a man killed three people at a church.
The list went on, with some shootings the result of domestic situations and others with no apparent reason.
Price said those at the church assigned to greet visitors or ushers need to be well-versed on what to look for and what to do.
He recommended ushers or greeters speak to visitors, offer a handshake and make eye contact.
Price also said church members should be on the lookout for unusual behavior, such as someone dressed in a heavy coat in the summer.
In the Texas case, the shooter had his weapon concealed beneath a trench coat.
"I'm not saying that you pull anybody out. But greet and talk to them. It makes them less likely to commit a crime," Price said.
Michael Davis of Lake Norman Christian Outreach in Mooresville said his church practices something similar — although for much less sinister motives.
"We meet and greet all the new faces in the church, " he said. "We do it before and after the sermon."
Owen said being suspicious goes against the very nature of church members. "It's a fine line to walk," he said.
"You don't want your whole congregation being wary and looking at what everybody is doing."
Davis said he garnered a lot of information he didn't know prior to attending this seminar.
"This has been very helpful," he said.
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