This article was genuinely published here and copied with permission.

The majority of churches will not face a shooter or terrorist attack. Still, other emergencies may occur, and they must have a comprehensive security plan and Church Security Team to keep their members secure. It is only a small part of the solution to have video surveillance, alarm systems, and security staff.

Need for Security Plan in Churches

The majority of churches will not have to deal with a mass shooting. However, all churches are at risk of facing emergencies, accidents, robberies, fires, and other disasters. Your congregation can lose sight of your church's mission and the message God wants to share with them if they do not feel safe and secure. Church leaders, church members, and the Church Security Team trained from the best Church Security Training course Louisiana. Every congregation needs a security plan outlining what they should do in an emergency.

Who Should Serve on the Church Security Team?

If you are starting to build your Church Security Team, it will likely consist of people from the security field and those who would be better suited for administrative and office roles.

Advisory board or council

Creating a security plan and managing the security team of your church are responsibilities of the church board. When working with the team on finalizing the plan, board members must remain focused on the church's mission. Once the plan is implemented, the board will meet at least once a year to perform risk assessments and review security policies.

Security director

The security director is responsible for the security plan of a church. Boards and pastors should select a security director responsible for security for the church from the congregation. This person doesn't need to have a military or police history, but it is a benefit. It can be said that the director of security does not have a physical role but rather one of administration. This group should be responsible for the selection and training of the volunteer security team at the church and the purchase of necessary safety equipment.

Church security team

Several factors include your security team's physical and mental capability and their willingness to intervene in stressful situations. Your security team members must demonstrate competence and self-control. In an emergency, these individuals must be able to think quickly. To keep people safe and for the church to fulfill its mission, the church and its congregation must be able to depend on team members to make the right choices.

Initially, the security director should select and train the Church Security Team members to receive training from the best Church Security Training course in Louisiana about the church's mission and purpose from the church's orientation. While performing their duties, the Security Team members must remember to keep this mission in mind. There is an expectation for security team members to be familiar with lockdowns, evacuations, and medical emergency procedures. To cover security needs at all services, classrooms, and special events, members of the security team, must attend. Having enough members on hand to cover all the necessary activities is a best practice that should be followed annually.