Word of the week: Security
The word of the week is security. Unless you are locked up in a cabin the woods, you are aware of the phenomena of public places being attacked by people with guns. Even churches aren’t exempt from this phenomenon. What do we do about it?
Steve Hill and I attended a security seminar sponsored by the Albemarle County Police Department. We learned a lot which Steve will be taking back to our deacons. Additionally, Grace has had a security assessment done for us by Officer Joe George of the Albemarle County Police. Officer George’s recommendations will be reviewed by our deacons and steps taken to improve the safety of our worship environment.
A few quick takeaways: we were told the chances of something like a shooting at a church or school is still very, very low. The most likely security issues at church are going to involve illness or injury. We are blessed to have people with medical training in our church. A little bit of organization will help us ensure quick aid is given in the case of an illness or injury. We also want to protect our children from things like a custody dispute that spills over into our children’s ministry - these are the more likely events.
Preventing security issues from robberies on up involve some fairly non-intrusive steps and don’t require having former Seal Team members all geared up and ready to shoot. Obviously, such a scene like that would not be welcoming to visitors or regular attenders! So, we can take the easy steps first and think about the more nuanced ones down the line. Some larger churches do have uniformed officers present and off duty armed officers in civilian clothes.
We learned that the most violent incidents were predictable over 90% of time. These individuals gave every indication that something violent was about to happen. So, one step everyone can take is to keep your eyes open, and if you see something, say something. Less publicized in the online world are the shootings which were stopped by law enforcement because community members alerted them to situations.
If you want to be more educated about these very rare situations, there is a great deal of helpful information. The law enforcement personnel at our seminar showed this video. I would not watch it with young children present. May none of us ever be asked to consider what we would do in these situations.
The law in Virginia about concealed carry in churches is somewhat nuanced. Steve Hill or I can fill you in on that. Our leadership has not yet taken any position on worshippers using their concealed carry permit at our church. Anyone who chooses to do so should be well informed about the legal nuances in Virginia. In Virginia, current and former law enforcement personnel may carry concealed weapons in any public setting, including a church. Retired police must pass recurrent training to be allowed to carry in all public spaces. While this is a very controversial subject, I think all can agree that training and currency would be an essential in this scenario.
I’m sure from time to time we all think about these scary scenarios. We trust the Lord to watch over us, and we are listening to others about steps to ensure Grace Church remains a safe and welcoming environment.
In Christ,
Don