Prepared to Welcome, Ready to Respond: Synod Gathers Security Tools for Congregations
At its most recent meeting, the Grand Canyon Synod Executive Committee began a focused conversation on how our synod can better support congregations in the area of security and preparedness. At the invitation of Synod Vice President Mark Myers, we are developing a Congregational Security & Preparedness resource page on our synod website under Congregation Resources. This page will gather practical tools from trusted partners to help councils, staff, ushers, and volunteers think proactively about safety in worship and ministry settings.
Across the wider church, we know that congregations are being urged to review security procedures as part of basic risk management. ELCA churchwide resources note both an uptick in church-related shootings and the reality that most incidents happen either during a church event or on church property. Congregations are encouraged to build relationships with local law enforcement, develop emergency plans, and review building and grounds for potential risks.
Our new resource page will collect and regularly update links like:
Brotherhood Mutual – “Create a Safer Church”: including “10 Steps to a Safer Church,” with simple, low- or no-cost actions such as assigning clear roles in an emergency, identifying trained medical or security professionals in your membership, and monitoring entry points and parking lots during services.
Church Mutual Risk Control Resources: self-inspection safety checklists for houses of worship, risk-reduction guides, and articles on topics from security and crime prevention to severe weather, cybersecurity, and abuse prevention.
ELCA churchwide security guidance: including Protecting Employees – Security Procedures in the Workplace (PDF), with concrete suggestions for prevention steps by leaders, staff and volunteers, and for building and grounds.
FBI Workplace Violence (PDF) & Active Shooter Resources: materials that frame “workplace violence” as a continuum—from harassment and threats to physical assault—and emphasize early attention to concerning behavior, clear reporting channels, and cooperation with law enforcement.
Training and e-learning options: examples of active shooter / incident preparedness training that help organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from an incident, including trauma-informed care and evacuation planning.
These resources consistently highlight a few shared themes. First, there is no single “profile” of an active shooter and no single warning sign; instead, most attackers show multiple observable concerning behaviors over time, often leaking their intentions to people around them. Second, small steps matter: clear policies, consistent discipline, attention to threats and intimidation, and a culture where people feel safe reporting concerns can all reduce risk and improve response.
Our Lutheran theology gives this work its grounding. We worship a God who gathers people into community and calls the church to be both radically welcoming and wisely watchful—“wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Caring for the safety of children, elders, staff, volunteers, and visitors is part of our baptismal promise to “care for others and the world God made.” Security planning is not about fearfully closing our doors; it is about stewarding people and places so that ministry can flourish.
As Region 2 synods (including our neighbors in the West) develop similar pages, we will learn from one another and share best practices. Our Grand Canyon Synod page will be updated periodically as new denominational resources, insurer tools, and federal guidance become available, especially in the areas of:
Building relationships with local police, fire, and EMS
Threat assessment and reporting pathways
Active shooter and emergency operations planning for houses of worship
Trauma, victim care, and post-incident support
What congregations can do now
While the synod resource page is being built and expanded, congregations can begin or deepen their own conversations by:
Placing security and preparedness on the agenda for council and staff meetings.
Reviewing current building access, lighting, and parking-lot visibility, especially during evening events.
Identifying trained medical, law enforcement, and security professionals in the congregation who may advise or serve on a safety team.
Clarifying how ushers, greeters, and staff should respond if they see concerning behavior or a possible threat.
Establishing or updating an emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, communication plans, and care for those with mobility or sensory needs.
As with all legal and risk-management questions, congregations should consult their insurance carrier, local law enforcement, and qualified legal counsel when adapting these resources to their own context. The materials we link are intended as tools to support your discernment, not as legal advice.
We are grateful to Vice President Mark Myers for initiating this effort and for gathering key starting resources. As you review these materials and develop your own congregational plans, we invite you to share questions, local best practices, or additional resources with Mark at markmyersgcs@gmail.com or through the synod office. Together, as one body in Christ, we seek to make our churches places where all can worship, learn, and serve in safety and hope.
