Ready When It Matters: Creating a Congregational Emergency Plan
As part of our 2026 Congregational Security & Preparedness series, we turn to a foundational step: creating or updating a simple emergency plan for your congregation.
Every congregation hopes they will never need such a plan. Yet having one in place is one of the clearest ways we care for the people entrusted to us—ensuring that when something unexpected happens, we can respond quickly, calmly, and clearly.
At its core, an emergency plan answers three basic questions:
How do we exit safely if needed?
Where do we go or shelter if leaving is not safe?
How do we communicate clearly with one another and with first responders?
Why an emergency plan matters
In a crisis, people do not rise to the occasion—they fall back on what they already know. Without a plan, even experienced leaders can find themselves reacting in the moment without clear direction.
With a plan:
Response becomes more organized and coordinated
Confusion and panic are reduced
People know where to go and what to do
Leaders can focus on care rather than improvisation
The ELCA’s Protecting Employees – Security Procedures in the Workplace resource specifically encourages congregations to develop an emergency plan, including evacuation procedures, and communicate it clearly to staff and key volunteers. Download and view as PDF here.
Three essential components
An effective emergency plan does not need to be long or complex. Most congregations can begin with three core elements:
1. Evacuation
Identify primary and secondary exit routes from all main spaces (sanctuary, classrooms, fellowship areas)
Ensure exits are clearly marked, unobstructed, and accessible
Designate a safe gathering location outside the building where people can regroup
2. Shelter or Stay-in-Place
Identify situations where it may be safer to remain inside (e.g., severe weather or external threats)
Determine safer interior areas (away from windows, secure rooms if available)
Clarify how leaders will guide people to these spaces
3. Communication
Determine how instructions will be shared during an emergency (verbal direction, microphones, designated leaders)
Clarify who communicates with the congregation and who communicates with emergency services
Ensure key leaders and volunteers know how to contact one another quickly
These elements build on the work we discussed in previous articles—clarifying roles, building relationships with first responders, and reviewing building layout.
Keep it simple and usable
The most effective emergency plans are:
Simple enough to understand quickly
Written down in a clear, accessible format
Shared with staff, ushers, and key volunteers
Reviewed periodically, especially when leadership or building use changes
A one- or two-page plan is often more useful than a lengthy document that is difficult to recall in a moment of stress.
A ministry of preparedness and care
From a Lutheran perspective, creating an emergency plan is an act of faithful stewardship and neighbor care. It reflects our responsibility to create spaces where people can gather not only with open hearts, but with a sense of safety and trust.
Preparedness does not diminish hospitality—it strengthens it. When people know there is a plan, they are better able to focus on worship, learning, and community.
Take the next step
If your congregation does not have an emergency plan—or has not reviewed one recently—consider:
Assigning a small group (council, staff, property team, ushers) to draft or review a plan
Identifying evacuation routes, shelter areas, and communication methods
Sharing the plan with staff and key volunteers
Scheduling a brief annual review to keep the plan current
For additional tools and guidance, visit:
👉 Congregational Security & Preparedness Resources
gcsynod.org/security
As we continue this series, each step helps build congregations that are not only welcoming, but also prepared, responsive, and grounded in care for all who gather.
