Security as Stewardship: A Practical ELCA Resource for Churches
Protecting Employees, Caring for Communities: An ELCA Guide for Congregations
As part of our 2026 series on Congregational Security & Preparedness, we turn next to a foundational ELCA churchwide resource: Protecting Employees – Security Procedures in the Workplace. This concise document offers congregations a clear, church-specific starting point for thinking about safety, prevention, and response in ministry settings.
The premise is straightforward and pastoral: while violent acts cannot always be prevented, thoughtful security review is a basic part of faithful risk management. Planning ahead helps reduce risks, improves response during emergencies, and supports the well-being of staff, volunteers, and congregants alike.
You can download and review the full document here:
Why this document matters
The ELCA resource draws on research showing an uptick in church-related shootings and provides insight into when and where violence most often occurs—during church events and on church property, both inside and outside buildings. The goal is not to alarm congregations, but to encourage reasonable, proactive steps that align with our call to care for people and steward ministry spaces responsibly.
For many councils and pastors, this document is especially helpful because it is:
Written specifically for congregations, not generic workplaces
Focused on prevention and preparation, not reaction alone
Organized in clear, manageable categories that can be reviewed step-by-step
Three areas of practical guidance
The document outlines prevention steps in three key areas that most congregations can begin addressing right away.
1. Leadership & Local Authorities
Congregations are encouraged to build relationships with local police and emergency responders before a crisis occurs. Suggested steps include sharing building photos or blueprints with authorities, establishing emergency contact lists for staff, coordinating patrols when possible, and notifying police of special events. These relationships can significantly improve response and coordination in an emergency.
2. Staff & Volunteers
Clear planning and communication are central here. The resource recommends developing an emergency plan—including evacuation procedures—communicating those plans to staff and key volunteers, and ensuring First Aid and CPR resources and training are available. Ushers and greeters play an important role as well, by establishing eye contact with those entering worship, watching for concerning behavior, and knowing how to report concerns quickly.
3. Building & Grounds
Simple physical changes can make a meaningful difference. These include improving lighting, trimming hedges or landscaping that could create hiding places, limiting and monitoring entry points, and ensuring exits are clearly marked, unlocked, and well lit. These steps support both everyday safety and emergency response.
A faithful place to begin
From a Lutheran perspective, this work is rooted in vocation and care. Protecting employees, volunteers, and worshipers is part of our shared responsibility to love our neighbors and create spaces where ministry can flourish. Security planning, when done thoughtfully, supports hospitality rather than undermining it.
This ELCA document is not meant to be the final word, nor does it replace legal counsel or insurer guidance. Instead, it offers a practical framework that councils, pastors, and staff can use to begin or renew conversations about safety in a grounded, non-reactive way.
As we continue this series throughout 2026, each article will highlight one aspect of congregational security and link back to the synod’s growing resource hub:
Congregational Security & Preparedness Resources
We invite congregations to take this one step at a time—starting with conversation, moving toward clarity, and always keeping care for people at the center.
