Congregational Security & Preparedness Resources
As followers of Jesus, we are called to create communities where all can worship, learn, and serve in safety and hope. In our time, that also means paying careful attention to basic security, risk management, and emergency preparedness in our buildings and ministries.
At the request of our Synod Vice President, Mark Myers, and following discussion at the Executive Committee and Synod Council, the Grand Canyon Synod has gathered the resources below to support congregations as they review and strengthen their safety and security practices. This page will be updated periodically as new tools become available.
Our goal is not to foster fear, but to help congregations be both welcoming and wisely watchful—“wise as serpents and innocent as doves,” caring well for children, elders, staff, volunteers, and visitors alike.
How to Use These Resources
These materials are intended to help congregations:
Start or deepen local conversations about security, workplace violence, and emergency preparedness.
Identify practical first steps that are low-cost or no-cost, especially for smaller congregations.
Build relationships with local partners, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, and insurance carriers.
Develop or refine written plans for responding to threats, violence, or emergencies in worship and workplace settings.
Important:
These materials are for information and planning only. They do not constitute legal advice. Congregations should consult their own attorneys, insurers, and local law enforcement when developing or implementing policies and procedures.
Every ministry context is different—size, location, building layout, neighborhood, and history. Use what fits, adapt what you can, and set aside what does not serve your congregation’s context.
You may find it helpful to assign this page to a small task group (council members, staff, ushers, and key volunteers) and have them report back with recommendations and next steps.
ELCA & Synod Resources
Protecting Employees – Security Procedures in the Workplace (ELCA)
This ELCA resource encourages congregations to evaluate their security procedures as part of basic risk management, recognizing that while violent acts cannot always be prevented, careful planning can reduce risks and improve response. It notes research indicating an uptick in church-related shootings and offers insight into when and where church violence most often occurs.
The document outlines practical prevention steps in three areas:
Leadership & Local Authorities – building relationships with police, providing them with building photos/blueprints, establishing emergency contact lists, and coordinating patrols and support for church events.
Staff & Volunteers – developing an emergency plan (including evacuation), communicating plans to the congregation, ensuring First Aid/CPR training and resources, and equipping ushers/greeters to watch for and report concerning behavior.
Building & Grounds – improving lighting, trimming hedges, limiting and monitoring entry points, and ensuring exits are clearly marked, unlocked, and well-lit.
Best for: Congregation councils, pastors, and staff who want a concise, church-specific starting point.
FBI Resources from ELCA Churchwide Site
This ELCA compilation of FBI workplace violence materials focuses on prevention, threat assessment, and multidisciplinary response teams. It highlights that:
Many organizations benefit from creating assessment and response teams that include security, HR, medical, and employee assistance representatives (in larger settings), reporting to a single senior leader for clear lines of authority.
These teams often consult with law enforcement, mental health professionals, emergency responders, and other outside specialists—relationships that should be built before a crisis.
Training for employees, supervisors, and managers should cover: early warning signs of problematic behavior, de-escalation strategies, reporting procedures, cultural sensitivity, and standard response plans for violent situations.
Evaluation efforts should include uniform reporting, trend analysis, and periodic surveys to assess the impact of security measures and identify new risks.
Best for: Councils and staff exploring how to create or strengthen a threat assessment / response team and develop clear reporting and training pathways.
Workplace Violence, Active Assailant & Incident Preparedness e-Learning
This resource (e-learning module) is designed to help organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents of workplace violence or active assailant situations, emphasizing:
Understanding the continuum of workplace violence (from harassment and threats to physical violence).
Basic principles of emergency response, including individual actions and organizational planning.
The importance of post-incident care, including trauma awareness and support for staff, volunteers, and community members.
Best for: Staff, ushers, volunteers, and safety teams who benefit from visual or interactive training, especially in larger congregations or multi-staff settings.
Insurance & Risk Management Partners
Brotherhood Mutual – “Create a Safer Church” and Safety Library
Brotherhood Mutual offers a concise article, “10 Steps to a Safer Church,” and a broader safety library designed for churches. The “10 Steps” article emphasizes that security planning does not need to be complicated or expensive, and suggests immediate, practical actions such as:
Assigning clear roles in an emergency—who calls 911, who speaks with authorities, who communicates with the congregation.
Identifying medical and security professionals within the congregation (nurses, doctors, current/former law enforcement, military).
Consolidating and monitoring entrances, using two-way radios, and assigning volunteers to watch doors and parking lots during services.
Reviewing pulpit/leadership positioning and drawing attention to exits, asking, “What if it happened here?”
These resources encourage churches to overcome denial (“it can’t happen here”) and to take low- or no-cost steps toward a safety mindset.
Best for: Congregations looking for quick, practical checklists and an accessible entry point into security planning.
Church Mutual – Risk Control Resources
Church Mutual provides a broad library of risk control resources, including:
Self-inspection safety checklists for houses of worship.
Guides on risk reduction, staff and volunteer safety, transportation safety, cybersecurity, severe weather, sexual abuse prevention, and more.
Articles on topics such as event safety, slip / trip / fall prevention, and protecting facilities and vehicles.
The ELCA’s “Protecting Employees – Security Procedures in the Workplace” document specifically points congregations to Church Mutual’s self-inspection checklists and crime-prevention guides as part of a comprehensive security review.
Best for: Councils, property committees, and finance teams who want structured checklists and guides to integrate security into ongoing risk management and stewardship of property.
Federal Law Enforcement & Active Shooter Resources
FBI Active Shooter Safety Resources
The FBI defines an “active shooter” as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Their Active Shooter Safety Resources page is designed to support schools, workplaces, houses of worship, and other public settings. It includes:
An overview of the FBI’s role in assisting local and state law enforcement during active shooter incidents, including investigative and victim support services.
Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness (ASAPP) training—a two-hour course for civilians using scenario-based exercises and the Run, Hide, Fight framework.
Training videos and quick reference guides in English and Spanish.
Links to after-action reports, research studies, and planning guides for emergency operations in schools, businesses, and houses of worship.
Congregations are encouraged to contact the active shooter coordinator at their local FBI field office for questions about training, and to report threats at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.
Best for: Safety teams, councils, and leaders seeking national-level guidance and training options for active shooter awareness and response.
Pre-Attack Behavior of Active Shooters (FBI Study)
This FBI research (often cited as “A Study of Pre-Attack Behaviors of Active Shooters”) analyzes active shooter incidents over many years to identify behaviors and patterns that appeared before attacks. The emphasis is on:
Recognizing that there is no single profile of an active shooter, but many exhibit observable concerning behaviors over time.
Understanding how potential attackers may communicate intent or grievances (“leakage”) to others.
Encouraging organizations to pay attention to threatening, escalating, or significantly concerning behavior and to have clear mechanisms for reporting and assessment.
Best for: Threat assessment teams, councils, and leadership groups who want to inform their policies and training with empirical research.
FBI Workplace Violence & Security Planning
The broader FBI workplace violence materials (as compiled in the ELCA “FBI Resources” PDF) cover:
The history and definition of workplace violence, including case studies of major incidents.
Strategies for security surveys—using questionnaires and staff input to identify high-risk situations, locations, or roles, and to confirm the need for improved measures.
Physical security considerations: visibility, alarm systems, access control, workspace layout, and clearly marked escape routes, including provisions for people with disabilities.
The critical importance of addressing threats and threatening behavior—recognizing, evaluating, and managing threats as a central piece of prevention.
Best for: Congregations that want a deeper dive into workplace violence concepts and how they translate into policies, physical security improvements, and ongoing evaluation.
Suggested First Steps for Congregations
You do not need to implement everything at once. Consider beginning with a few manageable, high-impact steps:
Put security on the agenda.
Schedule time at a council meeting and/or staff meeting specifically to review this page and assign next steps.
Build or reaffirm relationships with local authorities.
Contact your local police department, fire department, and EMS to introduce key leaders, share building information, and ask for guidance on safety reviews.
Review your building and grounds.
Walk through your facility with a small team and note lighting, entrances/exits, visibility, and potential hiding places. Use a self-inspection checklist from Church Mutual or your insurer if possible.
Clarify emergency roles and communication.
Decide who calls 911, who interfaces with law enforcement, and who communicates with the congregation during an emergency. Identify backups for each role.
Equip ushers, greeters, and volunteers.
Provide simple guidance on greeting, observing, and reporting concerning behavior. Ensure they know the basic emergency procedures and how to contact help quickly.
Develop or update an emergency plan.
Create a written plan that includes evacuation routes, shelter-in-place options if appropriate, communication protocols, and how to account for people with mobility or sensory needs.
Plan for training.
Consider scheduling a training session using the e-learning resource, FBI ASAPP materials, or other workshops provided by local law enforcement or your insurer.
Ongoing Updates and Feedback
This page will be updated periodically as:
Region 2 synods share new tools and examples.
ELCA churchwide offices release additional guidance.
Federal agencies, insurers, and other partners update their best practices and training options.
If your congregation has developed policies, checklists, or practices that might help others in our synod, please share them with the synod office or with Vice President Mark Myers. Together, we can support one another in creating safer sacred spaces where the gospel can be preached and lived with confidence and care.