Church security and church safety are concerns for many pastors, congregations, and worshipers throughout the United States.

Recent incidents have highlighted the need for an organized church security ministry where members of the community volunteer to help their fellow church members.

There are three primary church security concerns for most churches, and requisite planning and technology that can help you secure your church better.

Physical Plant Security

Churches primary threat is probably property crimes. Burglary, larceny and arson are the most frequent problems associated with crimes against the church. Due to the probability of money being present on campus and the presence of high end technology, churches may be targeted for larceny crimes. Hate groups have also targeted some churches for arson related crimes.

The best way to combat these types of crimes is to use security alarms and church video surveillance technology.

Church security alarms will alert the police to anyone breaching entry points from the exterior after hours. Many security companies provide monitoring services which will alert church officials should someone attempt to breach perimeter security. Additionally, the local police department is notified and will dispatch and officer to investigate.

The second way to protect the property is with church video surveillance. Many surveillance systems allow the user to monitor church property over the internet from home. The camera systems also provide your church security team with extra eyes and ears. You are able to monitor several areas of the church from one location. Instead of having roving patrols, one security operative can watch the children's ministry area, teen ministry area, Sunday School area, and each entrance point into the church.

Building a Church Security Team

Choosing team members with experience in security, law enforcement, EMS, and the medical profession is ideal. Each of these people demonstrate a level head everyday in their job, and their ability to deal with a crisis professionally is a big benefit.

Church security personnel's biggest responsibility is protecting the flock during the worship hours. The primary concerns are making sure disruptions are kept to a minimum, outside threats are identified, and if necessary to stop a threat and notify police of any security breaches or potential threats. The biggest problem is trying to balance hyper sensitivity with a service demeanor. The last thing a church security team wants to exhibit is that there is a church security team.

Church security ministry is a service based,discreet ministry that shouldn't look like security, but instead, should be the primary service ministry, helping church members and church visitors alike get around the church and find out where they belong.

Having a trained church security team in place to deal with potential threats is a great idea because having people in place ahead of time who are designated to respond to a problem helps the church respond more appropriately to problems and increases the security of the membership.

Children's Church Security

Churches are a refuge for many people, but there are times when churches can be targeted by child predators. Churches have child specific ministries, and it is a great idea to provide background checks for child ministry volunteers. Churches should show due diligence in protecting their individual ministries, but especially children.

Although background checks are a good idea, training both children's ministry personnel, and the children specifically to identify misbehavior and report it cannot be ignored.

Increase your churches security today by planning for specific incidents, identifying people within the church body to handle the incidents, and invest in technology to make the process of providing church security easier.