Training a Church Safety Team
April 13, 2016
Simply having a church safety team is not enough, especially if team members cannot respond properly to medical emergencies or threats against the pastor or members of the congregation. Team members must train continuously to master appropriate skills for the roles they’re assigned.
Begin initial training immediately when members join the team
Schedule an initial training session soon after bringing new team members into the fold. Subjects to cover with all team members should include:
- Individual roles and responsibilities
- Threats, hazards, and protective actions
- Emergency response procedures
- Evacuation, shelter, and accountability procedures
- Notification, warning, and communication procedures
- Location and use of common emergency equipment
- Emergency shutdown procedure for utilities
Ongoing training should increase with responsibility
All team members benefit from regular training about emergency response procedures. Some team members, such as medical responders, may require additional certifications, for which you will have to arrange instruction from an expert trainer. Generally, training should increase as responsibility increases. Consider these ongoing training topics:
- First Aid, CPR, and AED use
- Child protection procedures
- Church policies and procedures
- Dealing with a range of people (church staff, difficult people, and the congregation at large)
- Verbal de-escalation techniques
- Appropriate use of force
- When and how to complete an incident report
Use a variety of training tactics
People learn in different ways. Safety and security team training typically follows one or more of these formats:
- Classroom instruction: policies, procedures, and emergency scenarios communicated on paper and discussed in a group setting.
- Tabletop exercises: verbally discuss crisis scenarios and potential responses.
- Drills or exercises: repeated rehearsal and role-playing reinforces the lesson and helps keep the information fresh. Local law enforcement officials may be willing to assist in practicing scenarios.
Document training
Record the type of training and certification that safety and security team members obtain, not only to track training progress, but also to allow the ministry to defend itself legally in the event of a lawsuit involving the ministry’s response to an emergency. Maintain training records for at least five years after training completion.
- April 13, 2021
- Take Time to Review Your Ministry's Child Protection Plan
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Though child abuse may not be something you could ever imagine happening within your ministry, sexual abuse of a minor is one of the top five reasons churches end up in court, according to Church Law & Tax. Studies also show that a child is much more likely to be sexually abused by a trusted adult than a stranger.
- March 16, 2021
- Prepare for Severe Spring Storms Now
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When severe storms strike, they can produce high winds and tornadoes. Damaging winds can wreak havoc on your ministry’s property and to buildings. A high wind event can crash debris through your windows, strip your siding, down trees on your parking lot, peel shingles off your roof, and fling back the flashing.
- February 25, 2021
- Catalytic Converter Theft on the Rise: Protect Ministry Vehicles
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Thieves are taking advantage of soaring precious metal prices. Take steps to protect your ministry’s vehicles and property.
- February 15, 2021
- Grant Funds Available for Safeguarding Ministries
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As the Director of Ministry Safety for our agency, I am dedicated to finding ways to help safeguard ministries like yours.
- February 5, 2021
- Avoid Frozen Pipes as Temperatures Plummet
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As temperatures plummet, the risk of freezing pipes jumps. Frozen pipes can cause costly messes that could also put your ministry on hold while you clean up.
- January 12, 2021
- Potential Vulnerabilities in School's Safety Plan
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On behalf of our agency, I recently participated in one such training which focused on strategies and tactics for responding as a single officer to an active safety threat in a school building.
- January 5, 2021
- Church Safety Trends for 2021
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If you’re anything like me (and maybe the rest of the world for that matter), you’re grateful to put the craziness of the past year behind us.
- November 23, 2020
- COVID-19 and the Christmas Season
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Preparing for this Christmas season may require additional creativity, due to the uncertainty of what COVID-19 may bring in our local community.
- October 28, 2020
- Guidance for Ministries About Boy Scouts' Bankruptcy
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A mid-November deadline in the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings may have you wondering what the organization’s bankruptcy filing means for your ministry if you ever hosted or chartered Boy Scout Troops.
- October 27, 2020
- Self-Defense or Second-Degree Murder?
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On October 10, 2020, in Denver, Colorado, a 30-year-old private security guard who was hired to protect a Denver news crew while covering protests was involved in a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a 49-year-old man.
- October 1, 2020
- Applying for PPP Loan Forgiveness
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Organizations that obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding through the CARES Act can have their loans forgiven, turning them into grants. To qualify, each borrower must file a forgiveness application with its PPP lender, proving that it followed the rules. If your church, school, college, or camp meets all the criteria, 100% of its loan can be forgiven.
- August 27, 2020
- Emergency Dispatch: Cameron Peak
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Lessons learned from the front line of a wildland fire.
- August 20, 2020
- Colorado Wildfires: Prepare Your Ministry Now
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Four major wildfires are burning across Colorado, fueled by dry vegetation, drought and wind.
- April 13, 2020
- Beware of COVID-19 Cyber Scams
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Ministries are creatively scrambling to continue their operations and safely engage their congregations with an array of online technologies during the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, hackers are ready to take advantage of the confusion with scams designed to steal valuable data or siphon funds from your ministry. Learn how to keep your ministry safe from scams.
- March 30, 2020
- CARES Act: Churches Need to Apply Now
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Learn about the CARES Act and two loans for which ministries may be eligible, since Congress authorized additional funding April 23.
- March 6, 2020
- Coronavirus and Your Ministry: Tips for Prevention
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As concern over the dangers associated with the spread of a new coronavirus, COVID-19, spreads, our agency and Brotherhood Mutual want to keep you informed and provide best practices for managing the spread of this and similar illnesses at your ministry.
- January 29, 2020
- Hosting a Game Day Bash? Brush Up on Copyright Basics
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The first Sunday in February is a big day for sports fans. In fact, many Americans view Super Bowl Sunday as a national holiday. Friends and families will gather this year to watch the big game, enjoy delicious snacks, and of course, critique the commercials that go along with game day.
- October 28, 2019
- Are You Covered If You're Injured Overseas?
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Recently, we learned about two major overseas incidents involving pastors on mission trips. The first incident involved a pastor being hit by a motorcycle while running. The second was a bus accident involving two pastors. The runner and one of the two bus passengers sustained extensive injuries.
- September 1, 2019
- IRS Announces More Church Audits Regarding ACA Compliance
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Last month, the IRS announced that its initiating hundreds of church exams to test compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While many provisions only apply to churches with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), even smaller churches could potentially violate provisions applicable to health benefit plans with as few as 2 plan participants.
- August 15, 2019
- Record Breaking Hailstorm Hits Colorado
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On Tuesday, August 15, 2019, a record-breaking hailstorm struck multiple areas throughout the state of Colorado.