Genesis of Church Security
The idea of church security is not new. The biblical precedent is nearly 3500 years old! In the Old Testament the tribe of Levi provided security for the Tabernacle, the mobile sanctuary of early Judaism, and the Temple, the permanent sanctuary of Judaism. In The Book of Numbers, the Levites were charged to be both the spiritual and physical guardians of the Tabernacle. They would continue in this role after the Temple was built.
When a church decides to establish a volunteer security team, the initial members are often filled with the euphoria of being a “sheep dog.” They focus on the tactics and tools that are part of church security work. Rarely do these early volunteers consider the actual mindset and skills (to be discussed in subsequent articles) needed to fulfill the task of a church security team. Typically, once the novelty and excitement of “officially” carrying a gun and radio at the church wears off, many volunteers grow complacent, and this threatens the viability of the security team. Team members who persevere do so because they understand the importance of the security team, and these faithful members strengthen the team’s commitment to “fulfill its mission.”
Successful church security teams have a good understanding of the church’s mission found in the Gospels and The Book of Acts. Churches exist to share the Gospel with everyone, to encourage belief and commitment to Christ, and to help converts to grow in their relationship with God. The mission of the church often extends beyond the facilities owned by the church. Ministry often puts members, guests, and staff in close contact with people who are emotionally distraught, mentally ill, or unstable. Helping hurting and troubled people is a major reason why the church exists, and the suffering must be treated with compassion and respect.
In the New Testament, the Greek word for church (ekkleisia) means a called-out assembly and is very similar to the word synagogue in Judaism. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for the people of God is qahal which means an assembly or gathering of God’s people. Church gatherings can occur at traditional church campuses, educational buildings, fellowship halls, or non-traditional locations, and church security teams must adequately plan for each of these sites.
The church must not be perceived as a locked-down fortress that is unapproachable to those seeking material assistance, emotional support, or spiritual guidance. An effective church security team plays a critical role in facilitating ministry while keeping everyone physically safe. Future articles will give guidance for developing church security teams that facilitate the fulfillment of the church’s mission while maintaining and welcoming and safe environment.
Stay tuned for more!
