SEMINARS

Church Safety & Security Seminar

S&W has documented 942 church service and non-service related violent acts, which resulted in 404 deaths and 752 injuries from 1900 to 2022.

A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength. (Proverbs 24:5)

Course Objectives

When participants complete this seminar, they will have knowledge and understanding of:

• What to consider, how to prepare and steps to take to implement a church safety & security plan/team.
• Church violence in the United States
• Risk assessment for the feasibility of implementing a church safety & security plan/team
• Four tier system for church security implementation:
  • Tier 1 – Watchman (Ushers/Deacons/Greeters/observation & reporting)
  • Tier 2 – Guardian (Specially appointed/nonlethal force authorization only)
  • Tier 3 – Defender (Specially appointed/non-lethal & lethal force authorization)
  • Tier 4 – Law Enforcement
• Safety & security team selection considerations
• Pros & cons of implementing a church safety & security plan/team
• The difference between law enforcement & a church safety & security team
• Criminal & civil laws as it applies to church safety & security plans/teams
• Cost considerations of implementing, training & maintaining a church safety & security plan/team
• Church safety & security policy & procedure
• The theory of church security standard of conduct
• Types of training to consider for a safety & security plan/team
• Non-lethal & lethal force options
• Safety & security plan/team tactics & techniques
• What to do on law enforcement arrival
• Biblical foundations of church security

This seminar is offered as an eight hour session. It is strongly recommended that it be attended, prior to any other seminars offered by S&WM. Individual seminars have been designed for any of the three tiers outlined in the course objectives.

S&WM also offers Church Security Firearms Training Seminars.

Church Security Firearms Seminar

Hands On Training

Wisdom Is The Principal Thing. (Ps 4.7 KJV)

A Responsible Armed Church Safety & Security Team Is Prayed Up, Anointed, Educated, Trained & Equipped.

It can’t happen in my church???

• 1 Killed, 5 Injured. Hate crime. Male shooter hated Taiwanese people due to Taiwan and China disputes. (Laguna Woods, CA – 2022
• 1 Killed, 2 injured. Domestic violence spillover. Male shooter estranged from his ex-girlfriend. Shooter entered the church, confronted ex-girlfriend and fatally shot her and wounded two Pastors standing by her side. (Aurora, CO – 2022)
• 5 Killed, 0 injured. Domestic violence spillover. Non-service murder/suicide. The shooter estranged from family who was allowed to have supervised visitation at the church. The shooter during a supervised visited shot and killed his children and the male supervisor who was supervising the visitation. (Sacramento, CA – 2022)
• 0 Killed, 1 injured. Domestic violence spillover. Estranged girlfriend arrived at the church. She located the ex-boyfriend and shot him and a person standing by the victim. (Mobile, AL – 2021)
• 0 Killed, 3 injured. A male church member was having a dispute with the Pastor. The assailant entered the church where the Pastor was conducting a Bible Study and attacked him with a knife. (Chantilly, VA – 2020_
• 3 Killed, 0 injured. Active shooter. Shooter entered the church disguised. He sat in the Sanctuary, stood up during service, confronted an usher, produced a sawed-off rifle, and shot the usher. An armed church security guard confronted the shooter and fatally shot him. (White Settlement, TX – 2019)
• 11 Killed, 7 injured. Male shooter was anti-semantic. In between services shooter arrived at the synagogue and randomly shoot victims. (Pittsburg, PA – 2018)
• 26 Killed, 20 injured. Domestic violence spillover. Shooter held a grudge against his mother in-law who attended the church. The mother in-law was not present at the church on the day of shooting. The shooter walked up and down the aisles of the church randomly shooting parishioners. (Sutherland, TX – 2017)
• 1 Killed, 7 injured. Shooter attended church in the past. Motive was for revenge he had against the church. (Antioch, TN – 2017)
• 1 Killed, 0 injured. Domestic violence spillover. Estranged boyfriend arrived at the church and shot victim four times. (Lubbock, TX – 2016)
• 10 Killed, 10 injured. A male anti-Christian walked into a Christian church classroom and shot the teacher. He then lined up victims and asked what their religion was. If they answered Christian, they were shot in the head. If they stated no, they were shot in the leg. Suspect committed suicide on police arrival during shootout. (Rosenberg, OR – 2015)

Churches & Firearms

The decision to authorize weapons in the church is the single most critical decision in implementing a church safety and security plan that may have the most devastating impact on human life and a Pastor’s ministry. It takes a lot of prayer, thought, research and time for a Pastor to decide if they should authorize weapons in their church, as part of protecting their flock. This decision should not be taken lightly or done spontaneously. Once a church volunteer
makes the decision to use a firearm to protect life, It is irrevocable.

Servants & Watchmen Ministry fully understands the responsibility and liability a Pastor takes when they authorize church volunteers to carry/and or use a firearm, in their church, in the protection of human life. This is the sole reason S&WM has developed this training, as a tool, to help educate and train church volunteers selected by the Pastor. Continuous firearms’ training is the foundation of firearms proficiency, decision making and criminal and civil liability protection.

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give the warning from me. (Ezek 3:17 KJV)

Course Objectives

Understanding and demonstrating:

• Federal & State Statutes that pertain to Concealed Pistol License carry.
• Criminal and civil litigation when carrying a firearm in church services or church-sponsored events.
• Characteristics & traits of church violence.
• Live-fire firearms proficiency & qualification.
• Live-fire shoot-no shoot decisions
• Biblical foundations of church security.

Seminar Information

Each student shall:

• Have successfully completed their State’s Concealed Pistol License requirements and shall possess a current CPL from their State,
• Submit a copy of their CPL at the time of registration,
• Be or will be a person who either is appointed by their pastor to be an active/potential church security person,
• Submit a written letter, at time of registration, from their Pastor that they are authorized by their Pastor to attend this training,
• Sign a Disclaimer and Save Harmless form for this training (at time of registration),
• Provide for themselves a firearm & ammo for this training. (Only 1 firearm per student)

Number of Participants:
Minimum 15. Maximum 30