Q. How do we prepare for violence in the church?

A. First, form a team to assess the risks. Second, create a plan that establishes guidelines on how to respond to each risk.

At a minimum your violence response plan should:

• Establish communication protocols, including media contact.

• Detail evacuation procedures.

• Identify responsibilities for key personnel.

• Provide first-aid guidelines.

It's not enough to have a plan. You need to be prepared to put the plan into action at any given time. To be ready, you should:

• Train key personnel.

• Educate the congregation about the plan.

• Conduct practice drills.

• Repeat these steps regularly.

Recommended Resources

If you found this information helpful, you might be interested in these other resources from Brotherhood Mutual:

• Learn more about creating a violence response plan in our article Developing a Violence Response Plan.

• Use this checklist to assess preparation for a Violent Attack at Church.

Published 2020

The information we provide is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. Accordingly, no attorney/client relationship is created through this process, and no legal advice will be provided. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.