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 Prepare for Violence in Your Church.
• Find out the five options for Surviving a Violent Attack at Church.
• Read about communication plans in Effective Communication After a Crisis.
   

*Important information: Brotherhood Mutual is pleased to provide Legal Assist as a complementary resource. The services we offer through Legal Assist are intended to provide general legal information to our current and prospective policyholders.

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.