Church security measures.?

Question

I've asked this to a number of personal friends and family, and it has always come off the wrong way--so I'm going to give it a go on my favorite little site ;)  ...

What is it that draws certain churches to needing security departments/security guards?  (for instance during services; leaders needing escort security).  Why is it common in certain churches, and not others?

It came to my attention that a local church here in my area has security personnel at their services, escorting their leaders around town, etc.  Do you think that it is a "new phenomena" that is directly related to the media which is attached to a certain church?  Why would some churches attract more "dangerous types" as opposed to another?  There are plenty of other churches that I am aware of that do not have security, and I can't think of a single parish that I know of that does.  However, when I brought this question up to someone, they claimed that it is common and many churches have this sort of thing.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

This depends on a number of things.

For one, it depends on the neighborhood.  ERBC in the West End of High Point, NC, has had to use some of their deacons as security.  Fourteen years ago, the neighborhood was bad, with people getting assaulted between the parking lot and the church.  Prostitutes used to do their business in front of the church.  On occasion, a substance abuser would attack a member.  I remember hearing one situation where Dr. Jim Summey had just wed a couple, and some drunken guy come onto the church property and started harassing the bride.  Jim asked him to leave, and the guy wouldn't.  In fact, the guy lunged toward Jim, and that was when Jim knocked him down.  Someone called the police and the guy on the ground was arrested for public drunkeness and assault.

In more recent years, that church has had minor problems during services such as theft and vandalism.  When I was a choir member there, I witnessed an attempted purse snatching during the morning service.  A woman walked in off the street and sat down.  She was not carrying a purse.  Then reached under the pew and started to leave, with a purse.  The wife of one of the deacons nudged her husband, and he and another deacon got the purse from the woman and escorted the woman out.

As for beliefs that draw a need for protection, I think that has to do with any church with traditional and conservative values.  Some churches have been raided by militant gays during services.  Going to the far extreme, Westboro Baptist has been bombed and/or set on fire a number of times.

Plus lets not forget the churches that were burned simply because the members were mostly Black.

Serpico7 · Answer

Dude, if anybody tries to attack my local church, the Knights of Columbus will attack!!!  EEEYAAHH  60 year old men chaaaarrrrggggeee!!!!

No churches in my area do this, maybe they have some electric security like ADT or something.

High Flyer · Answer

Sounds like these people are putting more faith in their fellow man (security guards) than in God. Very foolish perspective. Only God's protection is absolute.

Church security measures.?

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