I've always wondered this about congregations. Do most ensure there are volunteer ministries within parishes/congregations that secure each mass/service? Are there x number of people at each service who carry just in case of an attack?

I've never asked about this at my church, but I'm going to now. We live in a crazy world and I don't want my spouse or me to be unprepared if this happens at ours.

How does your church approach this?
For the Catholics in the room, how does your parish approach this?

Praise the Lord for the untucked style in men's shirts- no one knows who is packing!!

Lutheran church goer here. Our church has a volunteer safety team. Some of us carry. We run practice scenarios about once a quarter. Not just active shooter, but fire evacuations, medical emergency (like someone having a heart attack during service), severe weather, ect. I think all churches should have a group that is prepared for anything. We also pay to have a police officer on-site during worship services.

Our church has:

2 officers at main entrances for all services
A dedicated security team of 5-6 people at all times (all carrying and ear pieces in place)
A bunch of folks, like myself, packing heat every service

We have an of duty cop parked outside and have had for a while. He should probably be inside but I have no say in it.

Owlagdad said:

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Praise the Lord for the untucked style in men's shirts- no one knows who is packing!!

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Big fan of the Poncho's pearl snaps lately. Look nice enough... It's also almost jacket season.

Both churches we attend have at least 2-3 constables in the foyer. I am thankful for the more modern/casual church dresscode as I can easily and comfortably pack heat for every service as well.

We have a lot of dudes carrying. Trying to ambush a suburban or rural church service in the South is a suicide mission.

Agwinner03 said:

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Lutheran church goer here. Our church has a volunteer safety team. Some of us carry. We run practice scenarios about once a quarter. Not just active shooter, but fire evacuations, medical emergency (like someone having a heart attack during service), severe weather, ect. I think all churches should have a group that is prepared for anything. We also pay to have a police officer on-site during worship services.

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Similar to us. We dont have a cop onsite though, but we have 2-3 in the congregation at any time. Small town in CO.

Owlagdad said:

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Praise the Lord for the untucked style in men's shirts- no one knows who is packing!!

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I'm only 43 but already buying midlife crisis Tommy Bahama shirts, exclusively for comfortable carrying at church.

My Parish is in Ft Worth diocese. The diocese directed all parishes to form a security team. Our team has tactical training every few months and the church helps fund ammo for the team.

We have people strategically placed throughout the sanctuary and the greeters are trained to identify potential threats. They are mic'd up with ear pieces to communicate with one another.

It's a lot of work and dedication.

9MM x 3
45 x 1

Cameras.

Baptist here.

I'm on a 4-man security council (3 of us, one being a LEO, and the pastor). We have a team that rotates every week (attend one service, serve during the other service). All of us carry whether attending or serving.

We're also looking at upgrading our security cameras and having a rotating team of upperclassman high schoolers to monitor that from the church office with a radio handy to let the armed people know if something needs to be addressed.

We're tucked away in a nice neighborhood away from the highway, so an attack by randos seems unlikely. We're more concerned with someone developing a personal beef with the pastor or staff and deciding to act out.

That's not counting the non-security team members that, like me, if you see them outside their residence, just assume there's a firearm on them.

Ghost of Bisbee said:

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I've always wondered this about congregations. Do most ensure there are volunteer ministries within parishes/congregations that secure each mass/service? Are there x number of people at each service who carry just in case of an attack?

I've never asked about this at my church, but I'm going to now. We live in a crazy world and I don't want my spouse or me to be unprepared if this happens at ours.

How does your church approach this?
For the Catholics in the room, how does your parish approach this?

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We have members conceal carrying each service.

Same for my Bible Study Fellowship group.

We have cops, some are noticeable, some are not.

There is no fear in being martyred for the Lord.

It is still extremely rare even if it is tragically more common than it once was.

Living near a military base has its advantages.

Baptist church equipped with cameras during services. Two armed police on duty, security teams and god only knows how many service members attend regularly.

Justice will be served up swiftly, brutally and permanently!

We attend a small town church.

One of the greeters carries and stays at the main entrance all service. Atleast 3-4 parishioners are carrying. Does not include other folks we know that carry and aren't apart of the security council.

Seems like churches need to look into getting something to prevent a car from driving into the front of the church. That has happened/been attempted twice now.

We have a volunteer safety team. All armed and trained. A couple are off duty or retired LEO's.

I work with a few hundred different churches, all Protestant, mostly evangelicals. You gotta be on a suicide mission to try some nonsense in a church these days. Differing levels of sophistication from church to church, but you can just about guarantee that if you're a visitor generally or a solo male visitor specifically, you have eyes on you. And those eyes are attached to someone appendix carrying, one in the chamber, probably former military or LEO, and who takes his sheep dog responsibility very, very seriously.

Put a guy up there where the church bells are right now....

Wife and I both carry inside the church we attend.

Might change location were we sit during worship so I have a better view point.

Sword in one hand and the shield in the other.

TyHolden said:

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Put a guy up there where the church bells are right now....

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Those should be in front of every embassy and barracks too. Can you imagine how Beirut 1983 goes for the marines if some batteries like that or even a tank or two was in the way.

My plan is my Glock 9mm in a beautiful Brahmin handbag.

we have an officer at every entrance. 3 entrances. and just based on where I live, I'm certain 25% of member are conceal carrying.

Gun violence is rising at churches your odds being killed at church have to be low?

I have been a lead member on security team for years.

Four pillars to security:

Awareness
Deterrence
Avoidance
Training

We put large stones around perimeter so no vehicle could penetrate to building exterior.

We station armed guard all ingress/egress points.

We were shooting and scenario shooting as buddy teams 2-3x per year.

Highly recommend taking stop the bleed classes for Sec Team AND any volunteers. We also taught CRASE to those interested. Need to buy a squad level stop the bleed kit or multiple depending on size of church. NAR is a great resource.

If you in Austin area I have instructors who love to train churches. PM me and I will coordinate.

Don't forget to pray. Ultimate protection comes from Jesus.

We have some off duty cops that are around every Sunday. I think honestly is in part because we have had some drugged out people come inside in the past. We are in a really weird area in Texas where across the highway is incredibly wealthy where the other side is one of the poorest and most drug addicted in the state

El Gallo Blanco said:

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Both churches we attend have at least 2-3 constables in the foyer. I am thankful for the more modern/casual church dresscode as I can easily and comfortably pack heat for every service as well.

We have a lot of dudes carrying. Trying to ambush a suburban or rural church service in the South is a suicide mission.

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Sadly, not always the case.

https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/05/reports-multiple-people-dead-following-central-texas-police-shooting/

milner79 said:

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El Gallo Blanco said:

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Both churches we attend have at least 2-3 constables in the foyer. I am thankful for the more modern/casual church dresscode as I can easily and comfortably pack heat for every service as well.

We have a lot of dudes carrying. Trying to ambush a suburban or rural church service in the South is a suicide mission.

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Sadly, not always the case.

https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/05/reports-multiple-people-dead-following-central-texas-police-shooting/

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Yep, horrible...I think a ton or churches beefed up security after that...and it inspired many to carry to protect the flock in ways the pastor can't.

You have churches that lean liberal and are target rich environments. I don't trust others to guard me especially if I'm to be a target

We have armed rednecks and a cop or two at ours

In our local Presbyterian church it appears to be empty seats, but the Dem voters make up the majority so shouldn't be too much of a target.