Houses of Worship

Houses of worship face their own set of unique safety and security challenges. Houses of worship are intended to provide a welcoming atmosphere where members and visitors can gather to worship. Unfortunately, being open to the public can also create vulnerabilities. Disruptive individuals, ideological and/or religiously motivated threats, protests, and domestic situations are some examples of issues that leaders may be forced to address. Recent incidents have also demonstrated that active threats are not limited to firearms. Vehicles have been used as weapons against houses of worship, making parking lots, sidewalks, entrances, and outdoor gatherings important areas to consider when evaluating security.

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A-Train Tactical can work with your leaders to identify vulnerabilities and develop practical solutions that fit your facility and help your congregation become better prepared. We can conduct a site visit to evaluate your existing physical security and life-safety measures. Whether you already have an emergency plan in place or are starting from scratch, we can help. We can review any existing emergency plans and make recommendations, provide you with our fillable Emergency Action Plan (EAP) template, or help you create an EAP specifically for your organization.

 

We also develop and facilitate site-specific Active Threat Awareness Training for your leaders, security team, staff, volunteers, and congregation. Our training is discussion-based and includes scenarios that encourage participants to work together and apply the principles they have learned to bring each scenario to a logical conclusion. Every house of worship is different, and there is no single solution that eliminates every risk. However, teaching important concepts like maintaining situational awareness, reporting concerning behavior, and developing a survival mindset can help you recognize potential threats, make informed decisions, and take the appropriate actions when an emergency happens.