“Aftermath” originally meant a second mowing. It has come to mean that which follows. Though the aftermath may be good or bad, the term is now generally used for difficult or unpleasant consequences. When it comes to church safety and security, our choices and actions may influence whether the aftermath of the use of force is good or bad.

Some people assume that “armed” means having lethal weapons, such as knives, archery, or firearms. But others recognize that a defender can be armed with a weapon that is less-than-lethal or essentially non-lethal. There are really three levels of force in this question - No Weapons, Less-than-Lethal Weapons, and Lethal Weapons.

In protecting the flock, we the sheepdogs, need to choose wisely which level of force to use in any situation. More than just knowing, we should drill responses to various situations so we can quickly decide what to do.

Where is the use of force justified and where it is excessive? For law enforcement, professional security, institutional security, volunteer defensive teams, and personal defense, the Use of Force is a Matter of Law. Thus, it is imperative that we know and remain up-to-date on our state’s laws regarding the use of force.

Our primary responsibility in church security is to protect the flock. And preventing violence whenever possible is the best way. But when violence is imminent or in progress, we must be ready to stop it. This brings up questions of when and how to use force in defending the congregation.

When there are allegations of child abuse in the church or at church related activities, how we respond (including reporting) can affect the effectiveness of the church’s ministry. Therefore, it is imperative that we fully and honestly report allegations of abuse, and that we take action to protect both the alleged victim(s) and the rights of the accused.

We cannot totally prevent child abuse – we have no control over most places in the community. But, for the most part, we can prevent it in our own jurisdiction, the church. We should have policies and procedures which, if followed, will guard against it happening.

Child abuse is more prevalent than many of us want to acknowledge. Children that are abused come to church, and so do abusers. The flock that we are to know is the flock we protect, and it may include both abused and abuser.

As a society, we expect families, schools, and churches to spread wings of protection over our children. At the very least, we expect safety for our children when they attend church and church-sponsored activities. Is your church doing all it can to protect the vulnerable?

Holidays have their own risks. These include fire hazards, icy roads and walkways, crowds, contagious sicknesses, thieves, and anti-Christian hate crimes. As Church Safety Ministry members, at this season and through the year, along with good cheer we can give the gift of safety.