Protecting Your Congregation: Practical Security & Risk Management for Churches

The church has long been a sanctuary, a place of worship and community. Even as we cherish God’s house as a place of peace, events in recent years have shown that wise, practical steps are still needed to protect those who gather to worship.

In California and throughout the nation, courts recognize that churches, like all property owners, owe a duty to reasonably protect those who gather to worship. This means ministries should take thoughtful steps to address risks that could be anticipated.

Courts evaluate security obligations through a lens of reasonableness and sound judgment. In Vasilenko v. Grace Family Church, the California Supreme Court explained that churches are not responsible for guarding against every possible risk. Instead, leaders must exercise reasonable care. This means being mindful of vulnerabilities such as unlocked doors or unclear emergency procedures and keeping clear records of efforts to improve safety. Preparation, not perfection, is the goal.

Similar principles were applied in Paul Dorman v. Ner Simcha, Inc., where a California court considered whether a synagogue could be held liable for an assault that occurred during a service. The court focused on whether the incident was reasonably foreseeable and whether the congregation had taken reasonable precautions under the circumstances. The takeaway: churches are not expected to eliminate all risks, but they should anticipate and plan for those that are reasonably foreseeable.

Documented policies prove a church’s due diligence and reduce negligence exposure. California's SB 553 (effective 2024) mandates workplace violence prevention plans and annual training for employees, extending to church staff.

In litigation, written policies, incident logs, and training records often become the deciding factor in proving a ministry exercised due care. Even simple records — sign-in sheets for training or notes from safety meetings — can demonstrate responsibility.

Essential components:

• Access Control: Watch who comes in. Use greeters at the door or lock side entrances during service.
• Response Plans: Have a simple plan: Run (get out), Hide (lock doors, stay quiet), Fight (only if trapped). Know your exits!
• Training: Teach de-escalation techniques to staff and volunteers on how to calm people and do basic first aid. Invite local cops to help train.
• Customization: Make the plan fit your church, your size, your culture, and your rules. Check California state safety guides for help.

Security decisions also call for wisdom in selecting those who serve in protective roles. Volunteers should be trained and screened, not out of suspicion, but out of care for them and for those they help protect. Some churches choose to rely on trained professionals or off duty officers, taking on the responsibility that comes with that level of authority. Others prayerfully consider whether to include armed protection as part of their ministry safety plan.

In California, SB 1454 removed the exemption that many churches used for in-house security teams. When a ministry employs uniformed security personnel, especially those who are armed, they may now be required to hold Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) security licenses and appropriate firearms permits. Churches that operate security teams without proper authorization risk penalties and compliance issues

Insurance also becomes part of caring for church security. You can obtain tailored coverage such as general liability, property, directors and officers (D&O), workers’ compensation, and volunteer accident policies, with endorsements for security teams and use-of-force incidents. Reviewing coverage, adding endorsements for volunteer teams, and confirming that security protocols are disclosed help protect the church’s mission. It is not merely a business exercise. It is an act of guarding the ministry entrusted to you.

Now is the time to review your policies, refine your procedures, consult counsel when needed, and strengthen your coverage.