Church Security

I’m writing in reference to the article “How can we protect the church?” that appeared in the Nov. 16 issue of The Alabama Baptist.

First and foremost it is not the “pastor’s role to safeguard the congregation against active shooters,” as the article stated.

Unless theological seminary curriculum included such training for many years, there are likely few pastors qualified to assume such a role. That role is better left to a congregant (volunteer) who is Christ-led to pursue church security. The pastor has a full plate without adding security.

Pastors, however, should advocate for the safety and security of the congregation and support those who step forward to lead such an effort.

Second “establishing a no-concealed weapons policy in the church” is fundamentally flawed. The only adherents would be those who abide by law and honor property policy. People like Stephen Paddock, Omar Mateen, Seung-Hui Cho, Adam Lanza, George Hennard and Devin Patrick Kelley are driven by evil and have no compunction about violating law or policy.

One common thread among mass murderers is they choose locations where armed resistance is not anticipated. The outcome at First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, might have been different if several congregants were armed.

Third, planning for police intervention to stop an active shooter is statistically ill advised.

In mass murder situations where the police stopped the carnage, an average of 14 people died. In mass murder situations where civilians stopped the carnage, an average of 2.3 people died.

Planning for the police to intervene only affords a mass murderer more time to wreak more carnage. A security plan has to include immediacy. Waiting is not an option.

Parochially, active shooter response is: escape, evade, confront. Run-hide-fight is a solution set intended to afford an individual a better chance to survive.

When a mass murderer enters a sanctuary full of people, the situation is immediately escalated to the fight mode — the first two options are not available to the vast majority of people within an auditorium.

Since a congregation is considered the body of Christ, each with his or her contributing talent, then acting as one body in an active shooter situation is most appropriate.

If the First, Sutherland Springs, congregation had done so and everyone close by had immediately tackled him, then Kelley would have been stopped before he killed 24 people.

There are many courses of action churches can plan and rehearse to improve security; however, the Nov. 16 article advised churches to consider some ineffectual elements which many readers will presume to be measures for improving security.

The Alabama Baptist could better serve churches and readers by advising them to seek out resources experienced in the church security field and providing a list of such resources.

John H. Yetter
Hartford, Ala.

Editor’s Note — While The Alabama Baptist’s (TAB) policy for letters to the editor is 200 words or less, an exception was made for this letter because of the broad scope of the topic for our readers and the research provided by the letter writer, who has safety and security experience. Mr. Yetter served 31 years in active duty in the U.S. Army and currently serves as the safety and security director for his church. TAB also followed up on his suggestion of compiling a list of resources for improving church security (see page 3).