How Can Your Church Respond to Threats?

What happens if someone threatens the church?

No matter how small or “joking” it may seem, it is imperative that churches take each threat seriously to keep the church safe.

Zero Tolerance

99.9% of threats are just talk, emotional outbursts, or bad jokes. However, security teams don’t have the luxury of guessing which 0.1% will turn into action. As Bob Wild, a leader in church security, says, “I’m not going to sit around and wait for the one that isn’t talk.”

Every threat must be treated as a credible intent to harm until proven otherwise.

Threats Online

In the modern era, the first signs of danger often appear online before they manifest in person. A crucial part of a safety team’s responsibility is monitoring the social media footprint of individuals who are raising red flags.

• If an individual is posting violent imagery, manifestos, or specific threats against the church or school on platforms like Facebook or Instagram, this is a security breach.
• Document: These posts must be documented immediately (screenshots are vital) and reported to law enforcement. Do not assume the police already know.

What Do You Do If Someone Threatens Your Organization?

When a threat is identified, the response must be swift and structured:

1. Involve Law Enforcement: If a threat is written or specific (e.g., a threat to shoot up a school), it goes directly to the authorities. Provide them with copies of the posts or written threats.
2. Involve the Parents (for Schools/Youth): If a student makes a threat, the parents must be brought in immediately. This isn’t a phone call; it is an in-person meeting. Inconveniencing the parents underscores the severity of the situation.
3. Get a Guarantee (if Schools/Youth): The goal of the meeting is to secure a guarantee that the behavior will stop and to clearly outline the consequences (expulsion, legal action) if it does not.
4. Draw the Line: Leaders must have a pre-decided a “line in the sand.” What kind of behavior or threat warrants immediate expulsion? What warrants a ban from the church campus? These decisions should be made calmly beforehand in a boardroom, not during crisis.

Don’t Let Them In

Bob Wild recalls the tragic shooting at a Texas church where an individual who had showed problematic signs entered the sanctuary wearing a wig and a trench coat. In hindsight, these were glaring red flags.

If someone known to be unstable appears in a disguise or unusual clothing (like a trench coat in warm weather), alarm bells should ring. Security teams must be empowered to stop such individuals at the door. If someone looks suspicious, engage them outside the sanctuary.

Keep an Environment Safe From Threats

By adopting a zero-tolerance policy, monitoring for red flags, and refusing to let politeness compromise safety, church leaders can create an environment where worship remains peaceful and the congregation remains safe.

Learn more about responding to threats here.