Q&A

Why Your Church Needs a Security Plan

A new Christian security consultancy wants church security plans to operate on more than just a wing and a prayer

By Joan Goodchild, Senior Editor

January 27, 2009 — CSO —

Church security: The FBI does not keep statistics that specifically correlate violent incidents in churches. But Jeffrey Hawkins believes a glance at the headlines on many days will turn up at least one incident involving a faith-based organization.

Hawkins, most recently a chief security officer for a large international Christian ministry, has more than 27 years in security, risk management, and law enforcement. He recently launched the Christian Security Network, a niche organization he says will fill a gap in the security-services industry.

The Christian Security Network will offer consulting and training for faith-based organizations, with an emphasis on Christian churches. Hawkins spoke with CSO about CSN, and why churches are in more danger now than ever before.

There are already few other organizations out there specializing in church security. So, what was your inspiration for starting Christian Security Network?
I've spent many years in security in the secular world in a corporate environment. About four years ago, I began doing work for a Christian ministry. That opened my eyes to the need for security management in the Christian church community. I realized that, compared to the secular world, churches are so far behind the curve in terms of security and emergency planning.

Approximately 80 percent of this country claims to be Christian. But when it comes to churches having security plans in place, over 75 percent say they have nothing. Our mission is to bring security awareness into the forefront of the minds of the Christian community.

For some, the idea of security for a church might seem unnecessary. Churches have always been viewed as places of safety.
For many years, they were. I grew up in Chicago and churches were my refuge. Church used to be place where I could go to get away from gangs and other problems. Churches were considered a safe haven. People respected that 20-30 years ago. That is not case anymore.

What happened?
Our society in general has changed. As issues become more controversial, the church becomes more controversial, too. Christian churches can take varying views on issues and those views might be perceived by some as too liberal, or even too conservative. So, as controversy around a church starts to develop, there is a rift that comes with it.

As I said earlier, over 75 percent of churches don't have risk management in place. They have become a soft target.

We've seen church shootings, church torchings, as two examples, in recent years. Are these particularly troubled times for faith-based organizations?
What we see in the headlines here in this country is only the tip of iceberg. We monitor intelligence from around the world. That is only what happens in the US. Two years ago, I sat in on a press briefing and then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said faith-based organizations are one of the top-five at-risk sectors in the world. Sectors can cover every type of business or industry.