Church Security and Having The Right Mindset Part 1

If you are around any kind of security operation for any length of time you will undoubtedly hear the term "MINDSET".  Lately I have come across several references to "MINDSET".  It initially started when a fellow security professional posted an article, "10 Things You Learn By Carrying a Gun Everyday".  Another person pointed out that there should to be an "11", called "MINDSET".  How very true.  Some who carry a firearm do not carry the correct mindset to do so.  For example, "Just because I can, I'm going to."  They think they have a good "MINDSET" but lack the skills necessary to respond properly in a threatening situation.  I know, because years ago I was one of those people, until I received the necessary training from professionals. But for this blog post, let's talk about a different but equally important "MINDSET".  As I talk with church leaders, there are many who don't have the right "MINDSET" when it comes to safety and security.

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A quote from Scott Watson on AMU Info website, put it in a good perspective. "The cornerstone of a successful security program is adoption of a proper mindset by an organization’s leadership. There are two common mistakes people make when thinking about security:

• Mistake #1 is to assume that every conceivable incident is going to happen today, on your watch and everyone is going to blame you. Such mindsets lead to overbearing security personnel who eventually lose credibility with the organization’s leadership.
  
  
• Mistake #2 is to assume that it can’t happen here. In faith-based communities mistake #2 often takes the form of the following statement: “We’re safe because we’re doing God’s work.”

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A proper security mindset accepts the fact that bad things happen to someone, somewhere, every day and seeks to implement reasonable steps to prepare for those contingencies."

Watson goes on to communicate that a formal security risk assessment is necessary before implementing any kind of countermeasure.  I would have to add that even if you have started the undertaking of safety and security measures, there is value to having someone come in and try to poke holes in your processes and procedures.  This will only make your measures stronger.

It is encouraging when I talk with church leaders who do have the proper "MINDSET" for their ministry.  They are truly a pleasure to work with.  I was doing a security assessment this week at a church when a woman expressed her thankfulness that I was there, doing just that.  She, like many others who are lay people in a ministry, realize the soft target that our ministries are.
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When I talk with people who are not part of the leadership of a ministry, they realize and can often point out major gaps in the safety and security of that ministry.  It is the often the leaders who are oblivious or do not want to admit that there are safety and security needs or concerns.   When that is done, it is communicating to the people who attend, that their safety and security of the ministry is not a priority.  This can lead people who are part of the ministry to take security into their own hands, putting a ministry and those who attend in greater jeopardy.  A ministry that communicates and shows strong support for the safety of their people will have people who want to be there and feel safe.