Security of three campuses can be monitored from one location, even from one’s home.

Victory World Church is one of the fastest-growing multicultural churches in America, with a main campus in Norcross, GA, and two satellite campuses in the greater Atlanta area.

With more than 10,000 people coming to the campuses each weekend, security is a big concern.

In researching our needs, we turned to Atlanta-based Remote Protection Systems for a cost-effective security solution for the new sites.  We took everything we learned and incorporated them into the Victory North and Hamilton Mill sites at the beginning of construction.

Room for growth
“Victory World wants the latest technology to protect its property, and they also work hard to stay within their budget,” says Scott Hightower, president of RPS. “We put in a Honeywell system that integrates video surveillance, intrusion detection and user-friendly access control. It’s perfect for their needs now, and it will expand with them as they continue to grow.”

Hightower recommended a combination of high-definition dome cameras and high-resolution day/night fixed cameras to provide complete coverage of the church properties during the day and at night. Surveillance footage is retained by digital video recorders, and access to the buildings is easily handled with access control software.

We have 850 staff and volunteers who have access to different areas; plus, people are constantly changing roles. Someone might leave employment with Victory but continue to volunteer, which might change areas where they need access. I used to spend a lot of time making new cards and deleting old ones. The Honeywell system makes it easy to update a card right away.

In addition to having the sites monitored by a central station, church officials use a web-based access control to manage the integrated access, intrusion and video systems remotely from their homes.

Here in Atlanta we have a lot of storms each fall, and our old security system would go crazy. I’d be out in the storm at 2 a.m., driving around the church and checking doors. Now, if the alarm goes off in the middle of the night I can just check my home computer. I don’t have to get out and drive over.

Access cards used
Another benefit is the ease of tracking the numerous access cards issued. Hightower showed church security staff how to make a temporary card for someone, for example, on the first day of the month that will automatically expire on the last day of that month.

The investment in Honeywell security helps us fulfill our mission to spread the Gospel, and also supports our commitment to being good financial stewards. The installation at Victory North gave church officials a chance to see what the integrated technology could do and gave them a head start on ideas for the new construction. We’re looking forward to using the system for a long time. Best of all, when construction is finished, staff will be able to monitor all three campuses from one site.

Dennis James is director of security with Victory World Church, Norcross, GA. www.victoryatl.com

Damages can result in irreversible harm to a congregation’s image and sustainability.

Worldwide cybercrime, the theft and abuse of personal identification information, is a billion-dollar business now surpassing illegal drug trade.

In April 2012 Robert Mueller III, director of the FBI, reported to The New York Times,“Cyber attacks [will] soon replace terrorism as the agency’s No. 1 concern.”

Congregations are cast as easy targets for data theft. Frugal budgeting and limited resources in technological intelligence inherent with religious organizations often lead to weak security controls. The risk of losing data is high, given the scope of programs happening at all hours on and off campus. Furthermore, the high concentration of children under 18 – their stolen-identity value is higher than adults – makes churches more appealing to cyber thieves.

A data security breach occurs when an unauthorized person inadvertently receives or steals any nonpublic, personal identifiable information from an electronic system or mobile device.  An example of a breach is when a youth pastor misplaces his iPad containing a youth group’s medical information while on a mission trip, or an executive pastor leaves his iPhone in an airplane seat pocket, providing access to reports with church members’ birth dates, phone numbers and addresses.

Churches are vulnerable to a breach if they:

• Record or store credit card, tax identification information and birth dates on donors, staff, members or volunteers.
• Maintain drivers’ licenses, insurance or Social Security information.
• Obtain medical information or histories on any church member for mission trips or youth activities.
• Issue smart phones, iPads, laptops or other electronic devices to staff.

An organization can incur several costs following a data breach, such as expenses for defense counsel and payments to a third party or victims of identity theft.

Depending on the jurisdiction, civil fines and penalties will be assessed for not reporting a data breach accurately and promptly to victims and to certain governing agencies.   Forty-six states have enacted laws holding data owners responsible for a breach and requiring notification to the injured parties.

According to the Ponemon Institute’s 2010 Annual Study of U.S. Companies, tangible activities such as forensic detection and then the response — including legal advice, invitation to a credit report and monitoring service for the affected persons, mailing costs and public relations — consulting — quickly add up to an average of $73 per breached record. Indirect damages such as lost business and overhead expenses can cost on average an additional $141 per record.

Organizations can implement controls to reduce exposure and their data breach liability:

• Ensure all agreements with outside vendors, contractors and cloud computing providers include strong hold-harmless and indemnity clauses.
• Maintain a single computer exclusively for banking and donor information. Limit access to drives.
• Require, by contract, that all outside data providers and merchants stress-test their data systems for data breaches.
• Use complex passwords and current encryption software on all data devices; more importantly, know where confidential data is stored.
• Along with a “who-to-call” sheet following a breach, line up qualified consultants in PR and legal communication who have cyber expertise before an actual breach occurs.
• Conduct simulation exercises on lost data and penetration tests on data systems.
• Consider a data security or privacy liability insurance policy, which can restore a financial loss, cover notification expenses, and provide access to experienced legal, information technology forensic and PR advice.

It is critical that churches maintain the highest internal standards possible for protecting their members’ records. It is part of their fiduciary duties. Being good stewards of funds also means being good stewards of private information.

David A. Jones is a vice president at Lockton Companies, a privately owned, independent insurance and risk management broker. www.lockton.com

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Cyber liability possibilities

Reckless posting of Internet content can lead to civil suits as well as image damage.

The risk is increased if a church conducts the following activities:

• Maintains a pastor’s blog, a social network page such as Facebook, an online book store or webcasts of services.
• Posts songs from an audio file on a social media website like YouTube or a pastor’s blog.
• Loads pictures of congregation or staff members on the organization’s website.
• Permits free local Wi-Fi access to the organization’s wireless router or cable modems.

Internal controls include:

• Enact peer review of all posted Internet content.
• Enable strong firewalls that are tested frequently.
• Control distribution of Wi-Fi passwords.
• Maintain records on photography or music releases and in-source website programmers.

Kansas church relies on concealed carry rather than a professional security team.

The headline of this article was spoken at the Ministry Security Regional Training Conference that I attended in Kansas City, KS, presented the other month by the Center for Personal Protection and Safety.  “Prepare for the worst, pray for the best” makes sense to me as the executive pastor of Westview Community Church in Manhattan, KS.

We are a Wesleyan church in the middle of the Flint Hills, with both a military base and a university within a few short miles of our building. The workshop alerted me to our need as a church for a security plan. When you begin discussing security, gun control becomes a major topic.

Westview does not have any of the stickers on our doors that say “NO GUNS.” For us and other churches that do not employ a professional security team, it is a blessing to have cool-headed and responsible people in our congregation who are licensed to carry concealed firearms in public. They form an informal security team in our church. They have agreed to be alert, attentive and active if necessary. We also have medical personnel in our church that can be counted on in case of a medical emergency on-site.

Our thoughts concerning the NO GUNS stickers being placed on our doors is that it would be the responsible, conceal and carry “packers” who would obey the stickers and leave their guns at home or in their vehicles. For those who were irresponsible with guns and weapons, the stickers would mean absolutely nothing. So of what safety benefit do the stickers really serve?

I and several church staff have taken the concealed carry (CCW) class and obtained our licenses. We serve as the point people in any type of emergency in our premises, and each of us has brought our handgun to church. The 10th anniversary of 9/11 was one Sunday that we contacted several people on our security team to be on high alert for all church services. When I say that we pack our weapons, this does not mean that our guns are showing outside of our clothing.

In January 2011, a new gun law took effect in Iowa, allowing permit holders to openly carry their firearms in public. I don’t know what Westview leadership would do about that obvious indiscretion.

Bob Brueggen from Harvest Bible Chapel in Davenport, IA, says his church has a professional security team of uniformed and plainclothes officers, and will simply ask people who display their weapons to leave them in their cars. If the person refuses, the church asks them to leave.  If the person resists, a uniformed officer will escort them out of the property.

Thomas Doidge at Woodridge Community Church, New Berlin, WI, says his church is figuring out whether those who are not part of the church’s security team should be allowed to carry firearms on-site.  He says the leadership is leaning toward allowing weapons on the property but not in the buildings. Doidge says, “You could have a weapon in your trunk but not in your pocket.”

Steve Paxton, executive pastor at LifePointe Church in Fort Collins, CO, says, “It is good to have people you know carrying handguns for safety sake. Due to past church violence, I would say if you know who is carrying and you have a security training meeting, this is the way you have a sense of safety as a congregation.”

Westview would agree with Paxton as our staff has had training on church safety and security, and has passed the safety and security training highlights on to our congregants. We have formed a nonprofessional security team with the standard of procedures for the various possible scenarios, and we feel somewhat prepared for the worst.

But always, we pray for the best. We pray we will never have to implement any of this training or face any occasion where we would feel the need to discharge our firearms.

Deb Kluttz is executive pastor at Westview Community Church in Manhattan, KS. www.westviewcommunity.com

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Key controls lower insurance costs

With open access to worship facility equipment such as computers, copiers and expensive media tools, access and key control is a challenge for congregations. One misplaced key represents a crack in the armor protecting a church against intruders.

Grace Christian Center in Killeen, TX, acknowledged that it can no longer afford to continue using a mechanical key system. The church is turning to smart-key solutions not only to improve security but to reduce vandalism and theft.

With more than 2,000 members, three buildings and about 170 doorways to secure, Grace Christian faced a significant key control issue. The church had to hire outside contractors to re-key the buildings three times in a span of six years due to lost master keys. The church decided to use CyberLock, an electronic lock system.

Pastor Steven Timmerman says, “We saved a great deal on installation costs because no wiring was required for the installation. The audit trail from the locks and keys is very important to us and has increased accountability throughout our facilities. We especially like being able to program each person’s key to allow or restrict their access to specific areas during set times of the day and week. Most importantly, we’ll never have to re-key again.”

Grace Christian has also found additional cost savings. Facility manager Jim Reed observes, “Incorporating security has had a positive effect on our insurance costs. We invited the insurance company underwriters to evaluate our security improvements. After looking at the increased security measures we put in place, they lowered our rates.”

Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA, had similar key control issues. With nearly 20,000 members, the church faced the challenge of raising the level of security across its large campus. Facility manager John Jackson wanted to implement a security system that was affordable and scalable. “As a church, we are concerned about every penny that is spent. Our first concern was keeping track of physical assets that help us minister to our people,” he says.

Calvary Chapel implemented a comprehensive security system that includes the CyberLock system. “With the electronic lock and key system, we can change someone’s access privileges on-the-fly without issuing cut-keys. Each person’s electronic key is programmed with the permissions they need to do their job, so we have overall tighter control. We also have electronic padlocks on the shipping cases that store our recording and sound equipment so only authorized people can access it,” he says.

When churches secure their buildings and assets through the use of practical and effective security measures, they not only increase security in their premises but also lower insurance premiums and reduce re-keying costs.

— James T. McGowan is vice president of sales and marketing at Videx in Corvallis, OR. www.videx.com

Apply both faith and caution overseas — and take out kidnap and ransom insurance.

As governments across the world wage war on drugs and black market trades, criminals are quietly advancing the front of another lucrative, illegal industry. Kidnapping, including extortion and detention, is now a global epidemic, growing 15 to 20 percent annually in hot spots such as Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia and Brazil.

In the last decade, kidnappers have expanded their sights beyond multinational corporate employees to missionaries dispatched from mission agencies, religious and higher education institutions and church groups. Missionary kidnappings around the globe now account for almost half of reported cases, a 100 percent increase over the last five years.

The increase is a result of two factors:

• Relief organizations are pulling out of dangerous regions where kidnappers sought many of their victims, thereby reducing income for criminal organizations and forcing them to target alternative income sources – missionaries.
• Authorities in countries like Haiti, Ecuador and Egypt — which are major mission fields — are reportedly encouraging the business of kidnapping.

Why Missionaries are easy targets:

• Obvious language barriers make missionaries more vulnerable, particularly when traveling without a translator or cultural liaison.
• Short-term missionaries travel with 90-day visa turnarounds. Coupled with deliberately slow court proceedings – unlike the United States’ sixth amendment guaranteeing a speedy trial – time is limited for court testimony against kidnappers. As a result, it either reduces or removes criminal penalty that would otherwise discourage further kidnapping.
• A lack of comprehensive risk management training on how to act and react on unfamiliar foreign soil makes missionaries, particularly short-term missionaries, prime targets.

According to Citizens’ Action Against Crime (CAAC) and the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) in 2005, between 80 and 90 percent of kidnapping cases go unreported.

The average ransom for reported cases is $62,071, but settlements often are between 10 and 20 percent of the original demand. If the ransom is small and late, kidnappers may be discouraged from kidnapping again.

Most missionary-sending organizations have strict policies against ransom payments to discourage appearing as a bank for criminals. Organizations that do pay ransom as a business decision typically do so quietly. Some agencies’ stance on not paying ransom, like that of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE), serving 70 countries, affords some protection to its members simply because militant groups know that ransoms will not be paid by the organization. This public knowledge is often enough to discourage kidnapping.

Minimize your risks
Understanding the dominant religion of a country, its political climate (whether war-torn or controlled by an extremist group), and by being smart about conducting oneself is critical to safety and survival. Some tips:

• Travel with a group.
• Wear clothing local to the host country, removed of U.S. trademarks.
• Conceal all monetary transactions.
• Don’t give too much information.
• Keep conversations short and brief, unless with a trusted party or authority.

Despite being extremely vigilant of their surroundings, missionaries still succumb to the hazards of foreign countries. Phil Snyder of Zeeland, MI, was abducted in Haiti during a mission trip for GLOW Ministries in 2005. Snyder planned to return to the U.S. with a Haitian child for eye surgery. Snyder, the child and his father were ambushed on a public road by kidnappers. They shot Snyder in the shoulder and abducted the party. The initial ransom was $300,000, but the kidnappers settled for a lesser undisclosed amount, returning Snyder to Michigan five days later.

Fortunately, it is rare that an abduction results in the death of the victim. In fact, most deaths related to abduction are due to an attempted rescue. Kidnappers in South and Central America tend to treat their religious hostages better, given the religious culture of the countries. The same holds true for Mexico where only 8 percent of kidnappings end in fatality, according to Clayton Consultants Inc. However, in Asia and the Middle East, death is far more likely for religious proponents.

Protect assets and provide relief
Reliance on the local embassy, the FBI and the sending organization’s crisis team are often not enough. Kidnap ransom detention and extortion insurance (K&R insurance) can provide protection and relief to victims.

The insurance not only reimburses the insured for the ransom amount, but also provides expert negotiating strategists, security consultants and interpreters, all of which may cost an average of $85,000 per incident, according to Lloyd’s of London. Additional risk management services offered are qualified counselors and medical rehabilitation facilities for when victims return stateside, as many have medical, cosmetic, psychiatric and dental impairments. The coverage also provides defense and indemnity to church and mission agencies from family or estate lawsuits. Finally, in addition to health, consultant and repatriation costs, the policy provides loss of income or receipts resulting from the incident.

A K&R policy’s ransom amount limit is typically determined by the person or sending organization’s net worth, since the policy only reimburses ransom paid and will not front the ransom demand. In some cases, banks will provide loans if the church or mission agency is deemed credit worthy. The premium starts around $1,000 and is based on net worth of insured, location, profile and loss experience. Since the mere knowledge of an insurance policy is a lure for any militant group, it is imperative that the insurance policy be kept private.

An insurance policy is no substitute for applying good judgment, listening to intuition, and staying abreast of all potential risks in the host country. Organizations can manage their risk best through the following:

• Research the political climate often.
• Understand the religious tolerance of the host country.
• Determine the need for an insurance policy to assist with expenses and expert services.

Managing kidnapping risks is a continuous process. Missionaries should continually assess threats, vulnerabilities and consequences, and take appropriate action to reduce or eliminate risks.

David A. Jones is vice president at Lockton Companies, a privately owned, independent insurance and risk management broker. www.lockton.com

Every church has someone or a group in charge of safety. While the safety department has the responsibility of handling compliance, training and testing as necessary, the begging question is if these activities actually ensure authentic, practical and tangible safety measures. Safety that works involves building a collection of small viable actions in a process that is ongoing and always changing. Each action by itself may not appear safety related, but as one part of the total collection, each step such as vehicle inspections for buses and vans, preventative maintenance, compliance, driver control measures, training and common sense all add up to what I call true safety.

Safety compromised
While some may view reliability as being sure the vehicle is reliable for the day, utility is very low on my list of items to worry about directly. Certainly reliability is important. An unreliable vehicle always compromises safety when it fails in some way. Reliability is a safety function in my system.

Unusual noises coming from the vehicle usually indicate a problem. A sense of smell also serves as a useful tool. Walking by a bus that has the odor of gear oil usually indicates a hub seal is leaking. Hearing an odd noise or detecting an odor and not checking it out represent poor safety behavior. Caring is the most basic element of true safety. Don’t be a robot or merely a box checker. Take safety practices to a level of care where everyone knows to stop and look for problems at their least provocation.

Once the buses move to the ready line for drivers to pick up, I speak with each one individually to check their fitness for the day. I want drivers to be awake and alert. We discuss the weather and the effect it will have on driving that day and have a solid plan to deal with the conditions.

A safe team gives its drivers the option and even encourages them to stop driving as the situation may require.

Review the destination or event for the group and assess the passengers. Are they children, adults or teens? In the event of time-sensitive events with a starting time, the drivers receive instructions to not let the passengers influence their operation of the bus, or where to position the bus for unloading and parking. Passengers often try to control the driver for their personal benefit. The driver is in control and must be the only person making the decisions.

Instruct the driver to not allow a person at the venue provide assistance or direction with backing up or close quarter maneuvering of the bus.

Assume ground personnel are not qualified to assist the driver with these tasks. The driver has command of the bus and should not take any type of direction from anyone else. If the situation requires assistance, the driver should get out of the vehicle and have a look for himself.

Preventable accidents
We recently had a driver back into a tree causing damage to the bus. When he returned to the garage I interviewed him to discuss what had happened. In classic fashion I determined three minutes of missing detail. Once I made it clear that this was a problem for me, he admitted he allowed someone to back him up around a car that was in the way. I informed him that this accident was chargeable and preventable due to the fact that he let someone control him as opposed to being the person in full control of the bus.

Do not let the current level of safety lull your church into a false sense of security. This is not to suggest those responsible for safety are not doing their job, but checking boxes and filing paperwork is hardly what we are talking about here. True safety is a process of constant attention, evaluation and re-evaluation.

Christopher W. Ferrone is president of Americoach Systems Inc., Glenview, IL, an engineering firm specializing in transportation, technology, analysis and safety.

A speed bump that is not clearly marked; a dark area due to improper lighting; or a large pothole that has formed over time are all examples of potential dangers in church parking lots. Each has the potential to cause congregation members or visitors to your church to slip or fall before they enter the building. Likewise, the parking lot is generally the first point of entry for criminals to access the property.

Because of this, the parking lot is a critical space to maintain and secure. It is just as important to keep this area of the building secure as it is for any other part of the building or grounds.

Churches are already at high-risk of liability because of the number of people coming and going each day. Maintaining the surface of the parking lot, ensuring the area is properly lit and enlisting the help of parking lot volunteers or even off-duty police officers are all things you can do to help protect members and guests of your church.

Potholes and cracks
As with any concrete surface, over time, parking lots can start to deteriorate and become hazardous for guests to walk or drive over. To avoid this, conduct a regular inspection of your parking lot and check for potential hazards. Obvious issues include potholes and cracks, but even curbs and speed bumps can cause problems if they are not properly maintained.

The surface of the parking lot should be in good condition and free of cracks and potholes. If cracks are greater than a quarter-inch, it is a potential trip hazard and should be repaired. Surfaces should be free from debris and slippery material, such as rocks, mud and sand. Also, tire stops are a potential hazard and require maintenance. These stops are exposed to damage from snowplows and vehicles.

Mark with color
Administrators should also be aware that speed bumps used to slow the speed of vehicles also present a tripping hazard. These are usually constructed of asphalt and will break down quicker from being exposed to the weather and vehicles. Mark speed bumps with a contrasting color so they do not blend in with the surface.

Snowplows can also cause damage to the surface of the parking lot, creating potential hazards. Be sure to make a regular inspection each year if you have snowplows clearing snow from your lot.

Curbs can be a tripping hazard if not designed and maintained properly. Curbs should be six inches high. If this height is not maintained, due to setting or design, an unforeseen hazard can be created.

Curbs leading to entrances and sidewalks should be painted in a contrasting color.

Curb cutouts that are installed to provide handicap access also should be marked with contrasting paint and grit should be added to the paint to create surface roughness.

Church functions are no longer limited to Sundays and can happen any day of the week, any hour of the day. This means that proper lighting plays an important role, not only by helping members get to and from their cars safely, but also by deterring criminals from being able to strike as easily when it is dark outside.

Lighting is measured in foot candles. At minimum, 10 foot candles should be mandatory for all lighting. However, for security lighting, or if you have a higher traffic area, higher levels of illumination may be necessary if it’s allowed by your local lighting ordinance.

Adequate lighting is necessary throughout the parking lot, as well as in all walkways and stairways. Look for shadows that may be created and adjust the lighting accordingly.

Inspect the lighting regularly and replace any light fixtures or bulbs that do not work.

Consider having your exterior lights set on timers or sensors that turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. If using timers, make sure to keep them adjusted for seasonal time changes.

The use of parking lot volunteers or even off-duty police officers has become more commonplace in recent years. The primary duty of parking lot volunteers or officers is to help direct traffic during busy times, such as before and after services or during large meetings or activities. They also should be aware of areas that have the potential to be hazardous to people walking to and from the building and should safely direct walkers away from those spots.

In addition, such personnel should be in tune to anything that appears out of the ordinary in the parking lot, which might pose a threat to the congregation or the building. If your church has an established safety and security team, the parking lot personnel should act as the outer layer of the church’s security. This means outdoor workers need to be able to quickly communicate with others inside the building, via two-way radio or cell phone, should they spot a potential threat.

Uniformed officers
Some churches prefer that uniformed officers perform this function as they can serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals. Other churches prefer that uniforms not be worn so that the church does not appear to be a fortress. This is a matter of personal preference for churches, but it is important to note that the deterrence function is greatly reduced if parking lot personnel are not easily identified through the use of uniforms or colored vests.

Off-duty police officers are a great addition to securing your parking lot as they are already trained to direct traffic and have the education necessary if an incident were to occur. A congregation member who also is a police officer may be willing to volunteer. If not, you might contact your local police department for information on engaging off-duty officers.

Your parking lot is the gateway to your building, so safeguarding its safety and security is vital. Ensuring that your parking lot is well maintained, aptly lit and accurately monitored is one more piece in the safety and security puzzle. Not only will your congregation feel safe as they enter and exit the building, but you also will feel safe knowing you have taken the necessary precautions to make certain they stay that way.

Eric Spacek is senior risk manager at GuideOne Insurance, West Des Moines, IA. www.guideone.com

By John Nicoletti

During the past 15 years violence has migrated from the workplace through the school system and college campuses and has now set its sights on churches. Since 1999 church campuses have had more than 40 violent incidents — which have resulted in 75 deaths, 76 injuries and 13 suicides. Churches can no longer maintain the attitude of, “It can’t happen here.”

Safety from violence requires detection: Identifying the potentially dangerous person before they become violent.

There are two categories of violent individuals: The insider and the outsider. The insider refers to an individual who is on a church’s radar. This person could be a church member, a former church member, a spouse, or a non-member who has a grudge against the church. An outsider is an individual who attacks without warning.

There are two timelines related to violence: The Event Threshold occurs when the individual starts engaging in concerning behaviors and as a result gets on the church’s radar. The Event Horizon occurs when an individual starts engaging in attacks against either property or people.

With an insider, there should be enough time between the Event Threshold and the Event Horizon to disrupt behavior. The probability of violence from an insider should be low. Unfortunately, with an outsider the Event Threshold and the Event Horizon either occur  simultaneously or without very little time between them. An outsider may not be able to be disrupted, which means the church must tactically respond to the individual and the incident.

The first step is for the church to develop a proactive detection system. Individuals do not go from behaving normally to engaging in attack behaviors. They will progress through an observable spectrum of behavior. The first observable sign will be the presence of a “perceived injustice” on the part of the potentially violent individual. This behavior will be followed by the individual blaming other people or the church for their problems and suffering. At this point, the individual will begin boundary probing and pushing tolerance limits of others and the church.

The final behavior before an attack occurs will be making threats, along with the person being disrespectful and derogatory of others. These behaviors can be detected by various people in the church such as security, congregation, clergy and other staff. The statement used to detect terrorism, “If you see something, say something,” also applies to preventing violence in the church.

In order for churches to detect these behaviors, they must have a Vortex. A Vortex is a central person or team where information about all concerning behaviors are sent to be documented and acted upon. The Vortex should be made up of key decision makers in the church along with church security. At the detection phase it is important to “Not Worry Alone” or be afraid of “Overreacting.”

Take action to disrupt

Once church leaders become aware of an Event Threshold, they must do something that involves taking action to disrupt the behavior. Never let a concerning behavior happen without applying a disrupter. Disruptors fall into three categories:  questioning the person, confronting the person or taking action against the person. If the individual is making concerning statements or engaging in concerning behaviors, a representative from the Vortex should question them with regard to what they said or did.

If the concerning behaviors continue after questioning or confronting, then the risk should be viewed as higher and action should immediately be taken. If an individual continues in a concerning behavior after knowing they need to stop, then it means that they are choosing to disregard rules or cannot control  their impulses.

John Nicoletti, is a clinical/police psychologist, Nicoletti-Flater Associates, Lakewood, CO.  www.n-fa.com

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Vocabulary of church violence

• Detection
• Disruption
• Insider
• Outsider
• The Event Threshold
• The Event Horizon
• Vortex

Once considered sacred even to criminals, churches are now prime targets for theft. In fact, it’s precisely the trusting nature of church organizations that can make them so vulnerable to crime. If your church’s lack of security measures is putting church property — and that of church members — at risk, it’s time to make some changes.

The term “resources” cover more than just cash. Your church also will need to ensure the security of valuable property like computers, sound systems, televisions, DVD players and other electronics, musical instruments, vehicles and more — anything that could be sold for money.

The following are some examples of potential risks and basic precautions:

Theft of valuable property: Lock up anything of value, preferably in an unmarked closet. For insurance purposes, keep an up-to-date list and appraisal of property, equipment and fine art.

Loss or theft of collections: The collection plates should be highly guarded, from the start of the collection to the finish, with two adults supervising the plate at all times. It is advised that the collections are immediately locked in a secure place or taken to the bank’s night depository box until two or three adults are ready to count and document the money.

Theft from church members: Church members need to keep a watchful eye on their own personal belongings.

Remind members to lock their car doors while in the church parking lot. Also, personal belongings, such as purses, cell phones and other valuables, should not be left unattended.

Internal Theft: To prevent embezzlement of church funds by workers or volunteers, establish a system of internal controls, such as team counting, separation of financial duties, dual signature requirements for checks over a set amount, and regular audits or reviews by an accountant not involved in the church’s bookkeeping.

Form a church watch program

A simple and affordable way to boost your church’s security is by setting up a church watch program. The biggest requirement is the help of church members. Follow these steps to implement your program:

• Educate members that the protection of church resources and the facility is an act of good stewardship.
• Invite members to make an effort to drive around the church property whenever they are out and about in the neighborhood.
• Ask them to look for suspicious activity, cars or people.
• Encourage them to observe unusual activities and to call the police or a designated church leader if they believe something looks out of the ordinary.
• Ask them not to confront individuals or take any unnecessary risks.
• Invite church neighbors to also report anything suspicious to the appropriate authorities.
• Use the church newsletter or bulletins to remind members of the watch program and to thank them for their participation in making your church community a safer place to worship.

The added traffic through your parking lots and around your facility can serve as a deterrent to potential vandals and thieves. And the program may even encourage members to take a more active role in the overall safety and security of all areas of ministry.

Security systems further safety

Statistics show that a security system can significantly reduce the chances of a burglary or break-in. In fact, just having a well-marked security system, including decals on windows, visible cameras, or obvious wall-mounted systems, are a deterrent in itself.

While some churches may not feel that security systems are a feasible option for their facility due to the cost, the good news is that security systems now are much more affordable, thanks to advancements in technology. Keep in mind that a security system can actually save your church money in the long run by helping to prevent costly thefts.

As a basic rule, a good security system will offer three lines of defense:

1. Prevention — Decals and window stickers are provided by the security 
company to let criminals know your church is protected, making them less likely to break-in.
2. Alarm — In the event of an attempted break-in or actual entry, the system’s audible alarm alerts neighbors and usually scares off the criminal.
3. Call for help — Most systems are monitored by an off-site vendor, so when an alarm sounds, appropriate authorities are notified and dispatched to the scene. You also may choose to set up a monitoring service to contact specified church leaders.

Be sure to work with a reputable security system company. The professionals there will assess your facility and make recommendations based on your church’s needs and budget. They’ll help you explore all the options available and make sure you’re well-informed and comfortable with the system your church chooses.

Investing in your church’s security — whether it’s an investment of time, money or both — could be one of the best decisions your church will make. It also can help maintain a sense of security for your staff and congregation — and in today’s uncertain world, that’s an important investment, too.

Eric Spacek is senior risk manager at GuideOne Insurance, West Des Moines, IA. [ www.guideone.com ]

By Michael Leahy

For years now, I’ve looked on as wary church leaders and their tech gurus waged an endless war on the growing threat that Internet pornography represents to their congregations. Like laborers digging ditches and building moats around the King’s castle, they’re dutifully committed to protect the inhabitants (their staff and congregants) from letting this powerful force intrude on their lives. So they tweak their network security settings, firm up their firewalls, and install the latest site blockers and content filters, all in the hope of keeping the enemy and his latest weapons from breaching the castle walls.

But what if the enemy is already inside the castle? What then?

In much the same way our nation has learned how to fight differently in the global war on terror, the church needs to change the way it thinks about the credible threat that pornography poses in creating a culture where sexual exploitation is the norm. One of the new realities we must face is that, more often than not, those who pose the greatest risk to our churches are already among us, and may have been for years.

Shocking example

Consider the case of Robert Tate, a respected music director for 34 years at a prominent church in Greenwich, CT. Tate created an internationally renowned music program at the church where former President George H.W. Bush attended while growing up. But two years ago, at the age of 66, he was convicted of possessing child pornography, sentenced to five and a half years in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. And it didn’t stop at discovering child pornography on Mr. Tate’s laptop computer. Prosecutors said he also permitted two sexual predators to remain in the church’s choir at various times. Tate rehired one person as an assistant organist who had been dismissed earlier for sexually assaulting a choirboy. Yet, when he became aware that the organist assaulted another choirboy, he failed to tell authorities.

Stories like this are becoming ever more commonplace. They’re the product of a perfect storm I’ve been warning church and ministry leaders about for years. In short, I see three equally potent and damaging storm fronts colliding simultaneously to create the unstable environment we all now face: (1) the influence of hypersexual media in establishing and normalizing new sexual norms as portrayed through music and entertainment (including adult and so-called mainstream media); (2) enabling technologies, which accelerates content development and broadens distribution; and (3) socio-sexual pathology which takes root as long-held sexual norms and values continue to erode and give way to valueless, sexually exploitive standards.

But that’s just one example of a multi-faceted problem the church now faces. According to a recent NationalChristianPoll.com survey, more than a quarter of Christian women have experienced sexual harassment, and of those, one fourth said it happened in a church or ministry setting. And no wonder; it’s been reported that more than half of all church pastors and ministers have struggled with sexual temptation and sexual sin.

Next generation leaders in the emerging church, men and women in their twenties and thirties, consider sexual temptation and sexual sin their number one struggle, and the lure of Internet porn easily tops the list. The new reality in this area of risk management is that we’re well beyond talking about prevention. Instead, the conversation should focus on restoration and steps our people should take to reclaim their sexual integrity.

The war is not over

The war is far from over. Fortunately, church and ministry leaders can employ new tools and concrete steps today to guard and protect staffs and congregations from threats on both sides of the castle walls.

The following are a few requirements for your immediate to-do list.

1. Make an individual and organizational commitment to being totally transparent and fully accountable today.

As a church or ministry leader, you owe it to God and to those you lead and serve to be building an organization that is totally transparent and accountable to others. That starts with you leading by example. Be prepared and make sure your leaders are ready to submit themselves to the same transparency and accountability measures and procedures that you’ll be asking others on staff to follow.

2. Conduct a sexual integrity and accountability audit.

Lately, I’ve had many more in-depth and confidential conversations with senior pastors, church elders and other ministry leaders who are growing increasingly concerned about the potential litigation risks they face in the area of sexual misconduct. My response to them is always the same: Facts are friendly, so conduct a sexual integrity and accountability audit to see where things really stand. It’s simple and straight forward, and at a high level it can often be accomplished in less than a day.

3. Get everyone trained and using Internet accountability software.

In one evangelistic ministry organization with which I’ve worked, 99 percent of their male staff and 95 percent of their female staff consider sexual temptation to be their number one sin struggle. Internet porn use is increasingly being cited as the root cause of staff discipline and dismissals, as well as a major factor in disqualifying new staff applicants.

Yet that same organization hasn’t yet made it mandatory for all staff  members to use Internet accountability software to help hold themselves accountable for where they go and what they do while surfing the Web!

Personally, I’ve been using a net accountability product called Covenant Eyes for the past seven years as an integral part of my recovery from a debilitating sexual addiction that cost me everything. I know I wouldn’t have made it this far without it. Knowing now what I didn’t know then about how naive and vulnerable we can be when faced with the schemes of the enemy, I just can’t imagine anyone in full-time or part-time ministry not using an accountability tool. My life without it was a constant struggle in this area. But with platform installed on my laptop computer and even my iPhone, I live in freedom every day from my addiction and I allow myself to become more fully known to others.

4. Establish a set of benchmarks and best practices that you can use over time to measure your progress and evaluate your results.

Be sure to start with an Internet AUP (Acceptable Use Policy). Add more details to it wherever necessary, but be sure to communicate these changes clearly to your organization, including the processes and disciplinary procedures to be followed in the case of policy violations.

Without a doubt, protecting your church staff and the church’s mission is getting more complicated and becoming a far riskier proposition. With your strong leadership, clear communications, and putting the proper tools and training in place, you can expect to mitigate those risks and sleep better at night regardless of where the enemy attacks next.

Michael Leahy is an international speaker, author and founder and executive director of BraveHearts, Herndon, VA, an organization the fights global sexual exploitation. [ www.bravehearts.net ]

RESOURCES FOR BATTLING ADDICTION

Porn Nation: Conquering America’s Number One Addiction (Northfield Publishing, 2008)

Porn@Work: Exposing the Office’s Number One Addiction (Northfield Publishing, 2009)

Porn University: What College Students are Really Saying About Sex on Campus (Northfield Publishing, 2009)

Leahy has also shared his compelling personal story with more than 100,000 students on 150 college
campuses worldwide in a multimedia presentation called “Porn Nation — the Naked Truth.”

For more information visit www.bravehearts.net.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

With so many inappropriate Web sites and Internet temptations, what we do impacts our lives offline.

How does Internet accountability work? Covenant Eyes Internet monitoring service scores Web sites visited for mature content and sends a summary report to a person you choose. This friend, spouse, parent or other person you select is your Accountability Partner, and they receive your reports by email or may view them online.

Removing the secrecy changes how a person surfs the Web. Online accountability provides new strength. [ www.covenanteyes.com ]

For more information on Sexual Integrity & Accountability Audits sponsored by BraveHearts and Covenant Eyes, visit www.bravehearts.net.

By Lauren Hunter

Among the most important things that church leaders can do for their congregations is keeping their children safe. In the past, many people didn’t worry about security issues at churches. However, times have changed and so have churches. Gone are the days when we simply relied on “good faith” to preserve the security of our children in the church nursery, Sunday school or youth rooms.

Over the years, technology has been introduced to churches to manage membership, financial data, volunteers and pretty much every other aspect of church life. Now, with security becoming an increasing concern in our society, software solutions are evolving for churches with children in mind as well.

Nestled in the quaint college town of Iowa City, IA, Parkview Church’s history can be traced back to the 1930s. Today, with a regular congregation of about 2,800, the church continues to serve its members in a multitude of ways.

Growing church

As Parkview has grown, the number of families that attend the church has also increased. With the growth in children came new challenges to keeping them safe while attending Sunday school, youth classes or other youth-related activities.

Recently, Parkview set out to update its child check-in capabilities. “At the time, we had no computerized check-in for our Sunday School or other related youth areas,” says Makenna Lary, Parkview’s Family Ministries administrative assistant. “Actually, we were using a rather archaic form of paper check-in and filing it away.”

The church staff spent many hours looking for top-notch security programs for churches and found that with church software, it’s often best to use a product that integrates with a church’s membership management software. The church settled on Church Community Builder to fulfill its needs.

The program is a socially-driven solution that offers everything from membership management and event calendaring to small-group communications, online giving and child check-in functionality.

Mobile kiosk stations

Lary says in order to make the transition easier, Parkview implemented mobile kiosk stations, which can simply roll wherever they need to go. “In order to save money, we obtained used and refurbished laptops and printers, and have them in rolling kiosk stations,” she says.

“We also bought used restaurant pagers to use with our software — we simply enter the pager number for each record. The pager number is located on each child’s nametag, and we simply type in the number in the box for the paging system.”

In order to keep children safe, Parkview uses an alphanumeric security code. Parents have to show their badge in order to check out their child. Another aspect is keeping the security fresh. A new code is entered on each badge every week so that if someone finds a badge in the trash or on the ground, the code wouldn’t be good for the following week.

Currently, Parkview has volunteers to help check in each child at the kiosks, which helps in getting church attendees to interact with different families on a consistent basis. “It’s a great way to interact with the families — to welcome them and have contact with different people all the time,” says Lary. “It’s a good way to be friendly and talk to people, and answer any questions. At some point, we’d like to add self check-in as well, but for now, this system is working extremely well for us.”

Parkview also uses family cards much like the coupon cards that are used at grocery stores nationwide. “They look like a credit card,” says Lary. “We assign the card to each family, and a volunteer uses a handheld scanner to scan the card, which then brings up the correct family account.”

By implementing new technology and state-of-the-art software, Parkview has taken a huge step in setting up security measures to make sure all kids are safe.

Lauren Hunter is a freelance writer, blogger, and church technology public relations consultant in Roseville, CA. [www.laurenhunter.net; www.churchtechtoday.com]