Church Security Concerns — The Role of Greeters And Ushers
An update on this free church security material!
This document on greeters and ushers has now been updated and included in the larger document (really a small book) with the title: How to Assess the Safety and Security of Your Place of Worship. It’s a tremendously helpful guide that will take you through the process and allow you to really get to know the safety and security of your place of worship, as well as to plan for emergencies. Please contact me for the free PDF file, which can be freely copied and distributed, but not sold. Send it to anyone you think could use it in their place of worship. I’m happy to see it out and about as a free resource! Tina Rowe, May 8, 2009
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A Free 24 Page PDF: The Role of Greeters and Ushers in Church Security
The post below was originally published on January 12, 2008, and has resulted in over 1,800 requests for the document. (UPDATE: Over 2,500 as of May, 2009, from this site alone!)
That’s just the count of people writing to this site. There are several other sites who also offer it–some as a part of a subscription package for other things. (That bothers me, but I hope people will realize they can get it from other sources as well.) Several pastors have given it out at conferences and conventions, so I suppose it has been copied several thousand times by those people. I think all of that is both interesting and fun!
I have heard back from hundreds of pastors, security team leaders and others, and have enjoyed every message. I wish there was not a need for such material. But, I’m glad to be able to provide at least one piece of a security package.
I have also been asked to do presentations in several settings, and have done that on occasion, when circumstances made it possible. My underlying message is that planning is almost as valuable as the plan. There are some very good things that come from looking at safety and security systematically. It is never wasted time and effort. And, when done correctly, it is an energizing project for the entire church family.
Thank you for the contacts and your follow-up messages!
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Church leaders, no matter what the size or location of the church, have a responsibility to develop plans and processes that help ensure the safety and security of members, visitors and church property. This is made more challenging by the fact that church buildings and congregations may be targeted for violence, threats or disruption. In addition, church buildings have the same risks as other buildings about safety and security problems related to natural disasters, fires, mechanical and electrical failures and safety hazards.
One of the key components of a church security program is observant and responsive greeters, ushers and deacons. These front-line roles are often the first people to see or hear problems, and often have access to all parts of the building before, during and after the service. But sadly, many greeters and ushers receive little or no training related to the role they can play in observing, getting help quickly and providing leadership in an emergency. Even if you have a security team, greeters and ushers are often the ones who first observe a problem situation and must react appropriately.
Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers is a free, 24 page PDF document, which can be copied for use in church security training.
•It provides a well-balanced, realistic approach that can help the meeters and greeters of churches feel more confident and be more effective in situations of concern as well as in emergencies.
•This document has been useful for pastors, church security teams and greeter/usher teams, as well as being a great resource for distribution by law enforcement organizations.
Topics:
The role of greeters and ushers in the area of church security (with or without a formal security team).
Awareness and response
Potential security concerns and options for action
A security self-evaluation checklist
This security information is a great addition to your church manual and should be part of the orientation training for all greeters, ushers, deacons and church leadership. Contact me for your FREE PDF copy of, Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.
Dear Tina,
I would be grateful if you would kindly send me a free PDF file on “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.” This is intended solely for dissemination among the emerging security team of First Baptist Church, Black Forest (Colorado Springs, CO).
A hard copy was given to me during a forum on church security hosted by New Life Church (Colorado Springs) yesterday, but a PDF file would be great!
Thanks so much.
Garry R. Brown
Comment by Garry R. Brown | March 14, 2008
Would you please send me the PDF file of “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers”? Thanks!
Comment by Jamye | March 27, 2008
I attend a small but growing church located in Bronx, NY. We would appreciate a copy of Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushersis a free, 24 page PDF. Thank you
Comment by trecia | April 9, 2008
Please sent the PDF on Security Concerns for Churches. I’m in the midst of reviewing / creating / recommending plans for our big church. Thanks.
Comment by Steve McCollister | April 11, 2008
Please send me the “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers” PDF? I’m preparing for a presentation to our vestry.
Thanks and God bless ya’ll!
Gene
Comment by Gene Whitehurst | May 15, 2008
Hi Tina:
Please send the PDF on Security Concerns for Churches. We are a small church but we had issues of vandalism. I would like to come up with plans to help secure our church. I greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Wylie
Comment by Wylie Gober | May 21, 2008
Hello Tina,
Could I get a copy of this pdf. Secondly, could we use it on our site with links pointing back to you?
Thanks,
Glen Evans
http://www.churchsecuritymember.com
Comment by Glen Evans | May 31, 2008
Thank you so much for the free PDF about church security, from the viewpoint of greeters and ushers. It said exactly the right things to bring balance to some of our thinking. Your generosity in writing to Sandy McClelland our Usher Team Leader is particularly appreciated, since she was unsure about whether you would respond. I’m certain the Lord will bless your efforts! Thank you again.
Comment by Tom Swetlund | June 4, 2008
Hello Tina, I’d love a copy as I work with the security team of an 8,000+ member church. Thanks.
Comment by Anthony | June 16, 2008
8,000+ members? Wow, what a challenge that must be! The PDF I’m sending focuses primarily on greeters and ushers, but is a great way for a security team to incorporate the “church family” into safety and security issues. Thanks for the contact. Tina
Comment by Tina | June 16, 2008
Dear Ms. Tina Rowe,
I received your pamphlet on church security and think it is excellent. I would like to make copies for the pastors in my region. How is that permission given by you?
With many thanks for your work.
Wen, Taiwan
Comment by WH | June 28, 2008
Tina says:
Thank you, Wen, for contacting me. I sent you an email about this, but will also put the message here for others to know.
You can make all the copies of the church security file you want to make. My only requirement is that it cannot be sold or copied to make it look as though someone else wrote it. If you use portions of it, please include my name and contact information.
As I told you in the email, it is only focused on greeters and ushers, but the concepts could be applied in other ways. Or, it would be a good “chapter” in a security manual.
I’ve been asked to develop something on whole-church security, and if I do, I will let everyone who requested the first one, know about it.
Thank you for contacting me! And, best wishes to you in your work!
Tina
Comment by Tina | June 28, 2008
Hello, Ms. Rowe! I am a Community Resource Officer for my police department and would like to have the free PDF for distribution at meetings. I’ve been looking for something like this and was afraid I might have to write one myself. Thankfully, I found this. K.O.
Comment by Ken O. | July 16, 2008
Please send a copy of the PDF file on church security. I saw it at a meeting in the UK and thought it was good for all church meetings. I have a small non-denominational Christian church in a suburb of Lucknow, in Northern India. We have similar concerns to those of any community in the world, but we also have cultural issues that make it important for us to be aware of safety. We have two security officers, but for our greeters and ushers, this document would be very good. Sincerely, T.P.
Comment by T. Preet | August 3, 2008
I would be grateful if you would kindly send me a free PDF file on “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.I would love to train our ushers a little more then i have! Thank You
Comment by ron odom | August 4, 2008
Dear Tina,
I would be very grateful if you would please email me a free PDF file on “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.” This will be used for formulating security for Perdido Bay Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL.
Thank You very much
Bill J. McCord
Admin Assistant
Comment by BILL MCCORD | August 5, 2008
Would you please send me the PDF file of “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers”? Thanks
Comment by Marsha Chapman | August 5, 2008
Tina, Due to the recent events that have been happening around the nation, our pastor (and City Mayor) is requesting that I look into a security team for our church. I am a city police captain under our mayor so the necessity is two-fold. We have begun informative talk with our members but would like as much information on training for our greeters and ushers. Please send me your article and any information that you think may be pertinent.
Thank you,
Captain C.S.
Comment by Carlos Sapien | August 6, 2008
Please send me a copy of the Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.
Comment by Will Lamkin | August 11, 2008
May we get a copy of the file on church security? We have never had even one problem, but think we should be proactive about being prepared, especially for special events. It’s very nice of you to give this away!
Comment by Rev. Sandy Gallagher | August 25, 2008
Ms Rowe, may I also get a copy of the handout regarding church security concerns.
Thank You,
Buddy
Comment by Buddy Beach | August 27, 2008
Ms. Rowe, your article is outstanding! We have made many copies for our sister churches. Please let us know if you produce something else. This is such a need right now and there are so few really good resources that can be applied in a small church like ours. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness.
“Let’s be happy and show joy about this day our Lord has made!”
Comment by Phil Davidson | August 31, 2008
Hello, Ms. Rowe. We do not have greeters and ushers as such, although we have a hospitality team that monitors a coffee bar at one end of our entry area. Would this be good material for them? I don’t think they could provide much security protection and wouldn’t want them to endanger themselves, but they have mentioned the subject to me. Your thoughts about this would be helpful. Thank you for your time. Robert R.
Comment by R.T.R | August 31, 2008
Tina says: I think you’re right to make sure the coffee bar staff does not feel they are responsible for security. You may want to consider having just one person in the vestibule area in case they need assistance.
Yes, the document would be useful I’m sure. The good news is that if it isn’t, you’re not out any money for it!
Let me know if I can be a resource in any other way. Tina
Comment by TLR | August 31, 2008
I would very much like to have a copy of Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers. I am a police chief and firearms instructor and address these issues often.
Comment by Jason Curtman | September 1, 2008
Ms. Rowe, thank you so much for your prompt response to my request for the church security pdf. I’m an usher and am getting it for my usher team. We’ve been accused of being paranoid, but in the last year we’ve had three incidents that were very disturbing and in one case we had to call 911 and they had trouble subduing a young man who was high on something. Even church attendance has changed in these times.
Thank you again. O.G.
Comment by owen g. | September 8, 2008
Hello,
I wish to request for a free pdf copy ob church security. I am a head usher at a local church in Zambia and currently we have embarked on training of ushers. We feel your resource will add much value to our work.
Than you in anticipation
Comment by Aubrey Masumbu | September 15, 2008
Hi Tina,
I would like to request a copy of your Church Security document.
Thanks so much!
B. Hill
Comment by B. Hill | October 4, 2008
Dear Tina,
I would like to get a copy of the pdf ‘Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers’. It is solely for church purpose. I was planning on a retreat with the ushers in our church. So i think your pdf would be of great value among us.
Stay Blessed!!
Comment by Siby | October 4, 2008
Ms. Rowe, I was referred to you for the manual on how greeters and ushers can be better prepared for an emergency. This is greatly needed by our church, in that we do not have a set group of people, due to our small sized church.
We have had several cases where the police should have been called but weren’t. We will be appreciative of any material you can provide.
Thanks in advance for your helpfulness.
Comment by Catherine DeFranco Wooten | October 6, 2008
Dear Tina,
I am truely impressed by the quick reply. I would get in touch as soon as we have had the retreat. May the good Lord continue to bless your efforts.
Thanking you so much on behalf of Wuhan International Christian Fellowship.
Siby Mathews,
Organisation Secretary.
Comment by Siby Mathews | October 6, 2008
Please send me your free pdf copy of “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.” Thank you for your response.
Comment by Kaye Hirst | October 7, 2008
Beloved,
You are a plus to the body of Christ. Please send me a copy of the material.
I perceived it will help in the training of our ushering team
Rev Sola Adetunji,
Chapel Of his Power,
Ado-Ekiti,Ekiti State,
Nigeria.
Comment by Rev Sola Adetunji | November 11, 2008
Please send me your free PDF copy of The Role of Greeters and Ushers. I believe it will transform our ushering team as we serve christ.
Comment by Sandile | November 13, 2008
Dear Mrs. Tina Lewis Rowe,
We have a village church that has suffered persecution in the past but thankfully we are now assembling and praising almost daily. We have young men who are ushers who must also be our security but sometimes we have older men and women who help us. We would very much appreciate your information about security as we have seen parts of it in our regional meeting and know it to be what we need.
With many thanks and appreciation.
Comment by Samuel DeHaristo-Somjiilo | November 14, 2008
Please do not publish my full name and address and country since we are not always safe to do so. Please send your free document about safety and security for church ushers. We meet outdoors and do not have ushers but we have assistants who are stationed about the arenas and they must be observant.
Thank you for your service.
Comment by Bishop | November 14, 2008
Tina says:
Forgive the “group” responses I make, but it avoids adding extra comments that are mine!
Thank you Adetunji, Sandile, Samuel and Bishop, for your contact and request! This week I have received ten requests from other continents, and find it to be very gratifying and interesting!
Best wishes to you all!
Comment by TLR | November 14, 2008
I am in charge of ushers in a non-Christian assemblage but would like to have your security file. Is it available generally? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Comment by Terry E. | November 14, 2008
Terry, thank you for writing, and for following up with a longer email and explanation. This is an ecumenical offer! It would be useful in any house of worship or any place people gather and there are ushers or greeters.
As I tell everyone who writes for it…this document does not cover everything that an usher or greeter would need to know to be effective. But, it can help individuals or the team start developing safety and security plans that will work for their specific situations.
I sent you an email along with the file, and hope you will keep me informed of your planning activities. Tina
Comment by TLR | November 14, 2008
Hi Tina,
I would like to request a copy of your Church Security pdf document.
Thanks so much for your time and effort!
Comment by Ron Stewart | March 3, 2009
Ms. Rowe, your security information was given to me by a ministerial colleague. It has been extremely helpful for us. We do not have a church per se and our prayer meetings are not publicized. We do not need a security force but we need to be vigilant. We have had problems in the past but the security books I read were not easy to apply to us.
In the weeks since we used your material for training we had two men arrive whose actions seemed suspicious. Our front greeters used a code phrase and signal as you suggested to get assistance. We found out the two men were there to disrupt the prayer meeting, but they have now been warned by the police to stay away.
Also, I read your biographical material at a gathering and prayers of thanks were given for what can be accomplished by one person with the guidance and protection of God’s Holy Spirit.
Thank you for your service to others.
Pastor Rodrigo A.
Chile
Comment by Rodrigo A. | March 7, 2009
Tina says: Thanks again to all of you who have written about the material–both to ask for it and to let me know it was useful.
It’s a small document that certainly is not on the scale of some of the very good books and material on church security. But, it apparently has been helpful to many. And the price is good! (It’s free!)
Rodrigo, thank you for your thoughtful remarks. I sent you an email as well. Best wishes in your work. T.
Comment by TLR | March 7, 2009
Would you please send me the PDF file of “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers”? Thank you very much.
Comment by cj plogger | March 18, 2009
Please forward me a copy of “Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.” In light of recent events it would be greatly appreciated.
Comment by BRI | March 23, 2009
Please send me a copy of the Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers.
Thanks,
Barbara J
Comment by Barbara Jackson | March 30, 2009
I AM DIRECTOR OF SECURITY, CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME A COPY ON GREETER AND USHER TIPS.
Comment by GALEN A. ANDERSON | May 11, 2009
I would like to get a copy of the pdf ‘Church Security Concerns: The Role of Greeters and Ushers’. It is solely for church purpose. I am planning a seminar/workshop for the ushers in our church. So i think your pdf would be of great value among us.
Your response will be appreciated. May the Lord reward you aboundantly
Stay Blessed!!
Comment by Olusegun Koleoso | June 22, 2009
Tina,
Please send me a copy of your PDF “Church Security and Concerns:The Role of Greeters and Ushers”.
Thanks!
Comment by 649 | September 24, 2009
Please send a copy of “Security Concerns for Churches – the Role of Ushers and Greeters” by Tina Lewis Rowe. I am looking forward to what you have to say as this issue is very HOT in our church right now.
God bless,
Pastor Dave Andersen
Comment by David Andersen | October 20, 2009
Kindly send me a copy of your PDF “Church Security and Concerns:The Role of Greeters & Ushers”, and also any other Tips or information on how to co-ordinate Greeters. Your urgent response to this shall be highly appreciated.
God Bless!
Comment by GWC | December 20, 2009
I would like to have a PDF file of the Usher/Greeter part or even the whole Security Assessment PDF sent to me. Thank you very much.
Comment by Mark W. May | January 15, 2010
Please send a copy of “Security Concerns for Churches – the Role of Ushers and Greeters”. We are in the process of starting a secuirty ministry
Blessings.
Mr. Tomlinson
Comment by Mr. Tomlinson | January 20, 2010
I would love to see a copy of your security.
I am on the council of a church plant outside DC that is running over 300 people. Due to tripling our size in one year we are not equipped on where to begin.
Thanks for your partnership.
Comment by Curtis | March 6, 2010
Good afternoon,
While searching the web for information on Church Security, I ran across your website. I would be most appreciative if you were to forward me a copy of your teaching on The Role of Greeters and Ushers in Church Security. I have oversight of our security team as well as our ushers and greeters. Thank you!
Elder D. Hayes
Comment by Darian Hayes | April 1, 2010
Tina,
Thank you for your presentation to the Facility Managers Assoc, it was very informative. If you wouldn’t mind I would love to have copies of the documents covering church security. We have no formal security system in place, so any info you can give us to train our volunteers and greeters and ushers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You, Doug Walters Facility Manager, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Ministries
Comment by Doug Walters | October 8, 2010
i want to download 24 pages of ushers and greeters role for the training of my church greeters and ushers.
God bless you.
Comment by pastor lawrence a alagba | February 13, 2011