The short answer
A place of worship should build its security plan around its people, mission, facility, and actual risks. Start by appointing a security coordinator and multidisciplinary planning team. Identify regular services, schools or childcare, offices, counseling, food programs, holidays, public events, cash handling, parking, and times when few people are present. Then assess entrances, sightlines, lighting, locks, communications, medical resources, evacuation routes, severe-weather areas, and access for emergency responders.
What to know
The written plan should define who reports concerns, who calls 911, who communicates with the congregation, and how leaders decide to evacuate, shelter, or restrict entry. It should cover children and vulnerable adults, accessibility, volunteer screening, keys, suspicious behavior, lost children, medical events, severe weather, fire, active violence, reunification, and preservation of evidence. Coordinate with local law enforcement and fire/EMS, train staff and volunteers, exercise carefully, and document improvements after each drill or incident.
CISA’s voluntary Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities provide a strong planning framework and encourage risk assessment, recurring training, exercises, and local responder collaboration. Professional guards can add a consistent trained presence, but they should operate within the broader plan rather than become the entire plan. Arrow offers security for places of worship and emergency-response training; armed status, duties, schedule, and coordination with volunteers require case-by-case approval.