The Role of Technology in Church Security
Anyone who is tasked with
the safekeeping of church attendees and children is acutely aware of the
increase in horrifying headlines relating to church crime. Churches are prime
targets for crime because of their open nature, easy access and limited
security measures. It doesn't help that some church leaders are reluctant to
broach the subject of church security. They worry that overt security measures
threaten a peaceful atmosphere. They struggle with the gap between having faith
and taking action. And they dread the possibility of an undesired and
uncomfortable debate on the use of deadly force in the protection of church
goers.
Gatekeepers Security
Services do an excellent job of
educating churches about the need for security training for physical intrusion
with intent to harm. However, there are many threats far more likely than
deadly force that don’t often make the headlines. They’re quieter but
potentially easier to prevent with the right strategies in place – crimes like
sexual abuse of children, kidnapping, and theft of property or private
information. Sadly, it often takes a lawsuit to get churches to see the very
real likelihood of these threats and take preventative measures.
For many of these threats,
the powerful combination of technology
plus ironclad processes delivers security to church-goers and children in
these areas:
Background Checks
Most churches now
recognize the need for background
checks for staff and volunteers. However, many churches settle for free, publicly available
background check options, and they run them for only one or two ministries.
These searches are not robust enough. According to Steve Durie, CEO of
SecureSearch, “9% of church volunteers and staff have a flagged profile and 4% have
criminal histories that should prevent them from interacting with children.”
SecureSearch reports that every 43 hours a convicted sex offender tries to
attain a position at youth oriented non-profit, so it’s vitally important that
churches make it more difficult for criminals to infiltrate areas of
vulnerability.
Fellowship One automates
the background check process, removing the barrier that it is too
time-consuming or complicated to make this important protection routine.
Check-in Systems
Many security concerns can
be alleviated with a robust, secure check-in system, but a good system alone is
not enough. It should include well-designed name tags that prevent unauthorized
pick-ups, and notify caregivers of allergies and other concerns. By far the
most important aspect of a check-in system, however, is the quality of—and
adherence to—surrounding policies and processes. The best check-in system in the
world won’t help if child pick-up with matching tags isn’t enforced, or if caregivers
don’t review authorized parent pick-up in the system when a tag is lost. The
rise of parental custody issues mandates that churches take great care in this
area.
Online Registration and Giving
Besides being the most
convenient way to manage funds, online giving and event payment reduces cash
and check-handling and the potential for theft among those charged with
processing the offering. Digital giving also provides a record of incoming
funds that can provide a more secure internal control against electronic theft.
Finally, payment processors—by law—have met stringent compliance standards to
protect your data. While not foolproof, this is far more secure than the data that
can be lifted off members’ checks.
Not Technology Alone
Hopefully, the common denominator of “ironclad processes” stood out in each of these three scenarios. Technology alone is not a cure for crime—in fact, it can have its own potential vulnerabilities for criminal intent. However, with intentionality and education, the right technology can minimize the risk of harm to churches.
ACTIVE Network Fellowship One provides the premier church management software solution to more than 4,000 churches. Our church software tools and church leadership experience enable ministry leaders to offer exceptional member care, be good stewards of time and finances, and engage their community.
Download: Emergency Action Plan Checklist – Learn what to include in a document and on signs, in order to educate your church of the steps to take in the event of an emergency.
Download: Keeping Church Safe White Paper- Beyond physical training and technology, we worked with a variety of experts on security issues outside our core competency and identified the top 5 strategies to cover the majority of threats.
Any way I can get my UTMs on these?