This 8-hour course is the first in a series of courses designed for pastoral leaders and those responsible for safety and security in a church environment.  This course will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the important steps in planning for a church crisis, reducing vulnerabilities, mitigating a crisis, and dealing with the aftermath of a crisis.  

A historical perspective of church violence over the last decade will illustrate the importance of preparing your ministry for a risk-effective crisis response.  You will learn the basics elements of site and threat assessments and how to use the results of an assessment to reduce vulnerability and implement new standards for safety and security.  We will discuss strategies for improving both individual and organizational awareness and preparedness.  You will also gain a basic understanding of the psychological motivations of persons in crisis and learn to recognize the characteristics of emotionally disturbed persons as well as strategies for affecting a positive outcome.

Communication during a crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing anyone responsible for coordinating a response effort.  You will learn basic strategies for effective communication before, during, and after an incident.  A brief overview of the police response will give you an idea of what to expect when the police respond to a crisis as well as tips for building a collaborative relationship with law enforcement.  Lastly, we will discuss the role of church management in dealing with the aftermath of a crisis and the importance of a post-incident strategy.  

OVERVIEW OF TOPICS:   

• Preparing for the Church Crisis
• Conducting Vulnerability & Site Assessments
• Identifying Threats
• Developing Control Measures
• Individual & Staff Awareness
• Crisis Communication
• Mitigating the Crisis
• The Police Response
• Recovery After the Crisis
• Dealing with the Media