ChurchSafety

It is important to distinguish between a harmless (though possibly awkward) interruption from someone who displays disruptive behavior, and a violent situation that might erupt from a dangerous person. To know the difference will help your leadership come up with practical ways to deal with both situations. Use these simple tips to help your church get started.

Educate your staff. Teach your staff how to protect their belongings, take precautions in the office when they're working alone, and who to call if they're dealing with someone who is out of control. Doing even these few things will help protect those in your church from someone who may be dangerous.

Create Procedures. Put practices and procedures in place for preventing or mitigating potentially disruptive situations with mentally ill individuals. Sometimes these practices need to be created on a case-by-case basis. Make sure to speak with family members to ensure you create a practice that will be helpful and beneficial to both the disruptive individual and other members of your church.

Screen volunteers. Be sure to do thorough background checks on all of your staff and volunteers. Include applications, references, and interviews, and practice the "six month rule," not allowing anyone to volunteer with children until they've been a member of the church for at least six months.

Be alert of bizarre behavior. For example: A person is sweating profusely, not engaged in the service, or appears uneasy. This behavior typically indicates someone who is thinking about—or ready to engage in—unlawful activity. It's important to be alert for dangerous behavior during any activity held on church property. This includes time before, during, and after worship (especially in crowds of people); at special events such as weddings; and during evening hours.

Disruptive does not mean dangerous. There may be a member of your church who demonstrates disruptive behavior, but it's not because he/she wants to hurt someone. For example, someone who doesn't have control of their body or speech and groans spontaneously during the service may make others uncomfortable by their actions, but it's no reason to keep them out of church. Church leadership should deal with these people differently than someone they suspect is up to no good.

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