Five Key Steps To Building and Maintaining A Volunteer Safety and Security Team Presented by Robert J. Wild Senior Director of Strategic Alliances Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company

Legal Information This presentation addresses general issues and principles. Nothing in this presentation should be understood to provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Participants are encouraged to consult with an attorney licensed in their jurisdiction to determine how locally applicable law applies to specific circumstances. ©2013 Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company

Things to Keep in Mind • Call your attorney. Some states and communities regulate anything labeled "security" (including a church safety and security team). Ask your church attorney what rules and regulations might apply to your ministry. • Call your insurance agent. Ask him or her what impact an assessment and safety and security team and plan could have on your insurance.

Why a Security Team? • 1999, Wedgwood Baptist, Texas • 2005, Living Church of God, Wisconsin • 2006, Zion Hope Missionary Baptist, Michigan • 2007, New Life Church, Colorado • 2009, First Baptist, Illinois

Creating a Team: Process • Identify the people you want • Recruit by personal invitation • Train and train again • Deploy and check progress • Manage to show you care

Identify The process begins by identifying who you want to be involved in your security and safety ministry.

Identify Desirable characteristics (generally) • Strong people skills • Mental and emotional stability • Keen ability to observe people and situations • Good judgment and not implusive • Heart for ministry

Identify Desirable characteristics (security) • Professional law enforcement backgrounds, retired or active – Potential leaders that have a lifetime of experience and leadership qualities – Retired professionals will have time, ample experience, and connections for identifying other potential recruits

Identify Desirable characteristics (security) • Take care when choosing non-lawenforcement volunteers – Permits for carrying weapons are easily obtained – Inexperienced gun carriers generally lack the proper skills to react in stressful situations

Identify Desirable characteristics (security) • Legal regulations for private security – State and local governments often regulate private security, including church security teams – Only members of your safety and security team should be allowed to carry weapons at church

Identify Desirable characteristics (ministry) • Focus on ministry – Safety and security team is a ministry similar to your church’s other teams – Be vigilant and aware while maintaining welcoming environment

Identify Desirable characteristics (ministry) • Ability to evaluate situation – Distraught visitor versus someone intent on causing harm – Protect while ministering to the broken and hurting

Identify Desirable characteristics (ministry) • Willingness to observe, approach, assist – Eyes and ears to pick up on a situation before it starts – Good judgment to calmly offer aid or diffuse the situation – Open heart and compassion to deal with situation appropriately

Identify Desirable characteristics (safety) • EMTs, RNs, Doctors – Equip them with medical supplies or “go-bags” – Seat them with their families in the same location each Sunday

Recruit This step is “the ask.” Remember, you are approaching prospective volunteers because you believe they are right for this volunteer position.

Recruit • Never ask on the fly • Extend the invitation as if you were inviting a trusted colleague to dinner • Make sufficient time to meet face-to-face to lay out exactly what you are recruiting them to do

Recruit • Talk about everything involved in this volunteer position (the ups and downs) • Don’t oversell, don’t promise, don’t glorify

Recruit • Don’t use the God trump card – God told me to ask you. – God told me you should do this.

• A comprehensive screening is always required

Recruit Screening process • An application • Reference checks • Criminal history check • Prior church participation

Train Safety and security ministries are potentially dangerous. Training is essential for the safety of the volunteers.

Train • Volunteer enthusiasm depends greatly on job training and orientation • Provide safety and security guidelines, policies, and rules

Train • Offer individual and group training to explain policies and guidelines on how to deal with the different types of security needs – Domestic violence – Teenager pranks

Train • Define the use of force in detail – Who in the group is trained and permitted to carry a concealed weapon – What level of force is needed for various situations – Training should be ongoing and at regular intervals

Deploy • Deployment happens only when you have a new volunteer who is ready to be sent to his or her area of responsibility.

Deploy With the first deployment: • Check in at regular intervals and see how the new volunteer is doing • Rotate volunteers into each of the safety and security positions so everyone becomes familiar with all positions

Manage A common mistake in managing volunteers is letting their excitement get the best of them.

Manage • Volunteers should not serve every weekend and then extra events during the week, even if they want to • Overwork leads to burn-out, fatigue, discouragement, and more importantly, spiritual depletion

Manage What should you do? • Establish a serving schedule that intentionally builds in time off. (Every other weekend is best.) No exceptions. • Provide ongoing spiritual support and outlets for personal spiritual growth.

A Self-Sustaining Ministry As you deploy new recruits, natural leaders will emerge • Encourage leaders—they will help you replicate this process so volunteers lead volunteers • Grow a volunteer ministry by giving away the leadership

Security Exposure Coverage Gap

The Church Safety & Security Guidebook/DVD Kit • Quick start guide • Step-by-step instructions • 20+ checklists • Sample policies & plan • Training scenarios

LegalAssistance Get answers to your ministry’s legal questions from LegalAssistance. A free service from Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company Find out more: www.BrotherhoodMutual.com

Q&A Answers provided are insurance risk management recommendations and should not be understood or relied upon as legal advice. Please consult a local attorney for legal advice specific to your church’s operations or jurisdiction.

Thank You I appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your ministries as you serve your communities in the name of Jesus Christ.