We’ve talked a lot about protecting yourself in your house of worship. One of the facets we haven’t discussed is protection in the worship center’s parking lot. While it’s likely very similar to other parking lots, there are some unique things to consider.
A house of worship parking lot may be very busy before and after a service or almost completely deserted outside of regular worship times.
Some locations offer small group meetings in the evenings when parking lots are nearly empty.
I take the same precautions in all parking lots. I back in, one adult securing kids the other looking around, doors locked before I start it, etc… A big difference is the threats are easier to recognize in my church parking lot. It’s a smaller church so we all pretty much recognize each other. That doesn’t mean we relax our routine I just enjoy the advantage
At my church our parking attendants also serve as eyes and ears. They inform us of any suspicious people entering or anything they notice out of the ordinary. Our security team during service performs perimeter checks just to make sure our parking lots remain safe. We also try to memorize our members vehicles and what they are driving. Pay attention to vehicles that are parked away from others as that they can make a quick getaway. We escort our Pastor to his/her vehicle in the lot. Pay special attention to people leaving service early. We also have a Virginia Beach patrol car assigned to the service and parking lot.
My basic rule is to avoid the crowd.
Be either first or last before the Mass and don’t rush to parking lot after.
The church I was in back in Va.had ladies and gentlemen waiting outside
to walk members to the church service. When we had 24 hr prayer service
and such - we had rotating armed individuals from sunset to dawn just to
keep everybody safe. Mike 
I don’t back in anywhere except my home garage. I have a big enough vehicle - and little enough practice to date - that it isn’t worth it. I do park away from the doors and usually where my vehicle is alone in the area.
At my church we hire off duty officers in marked cruisers to patrol the parking area before, during, and after services. We also have volunteer security patrolling the lots as well.
Isn’t this sad…marked cruisers patrolling? I can imagine golf carts circling the parking lot, with signs that say “church security”??? Shame that we live in a world where our churches and people need protection. Shame. Stay safe, and thank goodness we have security forces on staff.
Unfortunately in today’s World bad guys’ cowardnes bring them to our churches and schools. 
Folks,
At least here in Florida you are far better off labeling your “team” a safety team rather than a security team, we called and were told by USCCA that a volunteer on a safety team is covered where a defined safety team might fall under a different area 
Specific wording preference is in lots of industries. This why the Department of War is now the Department of Defense.
Safety is a much more insurance friendly term than security.
At our church they are actually called a safety team and it is all volunteer. They wear no identifying clothing normally. For special events they wear a polo shirt labeled as Membership services. This is to help visitors identify who they can ask directions etc.
Ours is called the Safety Team. We wear orange name tags with “CST” above our names.
In my church it is also called a Safety Team.
We post an armed (concealed) security person outside the front door as a first line (our church doesn’t allow unauthorized concealed carry). We also patrol the parking lots during service.
My church has had a problem with car break-ins that occurred during services. We would randomly walk the lot before, during and after services but did not have anyone stationed outside. My reason for this is that I am much more concerned about life safety then protection of property left in peoples cars. Every theft was an opportunity crime; purses, wallets, backpacks and electronic devices left out in the open. After 2 elders’ vehicles were broken into, we have since had cameras added. The push was for all outside cameras but I was successful in arguing that it was more important to see who was coming and going then who was stealing pastor Joe’s wife’s wallet that was left on the dashboard. I was able to get camera at our two main entrances.
I have heard many arguments for naming the safety/security teams. As a lawyer, I am very aware that words have meaning, even beyond the meaning in the Webster dictionary. I would recommend teams be called Safety teams as opposed to security teams. There is no question that safety entails security but the opposite is not necessarily true. After all, public safety includes law enforcement but law enforcement is does not include all public safety.
Using the term security, as opposed to safety, may also create a perception of a higher duty to persons at the church in the event an incident occurs.
Hey Mike what’s the world coming to where you can’t even park safely in a house of worship yet alone have your car broken into. The way the world is nowadays I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an inside job, GOD forgive me.
I agree @Johnnyq60! But, historically, churches have been the targets of all kinds of crimes.
I here you bro absolutely. We usually have someone on the parking lot team stay out there. You know Mike I don’t know about you but I respect a killer more than a thief, I mean when someone steels from you, you feel violated brother.