The holidays are supposed to be a happy time of the year with family and friends. We’d rather not consider the nastiness that could happen during this season, but we know that our bodies cannot go where our minds haven’t been - so we train physically and mentally for the possibility of a terrible situation happening.
Your family attends services regularly and the holidays are no exception for you.
The pastor is in the middle of his sermon when someone stands up and starts yelling and arguing with the paster. The agitated gentleman is in the middle of a full row of people who are too stunned by his sudden outburst to move. His movements become larger and more violent. He hasn’t hit anyone yet, but the chance of him not striking someone is slim.
When he sees the church security team coming toward him, he starts screaming that he has a gun.
My wife and daughter are primary concern, we always sit in the back near the exits that lead to the parking lot. I always carry in case I need it, but protecting my family and keeping them safe is my responsibility. Always get them out if possible
Being part of the security team my family is leaving and the pastors family is leaving while the security team gets between the individual and the pastor. Law enforcement would be called and how bad it goes beyond that will be up to the individual and his actions
We’ve had this happen with someone suffering Tourette’s syndrome.
His family calmed him down and got him outside. The poor fellow was very embarrassed.
By the point of him yelling he has a gun, he would have been tagged with pepper spray. With a taser gun on the ready. He then would have been pulled out of the building, all the while someone had already called the police.
The Church I attend has dealt with this type of behavior before, from a person that had a psychotic break. It was a effective method.
We’re waiting for Covid-19 to be subdued enough and vaccines. After that happens we’d just leave if possible. I would not stay unless a gun was pointed directly at me.
We have no church security team.
First, I would make sure my family’s safe.
My next move depends on too many variables so hard to tell what it would be.
These days it’s hard to believe a church doesn’t have a security team of some sort. About 3 years ago My wife and I left the church we had been at for 12 years , I was on that team. We have visited 5 churches all of them have security of some sort. And some of them were not very large churches.
I am going to take one or more actions depending on the circumstances. I will first alert the rest of the Church Safety Team, then get my family moving toward the exit, take whatever cover/concealment is available, then be prepared to defend my church family.
Yeah family has to get out. As for me I’d have to stick it out & see what’s going on. If church has a team I just watch. Have some compassion for peoplebwith minor issues
Even before the pandemic, our church never exceeded 50 attendees. More than 80% of the members are over 60, I’m considered a baby. Current attendance level averages at about 22.
One member who has since been called by the Lord a few months ago once asked me, “I wonder what we would do if there’s an active shooter situation.” He was a known democrat so I did not comment on it.
I’m guessing I’m the only one packing although I know of two other families who are gun owners.
We have no Church security team, we have # trained and # at each service carrying concealed. We each know to get immediate people near us on the floor and behind any cover possible. Move and exit area only if it is safe to do so. Then we close the distance, as quickly as possible to decrease the chance of injuring innocent bystanders. First minimize threat with the least amount of force necessary. Cause no collateral damage. Once threat stopped, provide immediate first aid to the injured.
It is situationally dependent. If someone starts blasting you return fire. If someone starts and argument, try to de-escalate. If someone is brandishing arms, move as may people to safety while someone covers the threat. By all means, don’t use military vocabulary while trying to take control of the situation. God may forgive you but some of those elderly ladies might not.
I’m on the church security team. We had a situation where the pastor was preaching and a gentleman who was attending the service got up and started arguing with the pastor. So we isolated and contained the individual and called 911 and when they arrived he was charged with a violation, disorderly conduct. In the scenario above the individual stated he had a gun so you can get someone to call 911 and isolate and contain the individual. He could also be lying about having a gun so keep this in mind. Make sure you attempt to get the children, pastor and the people in the congregation out safely while the other security team members contain the individual and just in case he does reach for something make sure you take cover and be out of each other’s line of fire just in case he does have a gun.
The church we left was running about 50 at service. And most every one there is 50 +. This was about 4 years ago. We had an event where a man came to service sat in the front row then got up and just started walking around. Walk behind the pastor into the choir then around to the baptistery. The pastor stoped the service and we got the guy outside and called the police. He wasn’t armed but high on something.
The pastor ask how many have there CCL and would do security. Six of us were armed and a retired deputy sheriff led the group.
On a small church everyone knows everyone so the strangers are the ones to watch.
I would remember the video that the USCCA made it was very informative and made a lot of sense, I share it with several people and they brought it to there church councils and all worked many situations and tweeted the respons to there church’s , because not all church buildings are the same.
I’m the lead and implementer of our church security team and EOP. My specific roll is pulpit and pastor security. I am seated just off to the right side rear, 3’oclock to the pulpit. I have visual contact with all other members of the security team, the main door, the mezzanine and sound room.
My duty is to not allow anyone near the pulpit, at minimum to stop ingress/approach to such the pulpit by creating a physical barrier and at most as a final attempt to stop a threat.
Prior to service I check perimeter door security and pass out panic buttons to be held and used if needed by congregants.
After service I immediately exit the main doors and verify that there are no parking lot threats to bring harm to congregants as they exit.
Same here. Good to have confirmation I picked the right spot.
I’m the lone usher so first to see everyone, the one who closes the doors when service begins, and opens the doors after service.
I also man two cameras for Facebook streaming so spend a lot of time in the rear, always mindful of my six.
I take a seat when sermon starts and cameras are fixed on the pulpit.
Been there! Ushers ushered him out fast and he was arrested. Having a Police officer as an usher is a plus! No sheep were hurt during this event! 1982, California
You bring up a great point, @John292. At the holidays, there may be more people with a variety of mental illnesses at the services with their family because it’s the holiday and people want their entire family together for services.
I’m very glad to hear his family could get him to calm down safely for everyone’s sake.