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More than half of Protestant churches in the U.S. are relying on armed congregants as part of their security plan, according to a recent survey of pastors.
Approximately 81% of churches — or four in five pastors — said they have at least one security measure to prevent potential attacks, and 54% said they have armed members in their congregation, according to a survey of 1,000 pastors released last week by Lifeway Research.
More than one in six pastors — or 17% — said they had not implemented seven of the potential security measures noted by the study, and 2% said they were unsure, according to Lifeway.
Fifty-seven percent of pastors claimed to have "an intentional plan for an active shooter situation," which was the most popular option. The second most-cited option had armed church members.
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A crime scene is taped off at New Season Church in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. Metro Nashville Police say two people suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening in a drive-by shooting Saturday outside the church. (AP Photo/Jonathan Mattise)
Radio communications among security personnel and a no-firearms policy in church facilities were the next most popular security options, at 26% and 21%, respectively.
Twelve percent of pastors in primarily Black churches said they have uniformed police present during their church services, compared to only 4% of White pastors. Thirty-four percent of Black congregations maintained a no-firearms policy, while 21% of White churches did.
Police cordon off Woodmont Baptist Church after reports of a shooting at The Covenant School, Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, March 27, 2023. (Emily Zanotti/Fox News Digital)
Scott McConnell, who serves as Lifeway Research’s executive director, emphasized the crucial need for a security plan at churches.
"Churches are not immune to violence, disputes, domestic disagreements, vandalism and burglary," McConnell said. "While loving one another is a core Christian teaching, churchgoers still sin, and non-churchgoers are invited and welcomed. So real security risks exist whether a congregation wants to acknowledge them or not."
The Geneva Presbyterian Church is seen after a deadly shooting, in Laguna Woods, California, on May 15, 2022. (REUTERS/David Swanson)
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Lifeway's survey took place from Sept. 6 to Sept. 30 and involved one pastor per interview, according to the research group. The sampling margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 3.2% at the 95% confidence level, according to Lifeway.
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