More than half of Protestant pastors relying on armed congregants for security: survey

57% of pastors claimed to have 'intentional plan for an active shooter situation,' according to Lifeway Research

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.

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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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