After a group of protesters from the Radical Justice Network disrupted a church in Minnesota this weekend, many of you may be asking how to prepare your church and your security volunteers for such an event. I addressed this in 2020 during COVID after protesters from Black Lives Matter (BLM) clashed with a church in Troy, NY, and I thought this would be a great time to discuss this again.

Quick Takeaways

✅ Protestors are a disruptive threat, not merely a nuisance

✅ Preparation begins with understanding your risk, not reacting emotionally

✅ Written plans protect leadership as much as they protect people

✅ De-escalation is a security skill, not a personality trait

✅ The goal is always control, clarity, and lawful response — not confrontation

1. Threat Assessment: if your church has not been surveyed or assessed, and you’re unaware of what you’re protecting the church from, to include protesters, I suggest hiring an assessment professional to conduct a security survey or a comprehensive physical security assessment. You can’t effectively safeguard the church if you don’t know who your adversaries are.

2. Emergency Action Plans: are written documents that tell your staff and security ministries how to respond to emergencies, to include situations identified in a threat assessment.

3. Layered Approach: protests, like the one that occurred at the church this weekend are attacks, and all attacks are planned, premediated, and can be detected prior to execution. Effective security planning includes the use of security volunteers to provide multiple, overlapping security layers or defenses that provide early detection, reporting, and engagement at the outer most layer (parking lot) to validate suspicious, unusual or threatening behavior.

4. Positive Engagement and Communication: is required once suspicious, unusual, or threatening behavior is detected (in this case, a large group of unknown individuals approach the church after services have started). Positive is referred to here as kind, de-escalating, and validating. If a threat is detected, security communicates what is occurring, and the immediate execution of your church’s EAP may be possible to include a lock-out and contacting law enforcement.

5. Use of Force Protocols: trespassing, disorderly conduct, and some forms of vandalism are misdemeanor crimes. They require some type of action, but the use of force to stop these actions may be detrimental to the church and to all individuals involved. If protestors enter the church and they are disruptive, contacting law enforcement, and being a good witness is essential here.

Conclusion

Church security preparedness is not about fear—it’s about leadership and stewardship. By identifying realistic risks and equipping people with clear plans, disciplined training, and lawful response protocols, churches can protect their congregations while remaining focused on worship and mission. Preparation builds clarity, reduces confusion under pressure, and protects both people and the church itself.

Next Steps for Your Church

1️⃣ Evaluate Your Current Readiness: Download the Church Security Planning Checklist to identify gaps in planning, response, training, and leadership oversight.

2️⃣ Clarify What Your Results Mean: If you’d like help interpreting what your checklist reveals, schedule a free 15-minute Security Planning Walkthrough Call.

3️⃣ Decide What Comes Next, Intentionally:

From there, you can determine whether your church needs a professional security assessment, a written emergency response plan, leadership training or certification, or simply better documentation and review

📞 Prefer to talk now? Call 615.956.3912

📧 Prefer to email? Email contact@michaelmannsecurityservices.com

Extra Resources

Church Security Program

View Here

Church Security Program Pricing Sheet
Download Here