Security at church: Rock Hill pastors have passion to protect God’s house

Thomas Campbell knows God will protect his followers and any who gather in his name.

But, he says, God also gave humans “common sense” to protect themselves – that’s why he says he feels called to protect those who worship at Park Ridge Baptist Church in Rock Hill.

“It’s part of protecting not only the church and church members, but my family. It’s protecting God’s house as well,” said Campbell, who leads the safety team at the church.

Churches and pastors across the nation have been evaluating their safety measures since a gunman killed nine parishioners at a Charleston church during a Bible study in June. As some churches take the first steps to make themselves safer, others are tweaking and augmenting safety programs put in place before the shooting.

Earlier this month, more than 500 church leaders attended a seminar hosted by First Baptist Church Rock Hill and Rock Hill Policeon how to prepare for an active shooter.

“Our discussion has been an encouragement that every church should have a safety plan in place and that every church would have a committee or team,” said Mike Wallace, mission development director for the York Baptist Association. The association is stressing to its member churches to be prepared for any crisis that might arise.

“Too many churches have flown by the seat of their pants,” he said. “We need to have active plans in place.”

‘Not just a security team’

Park Ridge’s safety team was assembled two years ago by former member Barry Burleson, who is now pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. Burleson said he wanted to be proactiveto securing the church.

“I told them, this is something I hope we never have to use, ever,” he said. “But, if something happens, we’ll be thanking God we had it in place.”

Burleson said he wanted church members on duty around the church and grounds during servicesThey communicate via radio.

Like many churches they havea numbered ticket system with the nursery to keep children from being taken by someone who isn’t responsible for them.

The team has three nurses. Campbell, who took over the team’s leadership when Burleson left, said he would like to have more members trained in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator

“We’re not just a security team; we’re a safety team and we’re looking at the big picture,” Campbell said. “We’re trying to get the whole team prepared for something as big as a natural disaster all the way to an active shooter.”

Their preparedness extends beyond Sunday worship, he said while walking the halls during Bible study Wednesday night .

“If the doors are open,” he said, “there’s people aware.”

‘Simple things’

Some churches use active or retired law enforcement officers in their congregations for safety efforts. Mike Waithe, a former Rock Hill Police officer, is the security director at Freedom Temple Ministries.

Waithe said their security task force was assembled more than a decade ago.

“It was more involved for asset protection and the overall security of the church,” he said. “You have churches and organizations that prepare for a fire or a natural disaster. Nowadays, we have to add the potential for a security event such as an active shooter. We have to incorporate that into the safety plan.”

The task force at Freedom Temple recently trained with KDI Protective Services of South Carolina, Waithe said. Church safety and consulting is one of the company’s focuses. Company founder and CEO Karl de la Guerra said he is providing a free assessment and initial training to churches in South Carolina and North Carolina.

De la Guerra said there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to church safety plans, and that a church’s “countermeasures” must be adapted to its environment and the threats facing it. He said he emphasizes organizational and tactical preparations rather than technological ones.

“You don’t need to put expensive things into place,” he said. “Simple things, like placing an usher at an entryway to greet somebody – it’s simple things like that that cost virtually no money that we’re really trying to get churches to think about.”

Charleston ‘changed minds’

Some churches are considering arming church members during services. Some already do. South Carolina forbids concealed carry of firearms in churches unless “express permission” is given by church leadership.

De la Guerra said while there are other security options, it’s ultimately up to the church to decide what its needs are. He said that someone should only carry a gun if they are trained and doing so legally.

“Do I see anything wrong with it? Absolutely not,” he said. “In our industry, we look at things as the protectors of the flock when you’re talking about churches. If a church so chooses to do that where it’s legal and ethical and moral, by all means, pursue it.”

Wallace said the York Baptist Association cannot advise churches about using guns as part of its security protocol. The association refers those questions to state law, an insurance company or a law enforcement agency.

“Some churches allow their members to carry where security teams are present,” he said. “The security team has had conversations with those members.”

Waithe said they are “considering that possibility” at Freedom Temple.

Campbell declined to comment if concealed carry weapons are part of Park Ridge’s protocol. “We have a team that’s trained and ready to respond,” he said.

Some members at Park Ridge were apprehensive when the safety team first assembled, Campbell said. After the Charleston shooting, people who opposed the idea began asking about the church’s security measures, he said.

The Charleston shooting “changed minds, it’s opened some eyes,” Campbell said. “People think stuff doesn’t happen in little old Rock Hill. Well, little old Rock Hill is not as little as it used to be 15 years ago. The guy from Charleston drove right up U.S. 74 into Shelby. He came right through our backyard.”

This story was originally published August 22, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Security at church: Rock Hill pastors have passion to protect God’s house."