Security for Houses of Worship

The Security Challenge for Faith Communities

Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other places of worship keep a public schedule, draw large gatherings at set times and often leave their doors open to anyone who walks in. Federal guidance for faith-based organizations, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) security guide Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship, addresses the risks that follow from this openness, including targeted violence, hate crimes, vandalism and theft.

Most congregations also depend on volunteers, work within tight budgets and host far more than weekly services: schools, day care, food pantries, weddings, funerals and community meetings. A security program has to account for every one of those uses.

• Open entry during services and community programs
• Attendance on major holy days and holidays well above a typical week
• Children’s areas, schools and day care on the same campus
• Offering collection, cash counting and deposits
• Large parking lots and multiple building entrances

Officers Matched to Each Congregation

McCray staffs houses of worship through its Officer Tier Structure, so leadership can choose the level of experience that fits the site and the risk. Tier III Retired Law Enforcement officers are often a strong fit, bringing field experience, steady judgment and a manner suited to a sanctuary or lobby.

When a visible law enforcement presence is the priority, such as on major holy days, after a credible threat or during periods of community tension, Tier IV Off-Duty Law Enforcement officers can be scheduled where local department rules allow. Whether officers are armed or unarmed is decided with congregation leadership and is subject to state and local law.

What Our Officers Do on Site

Officers are briefed on the site layout, schedule and key people before they begin. Post orders are written for each site and delivered through PostControl, McCray’s reporting and post management technology, so every officer works from the same instructions.

The aim is a presence that greets people, notices what is out of place and acts early. Officers observe behavior, approach with courtesy and work to de-escalate before a situation grows.

• Greeting and observation at main entrances during services
• Parking lot and perimeter patrols before, during and after gatherings
• Monitoring of children’s wings, classrooms and pickup areas
• Escort for offering counts and bank deposits
• Closing checks of doors, windows and alarm settings
• Coordination with ushers and greeters on suspicious behavior

Working With Safety Teams and Local Police

Many congregations already have a volunteer safety or greeting team. McCray officers support that team rather than replace it, with roles agreed in advance so volunteers know who handles what during an incident.

We encourage congregations to build a working relationship with their local police department and to keep emergency plans current. McCray officers follow each congregation’s procedures for evacuation, lockdown, medical events and severe weather, and they reinforce the Run, Hide, Fight approach used in federal active shooter guidance that many faith communities already teach.

Planning, Events and Funding Support

Coverage can follow a regular weekly schedule, be added for specific holidays and events, or be requested on short notice when a threat or community incident raises concern. McCray also staffs funerals, weddings, festivals and visits by public figures, where crowd size and visibility change the risk.

Many faith-based nonprofits fund security improvements through FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). McCray can provide the service descriptions, scopes of work and pricing documentation that applicants are commonly asked to supply. Eligibility and award decisions rest with FEMA and the State Administrative Agency in each state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will security officers make our congregation feel less welcoming?

Not when the program is designed well. McCray selects officers for temperament as well as experience, briefs them on the congregation’s traditions and customs, and positions them to greet people as well as observe. Members should feel reassured, and people with bad intentions should feel noticed.

Should our officers be armed?

That decision belongs to congregation leadership. McCray will review the congregation’s risk profile, insurance requirements, state licensing rules and the comfort level of the community, then staff armed or unarmed officers accordingly.

Can McCray provide off-duty police officers for services?

Yes, where local department rules permit off-duty employment. Tier IV Off-Duty Law Enforcement officers are often scheduled for major holy days, large events or periods of elevated threat.

Do McCray officers work with our volunteer safety team?

Yes. Roles are agreed in advance so officers and volunteers know who covers which areas, who calls emergency services and how information is shared during an incident.

Can we add coverage only for holidays or special events?

Yes. Coverage can be scheduled for a single event, a holiday season or an ongoing weekly schedule, and additional coverage can be requested when conditions change.

How do we know what happened during a shift?

Officers log patrols, observations and incidents in PostControl, and congregation leadership receives the resulting shift and incident reports.

Related Services

• Unarmed Security Guards
• Armed Security Guards
• Off-Duty Police Officers
• Special Event Security
• Emergency Security Services