Vestavia Hills shooting rekindles church security concerns

The recent shooting at a Vestavia Hills church has reinforced security concerns for houses of worship pondering the challenge of keeping their doors open to those hurting and in need of ministry, while keeping their sanctuaries safe for all.  

On June 16, a man described as an occasional attendee at services opened fire during a potluck dinner at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, killing three people. Another person in attendance subdued him until police arrived.  

It was the latest in a string of church shootings. A National Church Shooting Database in operation between 1980 and 2005 reported 139 incidents that killed 185 people — and that was before “active shooter” became such a routine part of the American lexicon.  

The worst church shooting in the United States occurred in 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, when a gunman killed 26 people and wounded 20, before killing himself.  

Craig Carlisle, director of missions for the Etowah Baptist Association, said that incident caused local churches to become more security conscious, such has having someone watching their doors and parking lots during services.  

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Since the Vestavia Hills shooting, Carlisle said one church had reached out to the EBA about security matters. Its leaders were talking about getting an off-duty law enforcement officer to attend services. and to have a marked law enforcement vehicle visible in its parking lot.  

“That’s a first step they want to take,” Carlisle said.  

Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton said a number of churches called on his office after the Sutherland Springs shooting, seeking security reviews to identify things that could be done to make campuses safer, and for training for staffers and members of the congregation.  

Horton said the “Run, Hide, Fight” training many of the department’s staff have received and made available to businesses or industries was taken to churches as well. The goal is to teach people tactics to help them respond if they encounter an armed intruder, wherever they may be.  

The sheriff said some deputies who attend local churches also started wearing their uniforms and driving marked vehicles to church services.  

For a while, the sheriff’s office had frequent training sessions at local churches. However, security concerns can fade as stories leave the headlines, or be pushed aside by new worries like the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Horton and Carlisle said, it always seems that a new incident raises new concerns — and what happened in Vestavia Hills is particularly troubling.  

Most security efforts, like a law enforcement presence, are aimed at Sunday worship services, when churches typically have their highest attendance. However, the June 16 attack took place at a small group gathering — a Boomer potluck dinner on a Thursday evening.   

 First United Methodist Church of Gadsden has operated a soup kitchen on Fridays for some time, but since the COVID-19 pandemic began has been feeding people without bringing them inside the church, and will continue to do so.  

 “We’re trying to be mindful,” about security, a staffer said, while continuing to be open to the community.  

 Staff members said safety discussions have been underway, to look for any ways the church could shore up security. A deputy who is a member of the congregation was set to walk through the facilities with staff members to look for any changes that need to be made.  

What led to the shooting at St. Stephen’s remains a mystery, but in some cases domestic incidents or disputes have led to church shootings.   

A shooting in May at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Beach, California, is under investigation as a hate crime, perpetrated against a Taiwanese congregation hosted at the church. One person was killed and five were injured there.  

After that incident, Smartchurchmanagement.com published an article offering tips for keeping churches safe.

Among the suggestions:  

Have a plan  

Detail who, what, when and how the organization will respond to a threat. Identify church vulnerabilities and think about how to respond to an armed intruder.  

Delegate eyes and ears  

Church shootings have often involved someone experiencing a mental health crisis, or involved in a domestic dispute. Have a team of trained volunteers to watch for unusual behavior and people who don’t belong. It’s a difficult assignment, the article noted, because churches want to welcome those who are hurting. It recommends approaching new faces at services, and striking up a conversation.  

Partner with local law enforcement  

Have an off-duty law enforcement officer provide a presence at the church before, during and after church gatherings, with a marked vehicle in the parking lot.  

Discuss guns or no guns  

Discuss at a church board level whether trained, armed church members should be a part of security measures, based on the culture of the church.  

Pray  

Pray continuously for safety in the church and for wisdom and discernment in dealing with any threat to the church.   

Carlisle said if there is a need for it, the EBA may work with the Alabama Baptist Association to look at offering safety training.  

Horton said his office will continue to be a resource as well. He said it offers training to day cares as well, with four school resource officers who are trained to instruct personnel in dealing with an intruder.  

He said officers have been training for their own responses to an active shooter incident wherever one might occur. The “M and M” training teaches officers about movement and medical response, he said.  

It teaches officers to respond directly to the threat, Horton said, and how to treat those who need emergency medical care. 

Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.