CHURCH SAFETY · FREE RESOURCE
Church Security Readiness Checklist
If an emergency interrupted Sunday worship, would your team know what to do next? Start the conversation before the moment arrives. This free, three-page Church Security Readiness Checklist helps your church spot gaps, clarify responsibilities and choose practical next steps.
What’s inside the free checklist?
A practical starting point for pastors, ministry leaders, greeters, ushers, children’s workers and safety teams. Print a copy for a shared walkthrough and check only what your team has verified.
- 30 readiness checks covering people, property, children, communication, emergency response and training.
- A three-priority action worksheet with space for an owner, due date and verification.
- A service safety huddle guide to confirm key responsibilities before people arrive.
- Links to CISA planning resources for a more detailed review.
Walk through it together
Bring the people who actually open doors, welcome guests, supervise children and lead services into the conversation. Walk the building together. Ask each person to explain their role and how they would contact help.
Leave an item unchecked when you cannot verify it. That is your next conversation, not a reason to guess. Keep the welcome warm while making responsibilities clear.
Choose three fixes you can follow through on
Use the final page to record your three highest-priority gaps. Give each action one responsible person and a due date. Address urgent hazards immediately and verify each fix before checking it off.
Before the next service, walk the exits, confirm children’s release procedures, test communication and name the person who calls 911. Schedule the next review so the checklist becomes a working habit.
Use it alongside your church security plan
This resource accompanies The Organized Church’s practical church security content. Use it to begin a leadership discussion and prepare questions for local responders and qualified professionals.
The checklist is a starting point, not a security certification or a complete emergency plan. Tailor procedures to your building and congregation. Keep completed checklists and sensitive response details accessible only to authorized people.