Insider Threat: Do you know who’s around your family

To give is divine. Give from the heart. It’s the Christian thing to do.  Churches serve as the jewel of most communities. There is a saying that as a church has a greater harvest, the music becomes better, it’s cleaner and the members and visitors enjoy the comforts provided and can focus on the word by the pastor.

Recently President Obama signed the new Insider Threat Strategy with sweeping new changes and increased efforts for organizations to be proactive in dealing with this issue.It’s a blessing to give to those in need. Yet every night churches and other religious organizations all over the world provide safe harbor for many that society has denied or turned their back on. Meals, a warm blanket, a friendly smile and other services are given to those in need.

Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach him and he can eat for a lifetime.

Every year millions of dollars are collected through non-profit organizations and other church affiliations to help those in need. Oftentimes this involves giving something away. Should not some monies be put towards giving to those in need of life skills so that they can get their lives back on track? We must start from somewhere, so why not find out who we are supporting.

Homeless support

It’s great to offer bed space or shelter, but consider also who’s co-located with at-risk families. Non-profits and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) do a great job of supporting those in need, but have you ever wondered if the guy in the bed next to your domestically abused sister, mother or daughter has a criminal history as a child molester or rapist? Truly, the church is not in the business of turning the needy away, but how can we protect those who can’t protect themselves, including the criminal. And though all of the dollars donated to the building fund, why after years, there is no building, no plan, and the perception is that leadership gets a new car every other year. Oh, by the way, some of the trustees have a criminal history of embezzlement or lifting funds from their daytime jobs.  So you get frustrated with the inner workings of the church and decide you and your family will move to another church that’s a ‘better fit’ and control of it philanthropic programs. But is it really?

Background checks

It should be incumbent upon every church, as in business, to know those who come through their doors. Major organizations have visitor control infrastructure and escort guests to more sensitive areas in facilities. Should churches embrace a similar business view? After all they are in the business of doing God’s work.

Churches and religious organizations should conduct basic background checks on key personnel; those handling money and working with kids. Seems simple and it is.

Today there are many technologies available to religious organizations that businesses use successfully every day to protect themselves from hiring bad people or with ill intent of your church’s resources.

Is it okay to ask the guy named ‘Joe’ who comes to your shelter every night to give up basic information only to find out his name is Jonathan and he’s been on the lamb from law enforcement for years.  You want to help him. It’s the Christian thing to do. But the reality is that your kindness has become a crutch he’s come to get by on.  There are other ways to help those whose past is checkered, but not when others are put in jeopardy.  In the scenario I discussed, large metropolitan areas probably deal with this on a more recurring basis, but smaller communities probably or should better understand whom they are supporting. Should your church be protected from people who could harm others who come to you for safe harbor?  Having the best intentions could be costly, not only in unfavorable publicity, but also in loss of church membership which is one of the major revenue generators for the work of the Lord. What’s interesting is that negative instances seem to have a life of their own and live on forever. Is that a risk church leadership is willing to embrace.

The church should be known as the place for the weary to rest their heads with a positive influence on the community.  Successful churches as a part of their business plan should know whom their key stakeholders are. Churches have annual business meetings to discuss everything from the strategic plan to how monies are being spent, what ministries are supported at what cost, and how much is taken in every year through tithes and donations. The churches, through its ministries, offer members the opportunity to join a ministry as what’s been gifted to them by God. But not all ministries are created equal with some having more risk.

Solutions

Although there are many solutions that can be considered, it’s most important to have church leadership embrace whatever is recommended and put in-place. For instance, have a real security ministry. Although they can provide traffic control for key events and services, consider having core security staffs look out for other security needs of the church. Choosing appropriate locks for doors and other key areas, monies escorted or taken to the bank in a timely manner to reduce cash around the church, etc.  Has your church considered putting in technologies to track or audit personnel entering and leaving the church after-hours? How many copies of the church key are really out there and who has made duplicates of it to give to other assistants? Do you know? Is there an inventory or audit conducted annually to account for things having meaning to the church? Don’t assume everyone has the church’s best interest at heart.

When your kids go to the back of the church with the youth minister and staff, do you wiggle in your seat with uneasiness, or do you drop your fears and get into the word by the pastor. What are those kids’ leaders’ history? There are instances of leaders who have served in after-school activities whose records are less than spotless when it comes to our future leaders.

One suggestion may be the installation of Kiddie cameras. The childcare industry and others have embraced the installation of such devices and other monitoring technologies for liability purposes. Does your church use these technologies or other means to monitor kids or others in key areas around the sanctuary?

Get a consultation

Getting a security consultation is more reasonable than you know. As Christian consultants, we understand the importance of serving God but also being reasonable when consulting for our brethren doing the Lord’s work.  It’s an investment well worth the peace of mind not only for church leadership, but members and visitors as well.

Yes, the insider threat does exist, not only to gain unauthorized access to your church’s precious resources, but also for those whom come through your doors for help who can’t help themselves and will hurt those who need our help the most. As Christians we should continue to help those in need and be a shining example in our community. But let’s not forget, we must also protect the sanctity and business of church but also our children and elders who depend on us.