The primary goal when creating a risk management program is to look at the overall picture instead of focusing only on the individual components of the program. Instead of creating many small groups to handle risk management, take a comprehensive approach and consider how everything works together for the entire system. Taking action to build a safety and security team by following a carefully crafted comprehensive and well thought-out plan. Your church will be both secure and safe once you have a team in charge of monitoring these aspects.
Here are a few general guidelines and recommendations for how to create and structure the right risk management team.
- Keep the group size small. Create groups of no less than three and no more than eight people. The members of this team can be those who have served or are currently in the military, law enforcement officers, managers of the facility, someone with a background in insurance, or others who have a passion for pursuing a risk management program. It can be helpful to get a church insurance quote during this stage.
- The team should consist of a diverse group of people to contribute new ideas to the group, and the church’s administrative body should endorse the official formation. Teams should meet at least quarterly to stay up-to-date on recent events.
- The committee must also oversee new activities, special events, and building upgrades and deliver reports to church staff on a regular basis.
Method of organization for the team
- Education is the foundation. The church needs to seek training and obtain resources to learn all about church risk management. The team can pass this information on to the staff or administration.
- Develop a plan of action that includes educating the congregation, inspecting areas for risks and correcting them, and establishing policies and protocols for activities.
- Teach everyone in the congregation about safety by emphasizing the impact of security, safety, and the risks that the church faces. Ask for input and suggestions from others on safety and ways to implement effective programs
- Follow through with the strategy you’ve created. It may take some time as you slowly ease the program into place. Continue to monitor the plan and stress the importance of education for the plan to be successful. The ultimate goal is to implement the security and safety measures into daily operations without putting any of the church’s ministry in a compromising position.