Crimes targeted at churches and Christians, though becoming increasingly more common, have a chilling effect because they challenge the feeling of peace and security churches afford. After all, churches are a sanctuary from our daily routine and our thoughts turn to spiritual issues when we visit our houses of worship.

How often do we think about our safety at church? Probably not enough.

Worshipers at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, were probably not thinking about imminent death when seven were killed and seven others wounded by a suicidal gunman Sept. 15, 1999. In March 2003 in Rochester Hill, Mich., a man was killed and seven injured in church when the alleged murderer decided to end a long-standing dispute with a parishioner.

No Longer Safe Havens?

While a graduate student at the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Ky., I began researching crimes that occurred in churches, mosques, temples and synagogues. I was both amazed and appalled at the hundreds of cases across the country I discovered.

They ran the gamut from acts of vandalism, arson, burglaries and robberies to murder and sexual assault.

How do we as leaders respond? What steps should we take to prevent or minimize our exposure and risk?

As a criminologist, I advocate that many precautions are necessary. Crime prevention begins by accepting the reality it could happen anywhere. With that acceptance, church leaders should move to pursue effective crime prevention techniques.

Steps for Safety

First, you should contact your local law enforcement agency and request a security assessment from an officer trained in crime prevention through environmental design. Often, by making a simple facility walk through, officers can identify potential danger spots, while making suggestions on locks, windows and so forth.

Careful attention should be paid to an exterior review, noting lighting around the buildings and in parking lots. Effective outside lighting can prevent crimes and can prevent burglaries, particularly if the points of entry are clearly visible from several angles.

Secondly, leaders should raise awareness with workers and volunteers, especially people who may be working when there are only a few people on the premises. Educate them on potential crimes, effective security techniques, and how to respond to certain questions.

Many times churches have volunteers in the buildings after hours. They are particularly vulnerable if the doors are open. Form a security team to check the locks, exits and windows after each service to ensure the building is vacant before closing up for the night.

In Tennessee, an elderly woman and her son stopped at a church during the day. They were driving a moving van and told the pastor they were moving and had spent the night in a shelter downtown. While the pastor was talking with the woman, the son walked through the church and apparently unlocked a door.

That evening the church was burglarized and all the sound equipment was stolen. The unlocked was later discovered. A security check before leaving the building may have prevented this burglary.

Involve Everyone

Don't forget to train the general membership. An alert member could quickly divert a potential criminal with effective observation.

Good eye contact and conversation could possibly deter a criminal. Generally, a criminal wants to enter as quickly and quietly as possible, commit the act and leave without being noticed.

Establishing a greeter's ministry can also play a key role in crime prevention. With proper training, these men and women can learn to spot warning signs and can be a visible deterrent to criminals. At the very least, greeters serve as an example of good hospitality, making legitimate visitors feel welcomed.

There are many steps that can be taken to prevent crime that will not interfere with your worship service. Safeguards can be built into a normal routine with very little effort, but could have tremendous impact.

By involving key people in a crime-prevention initiative, the rest of the congregation can enjoy that peace and security they have come to expect in church.

Paula L. Ratliff, a Louisville, Ky.-based writer, co-authored, with Charles L. Quarles, "Crime Prevention for Houses of Worship." She has written several articles on crime prevention and other topics.