The shooting of Senior Pastor Fred Winters of the Maryville, Ill., First Baptist Church Sunday morning has released a barrage of questions regarding the implementation of security plans for churches. The larger the church the bigger the target it seems for this sort of domestic terrorism.

According to CNN, a better plan may have averted this type of senseless violence. Church security expert Jeff Hawkins, executive director of the Christian Security Network, told CNN that churches should have five security plans in place to deal with evacuation, long-term shelter, medical emergencies, lost or missing children, and violent confrontations.

More and more congregations are at least thinking about security plans after deadly shootings at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., in December, 2007, and elsewhere around the country since.

Still, how are congregations balancing a warm welcome with a security guard?

An option for parishioners to pack their own heat in Arkansas failed last month. However, other states already have concealed weapons laws on their books. What that means for churches is uncertain—almost as uncertain as the plan of action should a random shooter walk through the doors.

Letting churches decide
Grant Exton, the executive director of the Arkansas Concealed Carry Association, told the Associated Press that out of the 48 states that allow concealed carry permits, 42 let churches make the decision to ban or allow firearms.

How do churches decide? Once decided, how do they enforce the rule? Do they post signs letting visitors know they should “Bring your Bible, leave your Beretta”?

Whatever the church policy, Brotherhood Mutual, a leading church insurance company, joins with others in urging churches to at least have a plan in place in the event of violence. However, Brotherhood recommends churches use only professionals—whether they are volunteers or paid staff.

Reportedly, one of the congregation's members that helped subdue the gunman in Illinois this week was a former military man, whose training equipped him for the task.

Making sense of a senseless situation will undoubtedly be difficult for this church. No word yet about the shooter’s motive. Whatever the situation, on behalf of Church Central, I extend our condolences to the First Baptist Church family grieving the loss of their pastor.