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A Strategy To Reduce Risk—Establishing A Church Safety Team
By James F. Cobble
Reducing liability risks and promoting safety in a church is too large a job for one person. Risk management requires a broad range of expertise and input. A team approach draws on the knowledge and skills of a number of people. The best approach is to establish a safety team.
Why a Team is Important
Establishing a safety team helps move away from an informal approach concerning risk management to one that is more structured, organized, and in the end, more effective. For example, about 50 percent of churches claim they do some kind of building inspection. Yet most of these churches use no written guidelines, are unable to identify who is in charge of the inspection, and have no schedule for conducting it. If an inspection does occur, it tends to be haphazard and sporadic. A safety team can bring structure and substance to improve such efforts. The goal is to establish a team of qualified individuals who, following clear policies and procedures, engage in regular and thorough risk-management practices.
Establishing The Safety Team
The church board should establish and empower the safety team as a standing committee of the church. In turn, the team should also report to the board. This is important because without board support, the safety team’s work will often be hampered and perhaps even thwarted.
Since risk management encompasses such a broad range of responsibilities, many different members will qualify to serve on the team. Some skill areas to look for include insurance, law, teaching, health and safety, security, fire prevention, mechanical, parenting, and the building trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, roofers, heating/ac). Other important qualifications include people who enjoy learning, care about the church, and are willing to devote some time to safety issues. Don’t be concerned if they have limited knowledge about risk management. Resources are available to assist with training from www.ChurchLawToday.com. (Also, see sidebar "Online Resources To Reduce Legal Risks.")Outside experts from the fire or police departments are usually available to provide help, and outside consultants can also be used to provide additional training if needed.
A board member may be appointed to serve on the safety team to facilitate communication between the team and the board. While support of the board does not guarantee a successful outcome, lack of support almost guarantees limited effectiveness.
Even when a safety team is formed, the board will always bear responsibility for the ultimate oversight of risk-management practice within the church. That is part of their fiduciary duty. In one sense, a safety team becomes an extension of the board’s caretaking role in the life of the congregation.
Appoint a Safety Coordinator
The board should appointment one member of the safety team to be the church’s safety coordinator. The role of the safety coordinator can vary widely depending on the individual’s knowledge, expertise, and time available to devote to the position (See sidebar "The Safety Coordinator.") One purpose of the role is to personalize the issue of safety within the church. The person becomes both a spokesperson and a symbol of safety. If the church also has a school, the safety coordinator is likely to be a paid staff member.
Presenting the Safety Team to the Congregation
Once the team is established, they should be presented to the congregation during regular worship on a Sunday morning. The work and importance of the team should be stressed. The church board, along with the congregation, should pray for the team. The congregation should understand and appreciate the role of the team in undertaking the biblical responsibilities of stewardship and love of neighbor. John 10:1–15 serves as an excellent passage to read on this occasion.
Tasks of the Safety Team
Once the safety team is authorized and commissioned, the work begins. One way to help the team get off to a good start is to provide the safety office with a copy of the Risk-Management Handbook for Churches and Schools and the Safety Checklists for Church and School Activities. These may be ordered from Christian Ministry Resources at 1-800-222-1840. Listed below are some tasks the team should focus on. Naturally, it will take time to become fully operational. These tasks, however, should be completed annually.
- Establish a plan for safety inspections using the modules in the Safety Checklists.
- Maintain a regular schedule for the safety inspections. Some tasks, such as preparing for cold weather, are seasonal.
- Recruit additional people to help with inspections if necessary. Most churches can find individuals within the congregation who can perform most of the inspections. Some inspections, such as checking the church’s heating system, should only be done by a licensed professional.
- Review the church’s insurance coverage to see that it is adequate.
- Provide training to church staff and congregational members about safety-management practices.
- Motivate congregational members with respect to the safety goals.
- Provide feedback to leaders and members concerning safety needs and developments.
- Develop contingency plans for crisis management (discussed in chapter 4 of the Risk-Management Handbook).
The safety team has an important and challenging role to play in the life of your church. Once established, the safety team serves the important biblical roles of caretakers and caregivers. Members and visitors alike will appreciate a church that expresses such a commitment to service and love.
—James F. Cobble, Jr., Ph.D., Matthews, North Carolina.
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