Building Security in Congregations

Before Disaster Strikes: A Webinar on Preparing Your Congregation

Rev. Julie Taylor, a member of the UU Trauma Response Ministry, and Rev. Lisa Presley, MidAmerica Staff person and responder, discuss what a congregation can do to prepare for disasters, whether natural or human-caused. Recorded October 2015.

Watch on YouTube

Creating security is an ongoing process. Shocking events reported in the media can cause congregations to take immediate action on emergency and security issues, but emergency planning is a long-term process. Regularly updating plans and policies, as well as keeping the congregation informed and trained, requires consistent attention.

Preparing for Natural Disasters

Minimizing Hazards in Your Building

Preventing Violence at Church

Addressing Political Harassment and Threats of Violence

Our 2023 workshop and resource event for congregations, Threats from Without, Care from Within, is available in its entirety on UUInstitute.org. The panel, the workshops, and the handouts and links offer congregations guidance on preventing, preparing for, and responding to the targeting of congregations and their leaders by political extremists.

An Ecology of Community Safety was created by the team at Building Congregational Community Safety to help congregations of all faiths build collective safety in the context of rising extremism. The toolkit helps congregations create one-, five-, and 10-year plans, breaking down the sometimes overwhelming task of planning for all possibilities. An Ecology of Community Safety is part of their larger Building Congregational Community Safety initiative. This project was previously known as the "Community Safety for All" campaign by SURJ-Faith.

Planning for Active Shooter Emergencies

The UUA has a planning guide for active shooter incidents, developed by our Safe Congregations team and incorporating wisdom from a variety of resources.

See sample active shooter emergency resources developed by our congregations.

Additionally, Unitarian Universalist congregations have found the following guides helpful in developing safety plans for active shooter and lockdown situations. Please note that several of these resources originate with various branches of the Federal Government. While we've found all of these resources useful, the UUA does not endorse one particular entity over another.