Church Risk Management Program Share Instead of various groups spending time dealing with each of the key risk management issues individually over an extended period of time, the most effective way to begin and maintain a safety/security/risk management program in your church setting is to look at risk management from a comprehensive approach. By forming a quality safety and security team through a church risk management program, the chances of maintaining a safe and secure environment increase dramatically. The following recommendations are general guidelines. How Should a Risk Management Team be Structured? Your team should include between three and eight members. They may include current or former law enforcement officers; current or former military personnel; those who have a background in insurance, claims or risk management; facility managers, and others who feel strongly about a proactive risk management program. The team should be endorsed and officially formed by action of the church’s administrative body. Once established, they should meet at least on a quarterly basis. All ongoing activities, new ministries, special events and building upgrades and construction should be filtered through the committee. Regular activity reports should be given to the church staff and administrative body. The team should organize using the following approach: Educate: The team should obtain resources and seek training to become informed on key elements and responses of church risk management. The team should then educate the church board and staff members. Plan and Respond: As a team, begin developing a security plan that includes initial congregational education, inspections, activity protocols, and policies. Train and Inform Others: Begin a congregation-wide educational program on safety, security, and risk issues. Speak to small groups, key committees, and other members to keep them informed and receive their input on key safety issues and implementation. Follow Through: Develop a strategy for slowly phasing in a risk management program, as well as the ongoing monitoring, and an educational emphasis. The goal is to integrate safety and security measures into the daily life of the congregation without compromising the church’s ministry. Tags Religious Organization © 2024 GuideOne Insurance. GuideOne® is the registered trademark of the GuideOne Insurance Company. All rights reserved. This material is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to give specific legal or risk management advice, nor are any suggested checklists or action plans intended to include or address all possible risk management exposures or solutions. You are encouraged to retain your own expert consultants and legal advisors in order to develop a risk management plan specific to your own activities.