Sanctuary: Churches must be vigilant these days about potential violence

After our homes, most of us feel at our safest at church.

Houses of worship are, by nature, places where we feel we can be secure, where we can let down our guard.

But over the years, the number of shootings and other assaults at places of worship has escalated to a point unthinkable a few decades ago.

So it comes as no surprise that when the Wayne County Sheriff's Office offered a seminar on safety in church services, hundreds of people showed up. They want to feel safe when they sit down in that pew.

Sheriff Larry Pierce and Deputy Robin Stine gave a presentation on what churches can do to safeguard their congregations, chiefly by having an emergency response team ready.

We know of at least one church where there are lawmen in the congregation and the pastor has let them know that it is fine with him if they carry a sidearm during services.

It's sad, but it's the new reality. We cannot fully let down our guard, even when worshipping.

Published in Editorials on June 29, 2016 10:18 AM