A rise in violence targeting houses of worship in the United States, including Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, has prompted churches to increase security and train staff on how to respond to and prevent tragedy.
The West Michigan Church Security Network is representative of such a trend.
A collection of more than a hundred churches, the network is dedicated to “the safety and protection of the children, members, visitors, volunteers and staff at our places of worship,” according to its website, as it assists churches in the development of safety and security protocols through quarterly meetings and seminars taught by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office…