Enroll in the Sheepdog Church Security Academy Safety Member Certification Program

Church security teams usually consist of every-day volunteers: men and women who are passionate about doing all they can to protect their congregation from natural and man-made threats, but who are not professionally trained in law enforcement, military defense, or medical emergency skills.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

SemperVerus highly recommends the Sheepdog Church Security Academy Safety Member Certification program as an excellent online training curriculum that prepares volunteers to handle the full spectrum of threats churches face today—emergency response, disruptive persons, violent intruders, and abuse. Students gain practical skills rooted in legal clarity, real-world tactics, and biblical values.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

Defend the weak and the fatherless;
     uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
     deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Psalm 82:3-4

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security: Radio Communications Best Practices ]

Security leaders can enroll their entire team or individual members can sign themselves up to the 5-module, 8-hour course, created by veteran police officer, retired Army captain, and founder of Sheepdog Church Security (SDCS), Kris Moloney, author of Defending the Flock: A Security Guide for Church Safety Directors and Shepherding the Sheepdogs: A Self-Study Guide for Leading a Safety Ministry.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Book Review: Defending the Flock ]

Rescue those being led away to death;
     hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
Proverbs 24:11

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Gentle Response De-Escalation Training for Church Security Teams ]

The 5 learning modules that lead to a final exam and certification are:

1. Security Team Fundamentals
2. Violent Intruder Response
3. De-escalating Disruptive Persons
4. Use of Force with Andrew Branca
5. Protecting the Vulnerable

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The 5 Elements of Self-Defense Law ]

We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
Nehemiah 4:9

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Training: Decision Decks Help You Think Through a Crisis Before It Happens ]

Here are a few excerpts from the lessons:

    •  “Volunteering on a church security/safety team doesn’t mean being a cop, a counselor, or a bouncer. Your job is not to arrest people, analyze their mental health, or enforce every rule with an iron fist. Your job is to be the calm presence and have the good judgment that helps keep people safe. You are a stabilizer. Respect and emotional control are your best tools.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment ]

    •  “Mindset matters more than muscle.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]

    •  “The use of force must be guided by the principles of restraint, proportionality, and clear intention.”

    •  “Intention: The intention behind using force must always be to protect innocent life and prevent harm. This intention should be clear in your actions, ensuring that your decisions are guided by a desire to preserve life and uphold justice.”

    •  “Restraint: Even in high-stress situations, maintaining self-control is crucial. Always de-escalate if possible and avoid harm whenever feasible.”

    •  “Proportionality: Any force used should be the minimum necessary to neutralize the threat.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents ]

    •  “Tactical operations, particularly in the unique environment of a house of worship, demand a high level of skill, coordination, and adaptability.” Among the tactical lessons taught are:
            •  Cover vs Concealment
            •  3-5 Second Rush
            •  Slicing the Pie
            •  Flanking
            •  Hasty Ambush
            •  Diamond Formation (360 degree coverage)
            •  Tactical Retreat
            •  Bounding Overwatch

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ]

The curriculum includes safety drills for church security team training: a comprehensive downloadable PDF guide that outlines various practice scenarios and drills specifically designed for religious settings, such as:
            • Rapid Entry:  2-person and 3-person stack formation.
            • Flanking:  move to the threat from the rear or side while covering and concealing movement.
            • Hasty Ambush:  speed, stealth, and use of cover and concealment within a religious environment.
            • Tactical Retreat:  how to strategically exit an area while under threat in order to regroup; maintaining cover, coordinating movements, and communicating openly.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security: How to Identify 25 Common Mental Health Behaviors ]

Situational awareness is covered, that includes a 6-Tier Threat Level behavioral spectrum to be on the lookout when scanning a crowd and how to respond in each case:

1. Curious But Calm
2. Rulebreaker
3. Verbally Disruptive
4. Threatening or Aggressive
5. Actively Dangerous
6. Active Assailant

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Review: House of Worship Firearms and Use of Force Policy ]

Legal use of force is explained, along with such topics “Scripture and the Sanctity of Life” and “When Force is Just—and When It’s Not.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Armament Recommendations By Tom Givens, John Correia, and 6 Other Professionals ]

SemperVerus highly recommends the Sheepdog Church Security Academy Safety Member Certification program. Enroll all your team members or yourself today.

— Get the SemperVerus booklet, The Case for Biblical Self-Defense —

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