Keeping Religious Institutions Secure

Keeping Religious Institutions Secure explores the unique vulnerabilities that churches, synagogues, and mosques face in regards to security, making them attractive to criminals who see them as easy targets. The text illustrates why all places of worship should think about security and the types of breaches that can drive people away. The book focuses on the most frequent security concerns experienced by houses of worship, including embezzlement, vandalism, assault, hate crime, and in rare cases, an active shooter—and how to help prevent them from occurring. Beginning with an overview of the basic security concepts and principles that can enhance the security of any religious facility, it then delves deeply into the particular security concerns of houses of worship, including the use of volunteers, protecting religious leaders, ensuring safety for children and teens, interacting with local law enforcement, handling the media, and much more. Covers security best practices that are adaptable to any type of religious institution. Addresses the key security measures—physical, electronic, environmental, and procedural—for protecting people and facilities. Includes guidance on identifying threats and vulnerabilities and instituting countermeasures for deterring crime and violence.

When church leaders fail to provide for the well-being and protection of everyone involved in congregational programs, they are derelict in their duty to shepherd and protect the flock. A conscientious and well run safety program gives a sense of security and comfort to those who attend and helps provide an atmosphere where worship, fellowship, edification and service can take place without incident. Keeping Your Church Safe is a practical blueprint for churches covering all aspects of church security and safety for staff, premises and members. It's a well-outlined, easy-to-follow guide in establishing an effective security program for congregations of all sizes. "Given the uncertain times in which we live and increasing threats to our churches, Ron has written a practical, thorough, easy-to-read book that should be a textbook for any church. More importantly, he loves the Lord and His church and has dedicated his life to making sure Christ is exalted in the best and safest way possible." Bob Russell (retired) Senior Minister Southeast Christian Church Louisville, Kentucky "Addressing topics rarely discussed but realistic, this book is an excellent guide for church administrators, security managers, board chairpersons, volunteers or anyone serious about protecting our places of worship. It has been written as a result of years invested in "front line" experience. It contains the insight of a safety manager, site security chief, dignitary protection administrator and a special event commander, all in one." Major Bill Weedman (retired) Commander of Special Operations and Event Management Louisville Metro Police Department Ron Aguiar has been at Southeast Christian Church for 10 years as Director of Safety & Security, with an additional 10 years spent in public law enforcement and private security. Ron is a sought-after speaker, consultant to churches, para-church organizations and public law enforcement agencies. Contact Information: [email protected]

Since the1950s the world has witnessed a period of extraordinary religious revival in which religious political parties and non-governmental organizations have gained power around the globe. At the same time, the international community has come to focus on the challenge of promoting global human security. This groundbreaking book explores how these trends are interacting. In theoretical essays and case studies from Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, the Americas, Africa and Europe, the contributors address such crucial questions as: Under what circumstances do religiously motivated actors advance or harm human welfare? Do certain state policies tend to promote security-enhancing behavior among religious groups? The book concludes by providing important suggestions to policymakers about how to factor the influence of religion into their evaluation of a population's human security and into programs designed to improve human security around the globe.

Product Description: Discussion of armed groups which are considered to include classic insurgents, terrorists, guerrillas, militias, police agencies, criminal organizations, war-lords, privatized military organizations, mercenaries, pirates, drug cartels, apocalyptic religious extremists, orchestrated rioters and mobs, and tribal factions. To study armed groups use of history, political science, anthropology, sociology, theology, and economics are traditional areas of research. The book also delves into matters of ethics, technology, intelligence, education, the law, diplomacy, military science, and even mythology. The book is divided into five sections: History and armed groups, Present context and environment, Religion and inspiration, thinking differently about armed groups, the shpae of things to come.

This Handbook offers analyses of how nine different world religions have related to issues of war and peace, theologically and practically; overviews of how scholars and practitioners in nine different topical areas of security studies have (or have not) dealt with the relationship between religion and security; and five case studies of particular countries in which the religion--security nexus is vividly illustrated: Nigeria, India, Israel, the former Yugoslavia and Iraq.

The notion of a ‘politics of religion’ refers to the increasing role that religion plays in the politics of the contemporary world. This book presents comparative country case studies on the politics of religion in South and South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Indonesia. The politics of religion calls into question the relevance of modernist notions of secularism and democracy, with the emphasis instead on going back to indigenous roots in search of authentic ideologies and models of state and nation building. Within the context of the individual countries, chapters focus on the consequences that politics of religion has on inclusive nation-building, democracy and the rights of individuals, minorities and women. The book makes a contribution to both the theoretical and conceptual literature on the politics of religion as well as shed light on the implications and ramifications of the politics of religion on contemporary South Asian and South East Asian countries. It is of interest to students and scholars of South and South East Asian Studies, as well as Comparative Politics.

This collection addresses many of the issues arising from the management of religious and cultural diversity in a multicultural society and refers to the complex relationship between the right to religious freedom and security. In recent decades, and particularly since September 2001, the right to religious freedom, which has hitherto been widely protected, has come up against a significant challenge in terms of security, or rather, in the subjectively and publicly perceived feelings of security. This book collects original theoretical, legal and comparative contributions addressing several implications for the right to freedom of religion or belief through the lens of security. It offers a new key to understanding how to manage the processes of integration of religious diversity in multifaith societies. Written by leading experts in the area, the work reveals the importance of avoiding simplistic conclusions and unfounded prejudices about religious freedom, and of limiting restrictive or repressive interventions to situations of genuine danger. The book will be an essential resource for researchers, academics and policy-makers working in the areas of Law and Religion, Human Rights Law and Security Studies.

Religion and Security: The New Nexus in International Relations focuses on a groundbreaking theme. In global security today, religion is not only part of the problem but also part of the solution. This book explores positive nexus points between religion and security, paying particular attention to the resources within the Abrahamic faith traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that foster sustainable peace. Religion and Security is a lively and insightful collection of analyses by distinguished scholars and practitioners in security, diplomacy, conflict resolution, human rights and theology. As states and nongovernmental organizations alike reconsider their strategies for being relevant in the 21st century, this book provides a practical framework through which both can work toward reducing violence and promoting human dignity. Divided into four parts, Religion and Security addresses themes of war and terrorism, pluralism and stability, military intervention and conflict resolution, and religious freedom and civil society. It underscores a crucial irony: nations that violate religious human rights in the name of "security" will ultimately be vulnerable to a number of significant threats to stability. This volume is a timely guide to the intersection of religion and security for human rights organizations, security experts, scholars of religion and politics, government and non-government staffers and decision-makers, and students in the disciplines of international affairs.