Faith-based organizations across the United States face a growing spectrum of threats, from targeted violence and hate crimes to cyberattacks and natural disasters. Despite this heightened risk environment, over 75% of churches lack formal emergency response procedures for staff and volunteers. In other words, about three out of four churches have no dedicated security team in place. The guide describes this as “a staggering number,” especially given the climate of increasing threats, it even notes that attacks on churches more than doubled between 2022 and 2023. By “security team,” the report means a dedicated group (or personnel) tasked with overseeing the safety of the congregation – for example, volunteers or staff serving as a church’s security or safety ministry. By extension, if a church lacks such a team, it often means it also lacks formalized emergency plans or security protocols, since no team is in place to develop or execute those plans. Thus, the 75% statistic underscores a massive preparedness gap: the vast majority of U.S. churches have no organized security ministry or comprehensive emergency plan in effect
The report underscores the urgency for proactive planning and offers a multi-dimensional framework for preparedness, including incident analysis, threat typologies, seasonal risk trends, and a tailored risk matrix. It concludes with a review of FEMA-compliant emergency plans developed by Kearnan Consulting Group, LLC, designed to protect congregants and ensure operational continuity.
Corroborating Evidence and Sources for the “75% Unprepared” Statistic
Multiple independent sources in the church security domain report similar findings, validating Coram AI’s statement. The notion that roughly three-quarters of churches lack dedicated security teams or emergency plans is supported by surveys and expert analyses over the past decade. The following table summarizes key data from various sources that align with the Coram AI report’s claim:
| Source (Year) | Relevant Finding on Church Security Preparedness |
|---|---|
| Coram AI – “Church Security in 2025” (2024/2025) | “Nearly 75% of churches in the U.S. don’t have a security team.” This implies no formal safety ministry or emergency plan in those churches. |
| Christian Security Network (CSN) (c.2010s) | 75% of churches are underprepared for emergencies, lacking adequate security protocols and plans. (CSN, a church security organization, found three-quarters of churches had no security plan or sufficient protocols in place.) |
| Faith Communities Survey – OneCall Now/OnSolve (2020) | 59% of houses of worship reported having no written emergency response plan, and 40% have no designated security team or personnel responsible for security. Taken together, this indicates a large majority are missing one or both critical components (supporting the ~75% figure for lacking a dedicated team or plan). |
| Sheepdog Church Security (Training Guide) (2019+) | States that “roughly 75% of all churches in the United States don’t have any sort of Safety Ministry” – essentially the same statistic (no security team/program in about 3 out of 4 churches). This is used to encourage churches to start such ministries. |
As the table shows, other research echoes the 75% statistic. Notably, the Christian Security Network (CSN) – a national organization focused on church safety – reported that about 75% of U.S. churches are under-prepared for an emergency and lack adequate security protocols. This CSN finding (publicized in the early-to-mid 2010s) almost exactly matches the claim in the Coram AI report, except phrased in terms of lacking “protocols” or planning. It suggests that the vast majority of churches at the time had no formal emergency plan or security policy in place, which corresponds to not having a dedicated security team to develop those protocols. In other words, both Coram AI and CSN highlight a 75% preparedness gap in church security.
Furthermore, a more recent Faith Community Security Survey (2020) conducted by One Call Now/OnSolve (a mass notification provider) provides data that underpin this concern. In that survey of nearly 1,000 faith communities, 59% of churches admitted they do not have (or are unsure about having) an emergency response plan on paper. Additionally, 40% of churches said they do not have a team, committee, or person dedicated to security responsibilities. These are significant percentages on their own; when combined, they reinforce the idea that roughly three-quarters of churches lack one or the other. In fact, if a church has no security team, it’s likely to also lack a comprehensive plan (and vice versa). While the 75% figure in the Coram AI report might not have come directly from this specific 2020 survey, the survey’s results are consistent with the claim – many churches have neither a plan nor personnel committed to security. For instance, a church might have locks and cameras (basic measures) but still no written active shooter plan or no volunteer safety team; the data above show the majority have gaps in formal preparedness.
The Sheepdog Church Security training organization (which advises churches on starting safety ministries) also cites that “roughly 75% of all churches…don’t have any sort of Safety Ministry”. This casual reference, likely based on the collective experience of church security consultants, again aligns with the three-quarters statistic. It implies that only about 1 in 4 churches has taken the step to establish a security or safety team. Sheepdog’s use of this number in their guide indicates that within church safety circles, it’s a commonly accepted estimate that around 70–75% of congregations nationwide remain without a dedicated security program.
The “nearly 75%” figure is not an isolated claim; it is corroborated by both survey data and expert observations:
- Around 75% of churches lack an active security team or safety ministry, according to both Coram AI and other church security experts.
- Approximately 3 out of 4 churches have no formal emergency preparedness plan, as indicated by security networks and surveys.
- These findings have been reported in various forms from the 2010s through 2020, showing a persistent trend of churches being under-prepared.
Given these sources, the methodology behind the “75%” statistic likely involves aggregating survey results and expert assessments of church preparedness. For example, the Christian Security Network’s analysis (which may have been the basis for the original 75% figure a decade ago) was drawn from nationwide surveys and audits of churches’ security measures. The OneCall Now survey provides quantitative backing, indicating well over half lack plans and nearly half lack teams – pointing to a sizable overlap that yields roughly 75% with one or both deficiencies. Although the Coram AI report itself doesn’t detail its source, we can reasonably infer it is referencing these kinds of studies or widely accepted industry statistics. The consistency of the 75% figure across multiple credible sources lends confidence that this number is accurate and not an exaggeration.
External data from church security organizations and surveys confirm the validity of this point, indeed, roughly three-quarters of congregations have no established safety team or written emergency protocol in place.
In practical terms, this means that most churches enter 2025 largely unprepared for security threats, relying solely on hope or very minimal measures. Kearnan Consulting Group, LLC uses this fact to encourage churches to develop security ministries and emergency response plans going forward. It’s also a call-to-action backed by data: the statistic highlights a significant vulnerability at a time when threats to houses of worship are escalating (with record numbers of attacks and violent incidents in recent years) and aims to raise awareness and prompt change.
🔥 Detailed Incident Highlights
Notable incidents illustrating the diversity and severity of threats:
| Date | Location | Incident Type | Faith Group | Casualties | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2023 | Nashville, TN | School shooting at Covenant Presbyterian | Christian | 6 fatalities | FBSN Deadly Force Study |
| Oct 27, 2018 | Pittsburgh, PA | Mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue | Jewish | 11 fatalities | FBSN Deadly Force Study |
| Nov 5, 2017 | Sutherland Springs, TX | Mass shooting at First Baptist Church | Christian | 26 fatalities | FBSN Deadly Force Study |
| Jan 2022 | Colleyville, TX | Hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel | Jewish | 0 fatalities | FBI Senate Testimony |
| Dec 2023 | Nationwide | Email bomb threats targeting synagogues | Jewish | No injuries | FB-ISAO Threat Review |
⚠️ Common Threat Types
Based on DHS, FBI, and CISA data, threats to faith-based organizations fall into these categories:
- Targeted Violence: Armed assaults, mass shootings, vehicular attacks
- Hate Crimes: Religious bias-motivated vandalism, arson, and harassment
- Cyber Threats: Ransomware, phishing, data breaches targeting donor and member records
- Domestic Disputes: Incidents involving congregants or staff with personal grievances
- Property Crimes: Theft, graffiti, and destruction of sacred items
- Natural Hazards: Floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and severe weather events
📅 Seasonal Risk Peaks Timeline
Threat activity often spikes around religious holidays and election cycles:
| Season | Risk Factors | Common Threats |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Easter, Passover, Ramadan | Bomb threats, protests, arson |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Youth camps, outdoor events | Vandalism, theft, heat-related emergencies |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | High Holy Days, Halloween | Hate crimes, cyberattacks, mass gatherings |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year | Active shooter threats, swatting, severe weather |
🧮 U.S. Church Threat Risk Matrix
This matrix helps assess risk based on likelihood and impact:
| Threat Type | Likelihood | Impact | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armed Intruder | Medium | High | 🔴 Severe |
| Cyberattack | High | Medium | 🟠 Elevated |
| Vandalism | High | Low | 🟡 Moderate |
| Natural Disaster | Medium | High | 🔴 Severe |
| Domestic Dispute | Medium | Medium | 🟠 Elevated |
| Bomb Threat | Medium | Low | 🟡 Moderate |
Source: Sheepdog Church Security, Church Operations Toolkit, FBSN
🛡️ Emergency Plans by Kearnan Consulting Group, LLC
Kearnan Consulting Group offers a FEMA-compliant suite of emergency plans tailored for churches and houses of worship:
📄 Plan Components
- Emergency Operations Plan (EOP): Policy-level document for leadership, insurers, and legal counsel
- Emergency Response Plan (ERP): Step-by-step procedures for staff and volunteers (available in 26-page and 79-page versions)
- Safety Response Team Manual: Roles, responsibilities, and tactical protocols
- Training Plan: Annual calendar, objectives, after-action reports
- Family Reunification Plan: Structured reunification procedures post-incident
These plans are vetted by Emergency Managers, Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, and Private Security Professionals, and align with OSHA and NFPA standards.