Point Beach Forum: How To Protect Churches In These Dark Times

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ - Up until recently, most people thought that churches were one of the safest places to be.

But that was before the fatal attacks in Sutherland Springs, Texas and Charleston, South Carolina.

Church leaders, police and township officials in Point Pleasant Beach held a forum recently to discuss something they never planned on talking about - violence in church, according to a report in the Ocean Star.

"Churches are a soft target," Police Chief Joseph Michigan said. "We all know it. It's a sad reality that we live with today, that we have to even have this conversation."

Michigan and Mayor Stephen Reid decided to hold the forum in the wake of the Texas shootings.

There are a number of actions church officials can take to beef up security, Lt. John Paige of the state Department of Homeland Security said.

That includes having more of a police presence during times of worship, like increasing patrols, letting officers in the church for routine tasks, like paperwork, he said.

"If somebody is observing your place of worship, you want them to see that they have a police car there frequently," Paige said.

Ushers and greeters can often be the first line of defense when it comes to recognizing suspicious persons, Paige said.

Should worshipers bring guns to church services?

Absolutely not, unless it's a police officer or a retired police officer, Paige said.

To see the entire Ocean Star story, click here.

Photo: Courtesy of Point Pleasant Beach