2022 Resolution #4:
Active Shooter Training and Safety Resources
Secretary of the Convention
Last Update: September 1st, 2022
Status
This Committee on Resolutions has recommended that this resolution be referred directly to Executive Council for implementation without waiting for action by the Convention. The proponents (one of whom is Chair of Executive Council) have agreed to that approach.
Resolved, That the 173rd Convention of the Diocese of California create resources and training around active shooter and church campus safety. Throughout the Diocese of California, parishes share a concern for mass shootings and the safety of staff, parishioners and the general public and that every possible precaution must be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, parishioners and the general public.
Resolved, That parishes in the Diocese of California need to have plans in place for active shooter situations during the week, and/ or on Sundays. Security isn’t just an expense, it is a Ministry that requires attention and resources to be effective.
Resolved, That the Diocese of California staff under the bishop implement a safety plan and active shooter training resources for each of our parishes and missions in order to help keep our church communities safe which would include and directs the following:
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Efforts to provide active shooter training should be coordinated with the Disaster Preparedness Committee.
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Each congregation (especially those with a school as a tenant on campus) is encouraged to confer with their local law enforcement agency to see if they might conduct on-site active shooter training and/or give an on-site assessment of the church campus vulnerabilities, emergency exits, escape routes, rally points, emergency supplies/equipment, etc.
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Along with active shooter training, it is recommended that the Diocese provide a short training course to all clergy working in congregations on how to pastorally respond and tend to church and community members in an initial/first response to such traumatic events as active shooting, hostage situation, terrorist attack, natural or man-made disasters.
Explanation:
As we listen on the news about more mass shootings and in particular churches including this year an Episcopal Church in Alabama, we need to be best prepared should an active shooter situation arise. Currently we have talked about ending gun violence, but more needs to be done to help ensure safety in our churches.
Submitted by:
The Rev. Jon Owens, St. Alban’s Albany, and Chair of Executive Council of the Diocese of California, owensj2016@fau.edu
Pamela Kruse-Buckingham, St. Paul’s Oakland, pamela.kruse.buckingham@gmail.com
Endorsed by:
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Albany
Comment posted by Elaine Vallecillo-Miller on September 1, 2022:
I believe that this resolution falls as an action plan for the diocesan disaster preparedness and response committee. As St. James’ (Fremont) Congregational Disaster Coordinator and a member of the Disaster Preparedness & Response Team, we have addressed different emergency & disaster-related events in our Congregational Disaster Plan, which was mandated in the 2013 Convention Resolution whereby all parishes were highly encouraged to submit their “C.D. Plans” to the Diocesan Disaster Preparedness Coordinator. Thereafter, each parish has the responsibility to update the contact information page of their plan and submit it annually to the D.D.P Coordinator.
As St. James’ Congregational Disaster Coordinator and our DRPT members have hosted seminars on emergency preparedness, violent intruder training, and CPR & AED training. I believe that it is the one of the tasks of congregational disaster preparedness teams to host these types of events. I am the South Alameda Deanery representative for the Diocesan Disaster Preparedness & Response Committee and for the Executive Council and Liaison for the Diocesan Disaster Preparedness & Response Committee to the Executive Council.
I would suggest to contact Rev. Jane McDougle (retired rector of Holy Innocents, SF, CA), who is our diocesan disaster preparedness coordinator of being a member of the Diocesan DPR committee. Presently, we have no one representing the Alameda Deanery.
I believe that this resolution, while admirable in spirit, is problematic in several ways. First. it does not appear that the authors of the resolution attempted to obtain information from diocesan congregations to determine the extent to which this work is already being done at that level. The requirement that the diocese mandate, create, and provide training that may be redundant (“Resolved, That the Diocese of California staff under the bishop implement a safety plan and active shooter training resources for each of our parishes and missions in order to help keep our church communities safe which would include and directs the following”) is not responsible fiscal management. For example, my own congregation has already met with and received training from our local law enforcement so this would be redundant for us. Further, the diocese does not require congregational clergy to to provide earthquake, fire, or flood disaster training. Intead, disaster training and resources are offered through the Diocesan Disaster Pereparedness Coordinator. The Disaster Preparedness Response Team should certainly be encouraged to offer resources for active shooter incidents, but I do not believe one form of disaster should be singled out as being of more importance than another. Finally, I think it unwise to suggest that diocesan clergy would be capable of dealing with post-traumatic stress related to shooting incidents beyond basic pastoral care and triage (“It is recommended that the Diocese provide a short training course to all clergy working in congregations on how to pastorally respond and tend to church and community members in an initial/first response to such traumatic events as active shooting, hostage situation, terrorist attack, natural or man-made disasters”) . Suggesting that training in this area would be enable us to deal competently with these situations could inadvertantly encourage clergy to overstep the established guidelines for pastoral counseling.