Besides their calling to help people grow closer to Christ, church leaders also need to think about practical matters like keeping the church building safe and secure. Safety concerns go beyond just preventing violence or accidents—they also include less obvious risks, among them potential lawsuits.

The Many Security Concerns for Church Leaders

A church design will consider a broad range of security concerns. Incidents like burglary and theft, assault, both physical and sexual, and verbal abuse, as well as arson, vandalism, and even fraud or data breaches are issues to deliberate when designing and operating a secure church building. Our last post focused on one of the most likely issues, medical emergencies. Another safety pitfall involves courts and the law.

Issues that Can Lead to Lawsuits

Safety and security issues (and other reasons) can lead to lawsuits for churches. Below are some of the top reasons that churches get sued:

Insurance Coverage Disputes

Some lawsuits arise due to disputes over insurance coverage, particularly issues such as employment practices exclusions, failure to notify insurers promptly, and misrepresentations on insurance applications. These kinds of legal matters are relatively infrequent.

Zoning Issues

Churches sometimes face legal challenges related to zoning laws. Many of these cases involve the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which protects churches from discriminatory land use regulations. However, conflicts still arise over building permits and land use restrictions.

Personal Injury Claims

Slips and falls, vehicle accidents, and playground mishaps are just a few of the ways churches can be held liable for injuries occurring on their premises. This is an important reason why churches must be mindful of safety hazards both inside and outside their buildings.

Property Disputes

Legal conflicts over property ownership, eminent domain, restrictive covenants, and adverse possession are common reasons for lawsuits. Clear documentation and solid legal consultation, however, can usually prevent disputes over church property.

Sexual Abuse of a Minor

The most significant and frequent lawsuit churches face involves allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Victims often claim churches are responsible due to negligent hiring, retention, or supervision of perpetrators.

Addressing the Leading Concern

How common is this last type of lawsuit? Available statistics show that more than 70% of church-related lawsuits are tied to sexual abuse. Alarmingly, 50% of these incidents take place on church property, while the other 50% occur at off-premises locations such as parks, church camps, or youth retreats. This underscores the importance of strong security measures, such as background checks for volunteers and staff, chaperone policies, and clear protocols for reporting abuse.

While The McKnight Group’s expertise in safety and security extends only to church design and building, we are aware of child protection policies many churches implement to protect themselves. These include:

  • Screening all staff and volunteers working with minors
  • Enforcing strict adult-to-child ratios during events
  • Training staff and volunteers on recognizing and reporting abuse
  • Installing security cameras in key areas
  • Establishing clear guidelines for one-on-one interactions between adults and minors

In our next post, we will discuss another actionable step church leaders should implement for the safety and security of all who enter their church building: security teams. Meanwhile, to learn more about secure church design and other aspects of the church building process, sign up for our free i3 webinars. Visit our website to register today.