RCOF SAFETY MANUAL 

1. SCOPE
This is a procedure manual to be used as a guide for the safety of all Community of Faith campuses. This manual documents expectations for all those who play a crucial role in the COF safety procedures.

2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
These guidelines outline the measures to be taken to reduce risk and equip Community of Faith to handle situations including but not limited to: a lost child, medical emergency, de-escalation of hostile individuals and an evacuation or shelter in place order. Wisdom is better found in preparation than in hindsight.

3. GENERAL SAFETY ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS 
 
  A. ONSITE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
  • Will have a cruiser parked outside of the campus
  • Will be in attendance & in uniform 30 minutes before, during and 30 minutes after service
  • Will be on radio before, during and after service to respond to issues for escalated and threatening situations
  • Will mingle inside the church while on patrol
  • Will be called upon for escalated and threatening situations

  B. SANCTUARY MINISTRY LEAD
  • Will be responsible for scheduling Sanctuary Lead
  • Will train new Sanctuary Lead using the three tiered sanctuary training
  • Will remain visual and vigilant, whenever at the campus, providing leadership and support to the sanctuary team when needed.
  • Will initiate conversation and greet people by name - recognizing this is not only Crew culture but one of the best deterrents available.

 C. SANCTUARY LEAD
  • Will position themselves in the rear of Sanctuary and be vigilant to any incident and able to respond
  • Will remain on radio before, during and after service and respond to issues including but not limited to those listed below.
  • Will respond to any safety incident/distractions to de-escalate or redirect the situation
  • Will initiate conversation and greet people by name - recognizing that this is not only Crew culture but one of the best deterrents available.
  • Will follow through with the Sanctuary Lead SOP and the weekly serving checklist.

 D. SAFETY MINISTRY LEAD
  • Will be responsible for scheduling Community Kids and Foyer Safety Crew members
  • Will train new Safety Crew using the three tiered safety training
  • Will remain visual and vigilant, whenever at the campus, providing leadership and support to the safety team when needed.
  • Will initiate conversation and greet people by name - recognizing this is not only Crew culture but one of the best deterrents available.

 E. SAFETY SERVICE LEAD
  • Will assist the Safety Ministry Lead in training new Safety Crew using the three tiered safety training
  • Will stay expectant and attentive to those in and around the Foyer and Community Kids Church at all times to support the Safety Crew
  • Will be vigilant as people walk into and around the Community Kids area
  • Will initiate conversation and greet people by name - recognizing this is not only Crew culture but one of the best deterrents available
  • Will be vigilant and advise the Ops team of anyone seeming suspicious or out of the ordinary
  • Will wear a Crew lanyard to be identifiable and approachable for our guests
  • Will follow through with the Safety Crew SOP and the safety checklist

F. COMMUNITY KIDS’ SAFETY CREW
  • Will stay expectant and attentive to Community Kids Church at all times
  • Watch for children leaving unattended
  • Watch and initiate a conversation with any unauthorized people in Community Kids area
  • Will be vigilant as people walk into and around the Community Kids area
  • Will initiate conversation and greet people by name - recognizing this is not only Crew culture but one of the best deterrents available
  • Will be vigilant and advise the Ops team of anyone seeming suspicious or out of the ordinary
  • Will wear a Crew lanyard to be identifiable and approachable for our guests
  • Will follow through with the Safety Crew SOP and the safety checklist

G. FOYER SAFETY CREW
  • Will stay expectant and attentive to those in and around the Foyer at all times
  • Will remain observant and immediately advise if there is an incident
  • Will initiate conversation and greet people by name - recognizing this is not only Crew culture but one of the best deterrents available
  • Will be vigilant and advise the Ops team of anyone seeming suspicious or out of the ordinary
  • Will wear a Crew lanyard to be identifiable and approachable for our guests
  • Will follow through with the Safety Crew SOP and the safety checklist

H. COMMUNITY KIDS SERVICE LEAD (LILS AND BIGS)
  • Will stay expectant and attentive to Community Kids Church before and after service
  • Will initiate conversations with people as they walk into and around the Community Kids area
  • Will remain visible and attentive to parents by greeting and checking children into service
  • Will wear a Crew lanyard to be identifiable and approachable for our guests
  • Will ensure that there are an appropriate number of volunteers for kids:
Nursery 2:4 | Community Lils 2:24 | Community Bigs 1:14

I. MEDICAL CREW
  • Will respond to any medical emergency
  • Will wear a Crew lanyard to be identifiable and approachable for our guests
  • Will stay expectant and attentive while attending service
  • Will remain on radio before, during and after service and respond to a request for medical assistance

J. SITE COORDINATOR
  • Will initiate conversation with every ministry area and stay vigilant to any incident and be able to respond
  • Will remain on radio before, during and after service and respond to a request for leadership assistance
  • Will help Ops crew with decisions about Sunday morning safety when applicable
  • Will follow through with the Site Coordinator SOP and the Site Coordinator checklist

K. HEAD USHER
  • Identify people to pass the buckets to receive offering
  • Find available seats for people as the sanctuary begins to fill
  • Count and secure offering
  • Count and document attendance
  • Will locate themselves into the general area of the Pastor immediately after service to support if needed
  • Work with Site Coordinator on additional operations needs

L. OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
  • Will oversee weekly Ops Rally or ensure someone is scheduled to lead it
  • Will participate in operations group text on a Sunday morning
  • Will be a resource for all operations team on a Sunday morning
  • Ensure operational policies and procedures are effective and efficient

M. RADIO PROCEDURE
The radio is one of our most important tools for communicating safety needs. Site Coordinator, Head Usher, Sanctuary Lead, Safety Crew, Community Kids service lead, Officer on site and medical team will remain on radio before, during and after service. We will reserve this for only time-sensitive and pressing communication.
  • Leave the channel open for only safety communication
  • Speak slowly and clearly
  • Give name and location first
  • Indicate if it is or isn’t an emergency
  • EX: Jimmy, Foyer, Emergency

6. POTENTIAL SITUATIONS REQUIRING “ACTION”
*This is not an exhaustive list as potential situations are vast

A. Service Distractions
It’s important to remember that strong, clear and concise language stops, de-escalates and redirects away from the volunteer. Remember to greet our people with warmth. We are happy they are here, even if they’re having a tough time. Initiate not only the conversation, but also the transition. Follow up with the individual after service. Thank them for being there.
  • CHILD CRYING: Would you please take your child to the mommy baby room, where they will be more comfortable?
  • SPEAKING IN TONGUES/FLAGS/RUNNING: This out of order - please stop.
  • TRANSGENDER BATHROOM USE:  Here at Community of Faith, everyone will use the restroom of their gender at birth.
  • SPEAKING OUT: Please honor this house of worship and stop interrupting the message/teaching.

B. Suspicious Persons
If any Crew leaders believe that an individual is in the church with poor intentions, they should make Safety Crew aware of their concerns immediately. The Sanctuary Lead will intentionally Greet the individual and Introduce themselves by name. He will stay present and discretely observe the individual in order to ascertain their intentions.

C. Dealing with Unruly or Hostile Persons
In the event of a hostile person, the Sanctuary Lead will work to de-escalate the dispute – any further action will depend on the hostile person’s subsequent actions.
  • If the Pastor is involved, the Sanctuary Lead will make himself visible to the pastor and situation and take direction directly from the pastor.
  • Head Usher will tend to the campus pastor
  • Sanctuary Lead will tell the unruly person to stop the disruption or leave
    • If they choose to leave, allow them – document what’s needed (license plate, description, name, etc)
    • If the person remains on church property but is no longer a disruption, the individual should be observed until they leave.
    • If the individual continues to create a scene, and refuses to leave, the Sanctuary Lead will ask Site Coordinator to get the on-site officer
  • Site Coordinator will stand by in the event the Sanctuary Lead needs further assistance

D. Missing Child
If a child is missing from Community Kids church, The Community Kids Service lead will be notified and immediately tend to the family, if not already aware.
  • Safety Service Lead and Site Coordinator will gather information from Community Kids’ Service Lead.
  • Foyer Safety will ensure no one is leaving the building
  • Community Kids Service Lead and Site Coordinator will orchestrate a search
  • Community Kids’ Safety Crew will remain vigilant to watch Community Kids
  • Community Kids Service Lead will tend to the family and help wherever needed
  • On-site law enforcement officer may be used as a resource if the situation escalates

E. Medical Emergency
If an individual experiences a medical emergency, we will seek guidance from the scheduled medical volunteer.
  • Closest Ops Crew will call for the Medical Crew over radio
  • Sanctuary Lead (or closest Ops Crew) will keep spectators back from the situation so that medical volunteer can tend to the emergency
  • Site Coordinator will also connect with Law Enforcement Officer and/or call 911 if needed
  • Site Coordinator will gather additional medical personnel if needed – each campus is equipped with a list on the SC Checklist
  • Medical Crew will connect with the family and fill out an incident report.

F. Menacing/Armed Individual Threat
In the event of a potentially dangerous/armed individual(s), we will heed to the knowledge and expertise of the on-site law enforcement officer.
  • Sanctuary Lead will stay attentive to the threat while radioing for all leaders to standby for a Code Red with the location of the potential threat
  • Head Usher will tend to the campus pastor
  • Site Coordinator will be notified to get on-site law enforcement officer
  • As Law Enforcement attends to the threat, Sanctuary Lead will create distance between people and the threat
  • All leadership should report to their spot to prepare for potential evacuation or shelter in place notification – see below.
  • If the threat is imminent, direction will be given by the on-site law enforcement officer immediately without a standby

G. Active Shooter
In the event of an active shooter, we will heed to the knowledge and expertise of the on-site law enforcement officer.
  • Sanctuary Lead volunteer will stay attentive to the threat while radioing for all leaders to standby for a Code Red with the location of the potential threat
  • Head Usher will tend to the campus pastor
  • Site Coordinator will be notified to get on-site law enforcement officer
  • As Law Enforcement attends to the threat, Sanctuary Lead will create distance between people and the threat - relative to the location of the shooter
  • All leadership should report to their spot to prepare for potential evacuation or shelter in place notification – see below
  • If the threat is imminent, direction will be given by the on-site law enforcement officer immediately without a standby

H. Evacuation/Shelter in Place
The decision for evacuation or shelter-in-place will be initiated by identified campus leadership based on the recommendations of the Law Enforcement Officer.
  • Law enforcement officer will go towards the threat
  • Sanctuary Lead will tend to the sanctuary
  • Head Usher will tend first to pastor, then support Sanctuary Lead
  • Reserve Safety Crew will disperse to help sanctuary and Community Kids Safety
  • Safety Service Lead will tend to Community Kids
  • Community Kids’ Safety Crew will tend to Community Kids
  • Foyer Safety will give direction as people exit the building before tending to Community Kids
  • Site Coordinator will call 911 – before tending to Community Kids
  • Community Kids Service Lead will grab evacuation manual and handle procedure accordingly

REUNIFICATION
During this process, Community Kids Service Lead, Site Coordinator and the
Community Kids Safety Volunteer will work to ensure each child is safely returned to
their parents.
  • Community Kids’ Teachers will circle-up the children by classroom in their safe place
  • Community Kids Safety will stand watch of the children and direct parents to line up with Service Lead
  • Community Kids Service Lead will be the starting point for parents.
  • Site Coordinator will help trouble shoot in the greatest area of need.

In the event that any of the above safety or medical situations occur, the operations team will gather at the end of service to discuss the incident, what they can do better for next time, and to designate who will fill out the incident report.

7. Emergency Water Shut Off
In the event the water to the sprinkler system needs to be turned off, go to the main water line in front of the building.  Remove the red lever, flip it around and use it as a wrench to turn the diamond-shaped bolt on the top of the pump until the water is off.

8. Fire Alarm Shut Off
In the event the fire alarms are going off, open the white alarm panel next to the main doors. Type in 1985 and hit “off” (also the 1 button). You’ll hear a “ding” and this will indicate fire alarms have been disarmed. Once the incident is resolved, type in 1985 and hit “off” (also the 1 button) again to rearm the fire alarms.

9. Resetting Pulled Fire Alarm
In the event the fire alarm is pulled, it can be reset once the incident is resolved. Utilize a paperclip, or other fine tip metal piece, and insert into the hole on top of the fire alarm. This will open the alarm and reveal black switch. Reset the switch, ensure the lever is back up, and close the cover to the alarm.

10. Carrying of Concealed Firearms during COF Function
Community of Faith does not expect anyone on the Crew to carry a firearm. In the event of a threatening situation/emergency, the on-site law enforcement officer will assume the responsibility of responding to the threat.


Submit