PDA Safety Training

Being prepared is one of the most important steps we can take in making our churches safe and hospitable places for everyone. The Presbytery of New York City has invited Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to lead a training on church safety that will cover situations of an active shooter, fire, and other disasters. Although the likelihood of any of these situations is low, it is important that we know how to prevent these situations when we can and take care of one another if something does happen.  

To accommodate as many presbytery clergy and church members as possible, this training will be offered two times at different locations:  

Thursday, September 28th at Lafayatte Avenue Presbyterian Church (85 S. Oxford St., Brooklyn)
Saturday, September 30th at First Presbyterian Church of NYC (12 W. 12th St., Manhattan) 

Trainings will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.

Each training is limited to 60 people. Registration deadline: September 8th, 2023. 

Please stay tuned for additional trainings about advocacy and gun violence prevention that go beyond church safety. Following God’s call to be peacemakers in the world includes preventing violence in our churches and in the wider world. This church safety training is an important part of a holistic approach to reducing gun violence.  

INCLUDED IN THE TRAINING: 

• Look at data on actual risk of armed intruders at faith-based institutions. 
• Increased risk to churches from hate groups opposed to social justice ministries. 
• Security role of ushers and greeters. 
• ALICE Training Institute strategies and drill for surviving violent intruder situations. 

• Preventing mass shootings with teat assessments and mental health counseling. 
• Basics of “Stop the Bleed” first aid training. 
• Creating a Preparedness/Security Committee and developing a plan for your church. 

WHO IS DOING THE TRAINING? 

The trainers are Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team (NRT) volunteers, who are certified on ALICE training, the #1 active shooter preparedness training in the US.  PDA’s trainings are unique, because the training is specific to the unique challenges and context of church gatherings and membership composition.  This training is thorough and accurate. 

WHOM SHOULD I SEND FROM MY CHURCH? 

We recommend sending 2 or more people per congregation.  Be strategic about whom you send, invite church security team members or individuals who work on building security – ushers, greeters, outreach workers (i.e. homeless ministry or food ministry workers), and pastors.  Send people who are on the front lines of greeting people and interacting with the public and who work on or with the church building.  These individuals can then report back to your church and provide specific training and guidance tailored to your church and, ideally, help form a Safety & Security Team if you don’t already have one. 

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE TRAINING? 

We are providing the training free of cost. Lunch will be provided for a cost of $13 per person and can be paid the day of the training by cash or check.  

Questions? Please contact Rev. Emily Brewer ([email protected]).  

Register by filling out this form below!