Command Briefs

Over a decade leading the safety team at my church, and I still walk out some Sundays with a list. A post that went uncovered. A door that should have been locked but wasn't. For a long time that list discouraged me...

When I say "failure to train," I am not reaching for a turn of phrase. It is a real and well-established legal doctrine. In the police world, it is one of the most common ways a department gets held liable after a use of force goes wrong.

I am going to tell on myself, because it is the most useful thing I can do for another safety team leader. I have had to apologize to my pastor. More than once. For overstepping, for pushing my agenda harder than the relationship could bear...

When one of your people is not meeting the standard, there is an order that serves well: coach before you correct, correct before you release.

Most people think the biggest risk to a church safety team is the threat that walks through the door. After fourteen years, I will tell you the bigger risk is usually already on the team. It is ego.

The best compliment my safety team ever gets is that you would never know they are there. No tactical cosplay, no badges and attitude, no posturing in the lobby. Just calm, capable people who happen to be paying closer attention than everyone else. Quiet professionals.

If I could get every church in America to do two things, and only two things, it would be these: run a real background check on everyone who works with children or serves on the safety team, and put them through child sexual abuse awareness training. Then do both again, on a schedule, forever.

When something breaks on your team, it is a leadership failure before it is a volunteer failure. Extreme Ownership in a volunteer ministry.