A study of church vulnerability to violence: Implications for law enforcement

✍ Scribed by William Bourns; Wesley D Wright

• Book ID: 104021240
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 128 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0047-2352
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2003.12.005

✦ Synopsis

Little research has been conducted on violence in churches. This study looked at the questions of whether pastors/ministers believed if violence was increasing in churches and were church clergy fearful? Have churches become more security conscious? A mail-out questionnaire was sent to a nationwide sample of 175 churches. The return rate was 29 percent. Southern Baptist ministers and United Methodist pastors, two of the largest religious denominations in the United States, were asked about assaults, drinking, drug use, youth gangs, juvenile problems, graffiti, vandalism, and types of security measures in their churches to get a descriptive picture of what violence, if any, was taking place in the sampled churches. Results showed low levels of violence, however, clergy thought violence, and anger was slowly increasing. Vandalism and stealing were the major violence reported; violence being defined as a destructive act towards persons or property. Churches had no plan of action if a violent act did occur; nor did they expect such an act, even at youth events. Results may be used to formulate a more comprehensive protection analysis for churches.