In today's world, the need for church safety and security is rapidly increasing due to various threats including, but not limited to, active shooter, acts of terrorism, health emergencies, accidents, cyber-attacks, robberies, vandalism, fire, child abuse, disruptive individuals, and natural disasters. Violence against the Church is on the rise.

East Mountain Cowboy Church (EMCC) has established a Safety and Security Team (SST) to guard EMCC employees, volunteers, church members, visitors, and other participants against such threats.

Many times, Safety and Security are used interchangeably and can be confusing. Both words denote protection but in different ways. For the purpose of this manual the following definitions will be used:

► Safety refers to a condition where someone or something is protected from hazards caused by natural forces and/or human errors.

► Security refers to a condition where organizations/people are protected from hazards caused by deliberate threats and intentions to cause harm.