Showing posts with label NOCSSM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NOCSSM. Show all posts

Monday, April 14

10th Annual National Church Security Conference

10th Annual National Church Security Conference

Dates: Friday and Saturday August 8th and 9th

Location: New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hosted By:







Click Here to Register



Chuck Chadwick
Chuck Chadwick founded Gatekeepers Alliance in January of 2002 as an informal meeting of Security/Facilities Directors from some of the largest churches in the DFW area. Meetings were held to discuss issues/challenges and it was found that regardless of location the issues/challenges were similar. Chuck's home church (Fellowship Church, Grapevine, TX) grew from 6,000 TWA (Typical worship Attendance) to 22K and then from one location to multi-site. At the height of the organization Chuck directed and multi-jurisdictional task force of some 40 officers composed of Law Enforcement, Private Protection Officer, Security Guards and volunteers.

In 2005 Chuck left full time Church Security Director employment to dedicate his life to Gatekeepers Alliance teaching seminars and putting together “Best Practices” for churches around the nation. The first Church Security Conference was held at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano TX in 2005. Chuck continues to direct the security operations of some of the largest churches in America through Gatekeepers Security Services, LLC. a Texas Corporation.  Conferences and Seminars are held several times a year in churches across the nation and membership has grown to hundreds of member churches.

In November of 2007 the name of the organization was changed to, The National Organization of Church Security and Safety Management, LLC - "We feel the name change better reflects the broader scope and purpose of the organization”.

NOCSSM continues the original mission by providing educational courses, conferences for churches throughout the nation as the "First Name in Church Security".


Carl Chinn
Carl Chinn was introduced to the need for security while serving as Building Engineer for Focus on the Family – a Colorado ministry founded (and led at the time) by Dr. James Dobson. Like others in faith-based management, Chinn had dismissed the subject of emergency readiness through much of his career, considering it an inconvenient distraction of debatable importance.
Experiences changed his views on the subject. In 1996 he was a responder in a standoff with an angry gunman who took hostages at the Focus on the Family ministry. Following the attacker’s trial, Chinn began researching and writing on the subject of criminal and other incidents in North American ministries. In 2005, he and others began to develop an intentional security program for New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. He was one of the team of responders directly involved with the active shooter on 12/09/2007. He continues to serve New Life security as the threat investigator and liaison between law enforcement and ministry security operations.
Chinn travels and speaks at national conferences on the subject of real life lessons learned in the ministry security incidents experienced. His research and experiences have been featured in national media and publications including Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, Preaching Magazine, Christianity Today, the Washington Post, Moody Bible Institute and various radio interviews. He has spoken at colleges, seminaries, churches, ASIS, charitable events and the National Organization of Church Security & Safety Management.


Brian Gallagher
Brian Gallagher is Director of Business Development at Decision Sciences International Corporation (DSIC), a security solutions company. In this role, Gallagher supports the company’s ongoing business development efforts domestically and abroad.
Gallagher joins DSIC after serving almost 10 years with the U.S. Secret Service. For the last six years, he served as Senior Physical Security Specialist in the Technical Security Division and provided expertise and guidance on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) countermeasures and physical security; performed protective detail for our nation’s leaders and visiting world leaders; educated other security personnel; and made product and equipment purchasing recommendations.
Gallagher has a thorough understanding of physical security regulations and an in-depth knowledge of security methods, procedures and use of surveillance systems and countermeasures for weapons of mass destruction. Prior to the Secret Service, he held a number of protective service roles for more than a decade including security management and emergency medical services.
In his spare time, he is dedicated to community and volunteer work related to public safety. He holds a number of advanced training certifications such as paramedic, firefighter, hazardous materials specialist and weapons of mass destruction specialist.
Gallagher received a bachelor’s in Homeland Security from American Military University and is currently pursuing a master’s in Professional Studies, Homeland Security - Information Security and Forensics, from Pennsylvania State University.


Bob Klamser
Bob Klamser is the Executive Director ofCrisis Consulting International and co-founder, a non-profit organization that provides security and crisis management services to the missionary, humanitarian and NGO communities.  Crisis Consulting International conducts training seminars and consults with organizations on a wide variety of topics related to organizational and member security, especially in dangerous and hostile environments.  The organization also provides hands-on assistance during emergencies.  These services include hostage negotiations, evacuation management, response to extortion, risk assessments, site surveys, etc.
Mr. Klamser retired from a twenty-three year law enforcement career in 1994.  During that career he held a wide range of responsibilities, including command of a criminal investigation unit, command of a hostage negotiation team and command of the operations section of a municipal government’s emergency operations center.  In addition to his responsibilities with Crisis Consulting International, he has served as the Missions Pastor and Administrator of a large Southern California church.  He also serves on the Professional Services Network of the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies.
Mr. Klamser has presented training seminars and conducted consultations involving literally hundreds of organizations throughout the world.  He has personally participated in hostage negotiations in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  He has provided other crisis management and security services throughout the world. 
Mr. Klamser earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in management and executive leadership.  He has published professional articles and has conducted pre-publication editorial review for two international security management books.  He is a frequent conference and workshop speaker and has appeared as an expert commentator and as a technical consultant on several major television networks.  He and his wife, a retired police officer, reside in Southern California.

Greg Love
Greg Love - Attorneys at Law, is a partner at the law firm of Love & Norris, based in Fort Worth Texas, and a founder and director of MinistrySafe.  He earned a B.A. in Accounting from Texas Tech University in 1987, followed by a J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law where he served on the law review.  He is a member of the Texas State Bar, Tarrant County Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation.  His peers have repeatedly chosen him as one of Tarrant County’s “Top Attorneys”.  Mr. Love serves as a guest lecturer at Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Dallas Theological Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
MinistrySafe - In addition to an active law practice, Love and Norris are co-founders and Directors of MinistrySafe and Abuse Prevention Systems, entities dedicated to sexual abuse awareness and prevention.  MinistrySafe and Abuse Prevention Systems provide Sexual Abuse Awareness Training (live and online) and assist child care entities and organizations in the design and implementation of safety systems which reduce the risk of child sexual abuse.  Love and Norris are frequent speakers before educational entities, youth and children's ministries, day care, youth camps, and adoption and foster care organizations.  They have addressed national and regional audiences for organizations such as the National Association of Church Business Administrators ( NACBA ), National Council for Adoption (NCFA ), Young Life, Youth Ministry Institute ( NOBTS ), Kanakuk, the Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly, Church of the Nazarene, Prevent Child Abuse Texas, and Texas Alliance for Children and Families, and are featured writers for the upcoming NACBA resource entitled Professional Practices in Church Administration.

Jimmy Meeks
Jimmy Meeks, Sheepdog Seminars for Churches Jimmy will speak on the scriptural validity of the need for Church Security and the calling he has felt to the church security ministry.  Jimmy has been a police officer since 1980. He is a licensed and ordained minister, certified school resource officer, police-training officer, hostage negotiator and a certified crime prevention specialist.


Bob Wild

Bob Wild has been the Director of Finance and Administration and Risk Management for two mega churches over the past 20 years: Vineyard Christian Fellowship of North Phoenix and Christ's Church of the Valley, both located in the Phoenix area.  Bob has served on several boards including the local Phoenix NACBA chapter, CCV Youth Sports Inc., the largest nonprofit youth sports program in Arizona, Financial Planning Ministry and the Boys and Girls Club in Austin Texas among others.  Bob wrote and self published an instruction manual for church planters called:  Growing Your Church From The Ground Up: The Corporate Side. Bob has been published in Church Executive Magazine and more recently in Christianity Today and Group Publishing professional edition for their Children's Magazine.  In 2009 Bob joined the team at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company as the Sr. Director-Strategic Alliances.  Bob holds degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters Degree in Business.

Sunday, April 1

NOCSSM - Armed Church Security Teams

The below letter is from Chuck Chadwick of The National Organization of Church Safety and Security Management. Chuck was asked to contribute to our series on Guns in Church. I am a little behind in posting this article, but still wanted it to be available here for you to read.


Armed Church Security Teams -
What is legal? Who is liable? Who is qualified?
By: Chuck Chadwick, NOCSSM


Dear Brian,
Recently I was asked to contribute to a series of articles about Guns in churches by our friend Brian Gallagher of "SecurityatChurch.com".  Due to travel and time restrictions we were unable to respond, but we read all the responses from others.

I think good points were made about the necessity of a security program and the need to have, what we call, "Intervention Capable" reactors/responders as part of a Security Team.

From our contacts within thousands of churches we have seen the entire gambit of inventive solutions that churches have come up with.  Some mega-churches hire dozens of active local police officers to be present during services, both uniformed and plain clothes.  Some rely on off duty law enforcement congregation members.  Some rely on volunteer civilian "Concealed Carry" individuals.

The main areas of concern are,

First - what is legal in your state?
Second - who's liable if something goes wrong, as in a shooting of innocent bystanders?
Third - what should be the measure of who is qualified to be in this "Intervention Capable" (pronounced "Armed") role?

What is legal?

As pointed out in the various responses to Brian's request for opinions, each state may have different laws that dictate the legality of arming a Security team.  Texas requires a private security license while Colorado requires only a Concealed Handgun permit.

Who is Liable?

The first thing we think of when approaching this issue is "Insurance".  When active law enforcement or private security shoots someone, intentional or not, the majority of the liability will rest first on the local municipal government or the private security company's insurance.  With any other individual the liability will rest on the individual and the church that authorized the security team.

Numerous insurance companies have dedicated entire web sites and resources to Church Security and Safety issues.  Understand that it is not in the interest of these insurers to promote "armed civilian security teams" as this increases the risk that they might have to pay a claim against the church.

However, as much as they might resist, numerous insurers are "insuring" these civilian concealed carry permit teams as a part of their coverage.  

Who's qualified?

In the resources provided by the insurance companies there are only vague references to "Training", but no clear path to what is "adequate" for training.

The typical course of police training in Texas consists of 576 hours of training in subjects ranging from fitness to firearms.  The typical course of private security training in Texas consists of 60 hours of training. The typical Conceal Handgun Permit requires only 8 hours of training.  Some states don't even require the individual to fire a handgun.

Several years ago we saw the need for some type of training that would serve as a standard for church security teams that was both legal and acceptable to insurance companies.  After working with one particular insurance company for two years and investing thousands in research and development we were left high and dry by the company's management and threatened with law suits. That is when we retreated to our present platform which meets the Texas state private security requirements and abandoned any hope of working with any insurance company to promote a national standard.

Conclusion /Opinion -

Because of the challenges involved with developing a recognized national standard of "qualifications" we do not believe there is an easy answer for churches who want clear path to an acceptable program of qualifications and training needed for armed church security teams.

All of our efforts have gone into adhering to each state's requirements for professional security licensing of individuals to perform armed commercial security work for churches.  This way we are leaving the training and certification standards to the state and not someone's opinion.

About the author:

Chuck Chadwick founded the National Organization for Church Security and Safety Management (NOCSSM) www.nocssm.org  in 2002.  He is also president of Gatekeepers Security Services (GSS) www.gatekeeperssecurity.com and the Christian Security Institute (CSI) www.christiansi.org.  GSS being a state licensed security services company and CSI a state licensed security training school.

Thursday, January 12

2012 Church Security Conference - NOCSSM


Church Security Conference
May 11-12, 2012
Carrollton, TX
Hosted by: Covenant Church

(From NOCSSM)
Fellow Members and Supporters, 

Each year we try to bring you a church security conference that is worth traveling to.
    • You want to hear and see the latest developments and strategies that will make your church more secure.
    • You want to bring back intelligence that will better equip you to deal with the issues we deal with on a weekly basis.
    • You want the tools to make you more effective and given the upper hand against those that would victimized the church and its people. 
    • You want to feel revitalized in your battle against evil.

Well, here it is! The 2012 "Called 2 Duty" Church Security Conference.

Don't miss your church's chance to attend this groundbreaking event. 

The early-bird discounts end March 15, 2011. Reserve now!

President and Founder,
Chuck Chadwick
NOCSSM