Local ministers say they are taught that the church’s doors should always remain open because one never knows when he might be entertaining angels. But leaving that door open also means that sometimes the devil can come inside too.
The bloody slayings of a minister and eight others during a prayer meeting at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday have stunned many people locally and across the nation. The massacre, which some locals are describing as “devastating” and “tragic,” is sparking many conversations among pastors about the need for security at their churches and the delicate balance between being welcoming to all, while watching out for those who might want to do harm to them and their congregations.
“We are taught to make disciples,” said the Rev. Michael Bailey, pastor of Faith United Church in Middletown. “There’s that part of us that says we never want to be in a position that we deny one of God’s creations. But now when an individual comes into your house (of worship), and you don’t know that individual, you begin to question: What made you come here? Did God send you here, or did the devil bring you up in here.”
Dylann Storm Roof, 21, was arrested in Shelby, N.C., 200 miles away and 14 hours after perpetrating the mass shooting, which police believe to be racially motivated. Roof allegedly told those at the prayer meeting at Emanuel A.M.E. Church that he was there “to kill black people.”
“Can you imagine killing someone in a church?” said Bishop Rudolph Pringle, of Middletown. “I just don’t know the answer to this.”
Pringle, who called Thursday one of “the saddest days in my life,” said he’s seen a whole lot of killing and assassinations in his lifetime and hopes he sees an end to the racism, hatred and gun violence that seems to be everywhere.
The Rev. Erwin McIntosh Jr., pastor of Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church in Hamilton, said Wednesday’s shooting, while “tremendously tragic,” is unfortunately not the first attack on a black church or churches in general. He said better security starts with increasing awareness.
“We can’t just assume that it won’t happen here,” said McIntosh, who has served in the military and is a karate expert.
McIntosh said that every church, if it can afford to, should have security cameras in place at a minimum. The need for security guards and metal detectors may be area specific, depending on the level of crime that exists around the church, he said.
“I hope we don’t get to the point that we need metal detectors (at churches),” McIntosh said. “But I wouldn’t be shocked if it came to that.”
The Rev. Ronald Eskridge is hosting a worship and prayer vigil Friday night at his church in Fairfield, St. Paul A.M.E. The Fairfield Police Department has agreed to provide coverage of the services and a Church School Convention held there on Saturday morning.
Eskridge said security protection for his congregation is very important and that security measures there are in place along with a heightened awareness. He called the slayings in Charleston “a travesty” and said his thoughts and prayers were with the families of the victims and with the church.
“But one thing that I am aware of, all pastors, especially senior pastors, of churches are there to be catalysts to bring people to Jesus and plant the seeds so lost souls can be saved,” Eskridge said. “We place ourselves in harm’s way. That goes with the territory of being a pastor.”
Eskridge said there is a tendency to be on the lookout for any unusual events that may occur in a worship service, and he’s experienced a few during his tenure as pastor.
“We believe when we worship that God will protect us in his house,” he said.
Bailey, of Faith United, said it’s important for pastors to maintain that faith, that God will protect them. He said he struggles with the concepts of clergy carrying firearms into the church to “protect the sheep,” though he knows of some pastors who do.
“What would Jesus do in this situation,” he said. “Do we set up those safeguards of armed guards to be ready to defend the faith? And if you do that, then what message does that send to the world? The church believes in God, but they are taking up their guns too?”
Bailey said churches can be easy targets for those wanting to perpetrate evil deeds or take advantage.
“We are always open for that. We are open to the point that people will come in and steal, and in some cases, come in and kill,” he said.
Archie Johnson, of St. Philip CME Church in Hamilton, said church leaders and their members “have to be cautious, but you still have to help people in need.” He added that a lot of churches cannot afford to spend a lot of money for security measures, and pointed out that the church in Charleston was equipped with cameras.
“When people are hurt and wounded, the church still has to be a haven to go in and out,” said Johnson, who is also a Hamilton city councilman. “You can’t have a haven if you have to lock them out.”
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