Some local churches are rethinking what safety looks like at their services. Some churches in our region already have safety teams during services.
CARBONDALE, Ill. (WSIL)-- Days after a gunman disrupted a mass in Louisiana,ÌýsomeÌýlocal churches are rethinking what safety looks like at their services. Some churches in our region already have safety teams during services.
Jane Swanson spent her days serving meals at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal ChurchÌýin Carbondale.ÌýShe says she always thinks about where it is safe to go, especially days after a first communion mass in LouisianaÌýwas disruptedÌýby a gunman.Ìý
â€ÀáÌýthink especially as a woman, I meanÌýI'mÌýmore aware of where I am, and if it feels like a safe place and who else is around me,â€Ì�Swanson said.
Swanson says she goes to First Presbyterian Church of Carbondale, and her church has had talks about what safety looks like for them.Ìý
“We also struggle with, you know, youÌýdon'tÌýwanna make it so locked down that peopleÌýdon'tÌýfeel welcome,â€Ì�Swanson says.Ìýâ€�We'reÌýcautious about how many doors are open at once, and weÌýtalk aboutÌýjust some safety concerns.â€�
Church Leaders at Bethel A.M.E are also looking into plans to keep its members safe.Ìýµþ±ð³Ù³ó±ð±ôÌý´¡.²Ñ.·¡.’sÌýPastor Ronald Chambers says heÌýdoes worryÌýabout his congregation becauseÌýit'sÌýa littleÌýbitÌý´Ç±ô»å±ð°ù.Ìý
â€�They'reÌýnot gonna run as fast,â€Ì�Pastor Chambers says.Ìýâ€�I have a couple of young men who do comeÌýbutÌýI try to think about whether we should talk to them and try to get them to be armed carriers andÌýbe able toÌýbe able to be security for the church.â€�
Pastor Chambers says his church keeps some doors locked to help monitorÌý·É³ó´Ç’sÌýin and out of the church.Ìý
â€ÀáÌýhave my concealed weapon license, but IÌýdon'tÌýhave to carry a gun. IÌýdon'tÌýwantÌýto,Ìýbecause, you know, ifÌýI'mÌýgoing to use it, Hey,ÌýI'mÌýgoing to use it,â€Ì�Pastor Chambers says. Okay. Yeah. But other than that, we are just trying to make sureÌýeverybody'sÌýsafe pretty much in this community.â€Ì�
Chambers says he does not worry too much about his church becauseÌýit'sÌýwell-known in the community.Ìý
“We wanna make sure that when you come to Bethel Church, you get what God wants for you,â€Ì�Pastor Chambers says.Ìýâ€�I mean just making sure that you have a great service and that when you walk out of here,Ìýthat youÌýwalk out of here better than what you walked in here.â€�
Pastor Chambers says that its church leaders willÌýbe meeting to come up withÌýa safety plan later in the week.Ìý
