Many of you saw the reports out of Minnesota where a church service was disrupted by protesters entering the sanctuary during worship.
When something like that happens, the first reaction is often disbelief. Churches are places set apart for prayer and preaching. Most pastors do not expect to think about crowd control or emergency response in the middle of a sermon.
But that incident has prompted an important question we’re hearing from churches across the country: Are we ready if something like that happens here?
Preparation is not about assuming the worst. It is about exercising wisdom.
At NCLL, we routinely encourage churches to review their bylaws, clarify leadership authority, establish safety protocols, and think through response plans before they are needed. Most of the time, those plans will never be used. But having them in place provides clarity and calm if a disruption occurs.
The Minnesota situation is a reminder that churches cannot afford to be casual about governance or security. Order matters. Planning matters. Leadership matters.
Our role is to help ministries think through these issues carefully and lawfully—so that when challenges arise, they are handled with confidence and integrity.
We remain committed to standing in that gap.
—David C. Gibbs III
President and General Counsel
Following the Minnesota incident, our office received numerous calls from pastors asking a simple but urgent question: “What should we do if this happens to us?”
The answer is not panic. It is preparation.
While every church has its own culture and leadership style, NCLL is counseling ministries to:
Develop and regularly review a written safety and emergency response plan
Establish clear authority for who makes decisions during a disruption
Coordinate with local law enforcement before a crisis occurs
Train safety teams on lawful and appropriate response measures
Consider policies regarding controlled entry during worship services
Ensure liability exposure is minimized while congregants remain protected
There is no single formula for handling a disruption. Some pastors may continue preaching. Others may dismiss quietly and secure the building. What matters most is that the response is deliberate, lawful, and rooted in preparation—not improvisation.
Churches should never wait until an incident occurs to think through their response. Planning in advance protects both people and mission.
As public tensions increase, ministry leaders must be wise stewards not only of doctrine, but of safety.
Preparation does not happen automatically. Legal guidance, policy drafting, crisis counseling, IRS defense, and litigation response all require experienced attorneys and sustained commitment.
Every time the NCLL fields a call from a concerned pastor, reviews bylaws for a board in crisis, or helps a church strengthen its safety protocols, it is made possible by faithful partners who understand the stakes.
When ministries face legal pressure, funds intended for outreach and discipleship can quickly be diverted to defense. By supporting the NCLL, you help ensure churches remain focused on the Gospel—not courtrooms.
If you believe churches should be prepared, protected, and free to worship without intimidation, I invite you to stand with us.
Your support today strengthens the legal foundation beneath countless ministries across the country.
Together, we will continue standing in the legal gap.
“Religious liberty is the first freedom.” —
Samuel Adams
