DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — Church and places of worship are supposed to be safe. But the recent arrest of a Pueblo man for the alleged plot to use explosives at a synagogue has reminded faith leaders of our changing world.
Saturday, Grace Chapel hosted 36 other churches from around Colorado to come and talk security. This was planned long before the events of Monday, but that only highlighted why these types of events are becoming so important.
"It does make people more on edge. We will often get phone calls into the church office wondering if we have security," Rick Derbyshire of Mission Hills Church said.
The summit had an active shooter demonstration from a private security firm and the opportunity to talk to law enforcement. It's communication with places of worship and law enforcement that people say is an essential tool.
"Honestly, it's just the overall communication and the ability to for that law enforcement agency to go out to those churches. Any church is a potential target in large committees and small committees, so it's critical that law enforcement is engaged with the church," Captain Darren Weekly of the Douglas County Sheriff Office said.
The summit organizers say there are many ways to make churches safer should the worst-case scenario occur. They hope visiting churches can take ideas from Saturday and use that to keep their community members safe down the road.