Is Your Church Prepared for an

Act of Violence?

A newly released survey found many churches unprepared for an active shooter situation or other potential acts of violence.

In recent years, places of worship have been targets of violent actors, including Jewish synagogues, a Sikh temple, and most recently, a Christian school in Nashville. While safety measures are common for fires (and required by law in many cases), safety measures for acts of violence are less common.

We don't prepare for fires because we expect them, but in case of the unexpected. Churches should prepare for violence for the same reason.

Lifeway Research surveyed 1,000 U.S. Protestant pastors in September, 2022 to ask about their church's security protocols. The good news is that most churches, four out of five, have at least one of seven potential security measures in place. But 17% responded they didn't use any measures and 2% didn't know if they had any or not. Plus, only 57% had an intentional plan for an active shooter situation.

Read more about the survey results here.

At our April 28, 2022, pastor conference in Amarillo, counterterrorism expert Elizabeth Neumann encouraged those in attendance to maintain a relationship with local law enforcement and have protective measures, including active shooter drills, in place. Additionally, Neumann said, the Department of Homeland Security can send a Protective Security Advisor to assess your church's security measures.

Watch the whole presentation here:

Disinfo Studies Deemed Dangerous

Why is it that "a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on"? (A quote that is, ironically, often misattributed to Mark Twain or Winston Churchill.) Now that lies travel at internet speeds, the question is more important than ever. But trying to find the answers can get you in trouble with the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. More specifically, it can bring legal threats from Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan.

WaPo reports, "The pressure has forced some researchers to change their approach or step back, even as disinformation is rising ahead of the 2024 election. As artificial intelligence makes deception easier and platforms relax their rules on political hoaxes, industry veterans say they fear that young scholars will avoid studying disinformation."

Read the rest here.

Can Tucker Change?

Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict, a book we just finished in the AVC book club, wonders if the recent firing of Tucker Carlson presents an opportunity for him to change.

What if someone Carlson trusts and respects were to invite him to question the costs of this conflict — and do something altogether different? Can we imagine a world in which Carlson used his extraordinary influence to help de-escalate America’s current political schism, for the sake of his family and his country?

Read the rest here.

Enjoy a classic Lincoln quote (that often leaves off the last two words)... on a classic 16 oz. pint glass. All proceeds benefit AVC's vital work.