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Jake

There are a number of ways to handle this depending on the layout and size of the church. It will also depend on the problem. If it is an issues of immediate danger such as a major thunderstorm or tornado, interrupting the service is a no brainer. For more questionable issues there are some other things to consider.

Alternate Decision Maker

In larger churches with several pastors, it is best to designate one pastor to go to for any issues. This will avoid the need to interrupt the sermon. The go to person could also be a Deacon or staff member. If they deem it necessary to approach the pastor during the sermon then proceed.

No Other Decision Maker

in this case, work with the pastor on a list of possible issues and make predecided resonses how to handle each one. Document this list and the approved response.

As you noted, if you need to get a message to the Pastor, it could be through a digital readout panel in the podium. Some churches have the ability to project the pastors notes or the praise teams lyrics on the back of the church. This could be used to send a message to the pastor. If there is no other alternative, pass him a note.

Contacting a Church Member in the Sanctuary

If you need to contact a church member for an emergency and you project your lyrics or pastors notes for the congregation, have an announcement made on the screen for that person to please meet security or safety in the lobby.

Karatejake wrote: “That way he would be able to make the decision to evacuate or further analyze the situation.”

Not trying to sound critical here, but I hope that if the Senior Pastor is giving the sermon and a critical situation arises, he would be NOTIFIED of how the situation was being handled, not being asked to analyze the situation.

I realize that some pastors need to be in control, but the time spent briefing him and getting his reaction to a crisis would not be productive in a crisis. Of course, if the situation was happening in the sanctuary, then he would be the one with a complete knowledge of the facts, so he would be making that decision.

The value of having lockdown/evacuation policies in place is that the pastor is free to focus on his calling without worrying about how certain situation would be handled. Part of that plan of course is who can deploy the plan and under what circumstances. That burden shouldn’t be left to the man giving the sermon, but should be delegated to a security director or other pastoral staff whose focus isn’t on the teaching or message of the day.

As to notifying the pastor if situation arises, our plan is to have an usher deliver a note, or verbal message, during the service. There was some thought given to installing a red light in the rear of the sanctuary which would be illuminated for an emergency, but that idea would only convey that there was a problem, not what it was.