CEN FAQs: Responding to a Church Bomb Threat

In Royal Oak Michigan, near where I grew up, an individual was arrested for making bomb threats against nine churches. Hopefully, your church will never receive a bombing threat. But, wise leadership will consider in advance and communicate to leadership how best to respond to these situations. Any bomb threat, even if thought to be coming from a crackpot, needs to be responded to quickly and effectively to avoid loss of life and property damage.

Should a threat come in over the telephone write down any numbers or letters that appear on a phone window display. Stay calm, even if your heart is leaping out of your throat - try to keep the caller on the line as long as possible by asking questions like: what they’re trying to accomplish, if there’s a message they would like to provide, or other factors.  Be calm and respectful while demonstrating interest in what the would-be bomber is trying to say. Do not hang up the telephone under any circumstances even if the caller disconnects, there is a possibility authorities may be able to trace back the call.

Write a note to others if possible: “There is a bomb threat on the phone, call 911 immediately!” If there’s no one else available when the caller has disconnected the line, and without using your open phone line, use another phone or borrow somebody else’s phone to dial 911 and report a threat.

Should a threat come in by email immediately call 911.Do not delete or otherwise forward the message until instructed by authorities. Rather, print out the message to maintain a record.

Other threats may come in the mail, or left in the facility. In these situations immediately put the note down and do not handle it again, including the envelope. Immediately call 911 and the authorities will respond and process the note for any possible evidence.

Further, suspicious packages may arrive and should be examined before opening. Common indicators of a bomb or potentially harmful substance are packages with no return address or poorly written handwriting, and the incorrect use of stamps, such as excessive stamps for postage. Additionally, misspelled words, strange type, or a strange odor may be a tipoff. When in doubt contact the authorities and allow them to make a decision if the package is safe, or not.

When a bomb threat is made to a church avoid panic when the sanctuary is full, and classrooms are occupied. If a leader has reason to believe the threat is imminent, they should quietly ask people to remove themselves from the building quickly leaving personal effects behind. If the threat would seem not to be imminent, then respond and follow the directives of the authorities when they respond to the bomb threat.

Another item to consider, don’t pull the fire alarm because you may create some panic with folks leaving the building.

Peter wrote, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV) 

Unfortunately, in an unsettled world the church needs to be a ready for all types of assaults from the enemy and preparing leadership to respond to any bomb threats is one step.

For more information on how to stand up a Church Safety Security Team and prepare the congregation for potential threats go to ReadyChurch.