Single Controlled Entry Point
Pros
- All traffic flows through one known point — easiest to monitor and staff.
- Creates a natural checkpoint for greeters and security.
- Simplest to harden if a threat is identified.
- Easiest for law enforcement to understand and work with during an incident.
Cons
- Difficult to enforce on most existing church campuses — side doors, fire exits, kids exit to playground, and parking lot access points undermine the concept unless all are secured.
- Can feel unwelcoming to first-time visitors if not handled with hospitality intentionality.
- Single point of failure — if it is overwhelmed or bypassed, there is no backup.
Also Consider
- Walk your campus before you choose a policy. Count every door that a person could enter through. Be honest about which ones you can actually staff.
- A single controlled entry that is not enforced is worse than no policy — it creates false assurance.
- Even a single controlled entry should have a secondary exit-only door with an alarm.
Multiple Staffed Entry Points
Pros
- Distributes traffic — reduces crowding at a single entry and potential safety issues if there is simultaneous inflow and outflow at the same door.
- Allows for campus-wide coverage without funneling everyone through one spot.
- Better suited for large campuses with multiple buildings or parking areas.
Cons
- Requires significantly more volunteers or staff to cover effectively.
- Inconsistency between entry points creates gaps.
- Coordination and communication between door teams must be established.
Also Consider
- Staffing multiple doors requires a plan, radios or phones, and consistent protocols.
- Prioritize: staff the highest-traffic and highest-risk entry points first. (see our Post Prioritization tool @ security checklists )
- Consider which doors can be exit-only with door alarms — reducing the staffing burden.
Open Campus
Pros
- Maximum hospitality — no barriers for anyone.
- No coordination or staffing burden.
- Works for small, tight-knit congregations with high mutual familiarity.
Cons
- No ability to detect or deter a threat before they are inside.
- Team cannot know who is in the building or when they arrived.
- Incident response is entirely reactive.
- Homeless or unhoused individuals can cause additional challenges.
Also Consider
- An open campus is a valid choice for the right environment — make it intentionally.
- Compensate with strong interior awareness: team members positioned throughout the sanctuary and hallways.
- Review this posture after any incident or change in your threat environment.
- Determine when Open Campus is truly needed — it should not be the solution for all ministry times.
Related Resources