Carry can be compatible with church
In Virginia, state code says carry in a place of worship during services is prohibited *without good reason.* The gun-friendly AG said this summer that self-defense is a good reason, meaning he won't prosecute you if you have a concealed weapon in a church, synagogue, mosque or any other place of worship.
I started carrying my Kel-Tec P3AT in church after the AG's announcement. I even have it when I assist in serving communion, because I don't have anywhere else to put it. I wrestled with the seeming contradictions of trusting in God versus taking precautions, and also whether carrying distracts from proper worship. The P3AT is so small and unobtrusive, I don't even think about it during service. As for trusting in God, I should and do trust God wherever I go, so if I felt that meant not carrying at church (as a sign of my trust), it should mean not carrying at work, the store and everywhere else. However, each worshipper needs to make that decision for himself or herself. If it is a distraction, leave it at home or in the car.
Are churches dangerous? Since the recession, we've had many more people walk in at all hours and during services looking for handouts. We have a benevolence fund set up to help all comers, but we don't give to everyone with no questions asked. When someone's story sounds fishy, we ask questions and sometimes people have gotten belligerent. We run a preschool and have had a few too many incidents of people threatening the preschool teachers — so much so we installed secure doors. Now parents have to buzz in. It sucks. Church is a place for the needy and lost to find comfort, but we can't minister to our kids and teachers if they feel like they're in danger.
I guess that's really why I carry at church. Perhaps it's a small, secret ministry to protect others, one that I'm sure I'm woefully underqualified for. Fortunately, we have in our congregation a sheriff's deputy who has sometimes come to church in uniform, fresh from a shift. Plus, I can't count the number of churchmates I've run into at gun shows and the range. I suspect if an armed intruder interrupted a service, I might be the last person to need to draw. Fine with me.