What to say to an open carry visitor at church?

B

bing98507

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I pastor a church in a rural/suburban area of Washington state (OC legal). We have a policy prohibiting OC at our worship service (CC OK). If you were to visit our church for worship, what's the best way for me to inform you of the policy? Here's what is what I plan to say after personally welcoming you and exchanging names (not from the front, but one-to-one):

"I am glad you have come to worship. We do not allow open carry in this building during worship because we have found that it distracts too many people. You may carry concealed if you have a permit or lock your gun in your car. I hope you will choose one of those options and stay."

If you can comply, great. If not, I would ask you to leave.

Thanks for the feedback. If I need to do this in the future, I would like to get it right.

Rich
 
Not posted yet. Recently approved policy prompted by an OC visitor, first time in 9 years as a pastor. See the need to post, but would prefer not to draw any attention to it, but handle it on a case by case basis with positive interaction.
 
Why ban OC? One would think that a congregation of God loving, prudent people is what you're striving for. Maybe you should offer CC/OC gun safety class as a after worship workshop. I would think that defeating evil and taking full responsibility of ones actions guided by God would be a benefit to all.
I'm just not sure why you would even has to ask.
 
I strongly object to banning OC, but if it's not posted then it's not posted. If you tell me my gun is not welcome, then I am not welcome either. I will leave and take my gun with me. But until I'm told, we both stay.
 
mappow said:
Why ban OC? One would think that a congregation of God loving, prudent people is what you're striving for. Maybe you should offer CC/OC gun safety class as a after worship workshop. I would think that defeating evil and taking full responsibility of ones actions guided by God would be a benefit to all.
I'm just not sure why you would even has to ask.
Click to expand...

I'll ask this as well -why ban OC? Where in the scriptures does it prohibit it? We are for the RKBA, but not in the House of the Lord? Why must it be hidden? Is there some commandment in there I am forgetting? Not sure I get it. BTW - I am not religious and do not do church -perhaps it is because people keep thinking they know what the Lord wants.
 
Greate quote, “I don’t understand why I can carry as I come into your businesses and that’s my right under the Second Amendment, but when I enter into my own church, then all of a sudden I leave that weapon behind?”
 
mappow, the only answer is that this is where we are at as a congregation right now. Our church is not a gun-free zone. Most Sundays there are 2-3 folks who carry concealed. I assume that there are more in vehicles. We have plenty of hunters. I choose to use my gun at home for home defense and at the range for practice, though may yet chose to carry. But, currently, as a whole OC is distracting from our purpose of worshiping God and learning to follow Jesus as close as we can this side of heaven. Could change in the future, but I have bigger fish to fry for now.

I appreciate your perspective, iKarith, and understand that some or most OC folks feel the same way.

Back to my original statement in quotes above... Is it adequate? Clear? As welcoming as possible, given a policy that some will find unwelcoming by definition?
 
How about, "good morning and thank you for joining us to worship this morning"....nice Glock/SW/Ruger/Kimber...maybe inserted here ;-) Then if it's still a problem I'd spend more time speaking to your congregation about welcoming all who choose to worship. That is of course unless you're convinced the Krypton doors will keep the bad guys from entering, then just throw the bum out.
I think you're misdirecting your attention concerning the source of the problem.
Just my $.02
 
SCTom said:
How about, "good morning and thank you for joining us to worship this morning"....nice Glock/SW/Ruger/Kimber...maybe inserted here ;-) Then if it's still a problem I'd spend more time speaking to your congregation about welcoming all who choose to worship. That is of course unless you're convinced the Krypton doors will keep the bad guys from entering, then just throw the bum out.
I think you're misdirecting your attention concerning the source of the problem.
Just my $.02
Click to expand...

That's my thoughts as well. Unfortunately, we can't OC here in SC. But, there are a lot of us that CC. I carry when I'm in the pulpit or sitting in the congregation. We do have a few people that don't like the fact 30-40 armed members may be in any given worship service. (But, that is "THEIR" problem and is NOT the responsibility of legal CC'ers who are in attendance.)

If OC was legal here, I would feel the same way as I do with conceal carry in church. The bottom line is AG attitudes are a form of "prejudice" --and-- it is usually rises from a "spirit" of FEAR. It falls on the person with a sin issue to be responsible for "policing" their own sin. It is also the responsibility of the individual to deal with the "spirit" of FEAR in their own life.

OP-
You as pastor need to point out that prejudice is wrong whether it is based on racism or an AG attitude; and you need to point out the fact that prejudice is often rooted in the spirit of FEAR and as Christians we have been set free from such things.

That's my 02c-


-
 
In short, I am strongly against such policy. Period. But, if you must, then, limit the policy to church "members".

All visitor should feel welcomed with or w/o OC gun. Bringing a soul to Jesus must take precedence over any discomfort or distraction some ignorant church members may suffer. I suppose you don't run bums and beggars away, either, or do you? Or do you ask them to sit on the back!!!? (James 2) I think you can see the similarities.

You are in the "people's souls business" and should love them and welcome them just as they are.
 
I encourage you to teach church members that accepting OCing visitors is also part of loving the unsaved / un-churched.
 
First, the OP stated very clearly that he feels that OC is a distraction in his church at this time and as the Pastor it’s his call to allow or disallow it.

For those asking for a Scripture to back it up try this one. 1 Corinthians 14:40 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

A church setting isn’t the same as a Wal mart or a Texas Roadhouse people walk into churches all the time looking to cause a disturbance and I would assume that anyone that just showed up out of the blue open carrying was doing exactly that and I would respond accordingly. If you get offended and walk out you really weren’t that interested in being there anyway.

Now going back to the OP’s question I really would consider posting the church otherwise you’re going to go talk to someone and they’re going to raise Hell because the church isn’t posted, especially if they’re there to cause a distraction.

Second I would task your head usher and an assistant (Matthew 18:16 take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.) to speak to the person and not you.

Finally, I will tell you that at my church we wouldn’t say a word to the visitor about his open carry but the head or our security team (or an off duty police officer) would be sitting right behind him.

I'd also suggest that if you want advice on how to run your church you ask mature Christians of good reputation that you know instead of throwing it out on a gun forum
 
I don't open carry to church because I prefer not to advertise to the entire congregation that I carry. We have a LEO or two and other deacons who CC but no one OC's. Honestly I've never even considered OC'ing at church and I'm sure if someone did it would be a major distraction to most folks because we've been conditioned to fear guns and the scary people who carry them.

On the other hand I might be distracted if someone was OC'ing, probably busy admiring their rig. Not coveting, just admiring.
 
Cypher said:
First, the OP stated very clearly that he feels that OC is a distraction in his church at this time and as the Pastor it’s his call to allow or disallow it.

For those asking for a Scripture to back it up try this one. 1 Corinthians 14:40 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

A church setting isn’t the same as a Wal mart or a Texas Roadhouse people walk into churches all the time looking to cause a disturbance and I would assume that anyone that just showed up out of the blue open carrying was doing exactly that and I would respond accordingly. If you get offended and walk out you really weren’t that interested in being there anyway.

Now going back to the OP’s question I really would consider posting the church otherwise you’re going to go talk to someone and they’re going to raise Hell because the church isn’t posted, especially if they’re there to cause a distraction.

Second I would task your head usher and an assistant (Matthew 18:16 take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.) to speak to the person and not you.

Finally, I will tell you that at my church we wouldn’t say a word to the visitor about his open carry but the head or our security team (or an off duty police officer) would be sitting right behind him.

I'd also suggest that if you want advice on how to run your church you ask mature Christians of good reputation that you know instead of throwing it out on a gun forum
Click to expand...

This bothers me. You are on a gun forum yet you discriminate and profile a man exercising his 2A rights for carrying a weapon by placing security around him? To me that is no better then the anti's saying all guns are bad and people who own them are bad.

Sent from my SCH-I405 using USA Carry mobile app
 
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