TEN WAYS TO STRENGTHEN CHURCH, COMMUNITY, POLICE RELATIONS

C. Anthony Hunt, D.Min., Ph.D.  

One of the keys to a church’s vitality is the quality of the relationships that it establishes with leaders and institutions across a broad spectrum of the community in which it resides.  One of the most important relationships that the church can work toward developing is with police and other public safety officials.  Given recent well-publicized police-involved shootings along with the shootings of a number of police officers around the nation, resulting in challenges with police/community relations - working proactively on strengthening church/community/police relations serves to engender trust and  focus on shared community concerns and commitments for public safety in proactive, rather than reactive ways. 

It is a part of the theological task of churches to “seek the welfare” (shalom, peace, well-being) of all people in their respective communities. (Jeremiah 29:7)  Individuals, churches, groups, organizations, institutions and even governments can continue to seek to promote the well-being of communities by making a sincere commitment to strengthening church/community/police relations. 

Here are ten ways that individuals, churches, and other organizations can work toward strengthening these relations.

1.  Pray for the police serving your community.

2.  Pray for, and publically affirm, the police (and other public safety officials) who are members of your congregation. 

3.  Schedule regular meetings with community police officers to establish/strengthen relationships.

4.  Participate in periodic drive-arounds and community walks with police and community leaders.

5.  Invite police to community events held in the church (e.g. back-to-school events, community meals, food giveaways).

6.  Include police assigned to the church and community on lists for newsletters and email blasts.

7.  Seek to collaborate with community entities like the NAACP, Chamber of Commerce, community associations and churches in the community across denominations and faith traditions in addressing common interests/concerns regarding policing and public safety.

8.  Invite community police to speak to youth and young adults in the church.

9.  Educate youth (and adults) on appropriate conduct if/when stopped by police.

10.  Assist police departments in the recruitment of qualified persons in the congregation and community who would serve well as uniformed police officers (especially women and minorities).

© C. Anthony Hunt, Ph.D., 2016