Stanton Witherspoon|October 29, 2026
The New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists held its first Church Safety Summit at Split Rock Seventh-day Adventist Church in Syracuse, New York. In a Facebook post, the conference said the event focused on helping church leaders and members prepare for emergencies and understand their role in protecting congregations.
The summit included active-shooter response training. Participants practiced how to respond during an armed attack and how to help protect people inside the church. The training reflects a wider emphasis on church safety across the North American Division, which directs congregations to Adventist Risk Management resources on active-shooter preparation and emergency response. Adventist Risk Management also recommends emergency response teams, coordination with local law enforcement, evacuation plans, and the “Run, Hide, Fight” approach.
The Syracuse summit comes as Adventist organizations in North America continue to expand formal safety programs. Adventist Risk Management made active-shooter drills the focus of its 2024 Safety Sabbath and launched a new training series in 2026 for church and school safety officers. The issue has received added attention since the December 2024 shooting at Feather River Adventist School in California, which injured two young students.
Image: Participants practice active-shooter response during the New York Conference’s first Church Safety Summit at Split Rock Seventh-day Adventist Church in Syracuse, New York. Photo: New York Conference.
– New York Conference
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