Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law a measure granting the Briarwood Presbyterian Church the right to establish its own law enforcement agency. This agency will be responsible for covering the church’s sanctuary, seminary, and sprawling school campuses. The move has sparked controversy and debate regarding its constitutionality.
The law allows the church to appoint and employ individuals as police officers to maintain order and prevent trespass on its property. This decision comes amid growing concerns about armed attacks on schools and churches nationwide.
A similar measure was proposed four years prior but was dropped in 2017 due to concerns that it violated the Establishment Clause by granting government power to a religious institution, according to NPR.
Church officials argue that a dedicated police force is necessary to protect its 4,100 members, 2,000 students, and two campuses located in Jefferson and Shelby counties. Briarwood Christian School, a ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, is a Class 5A school with approximately 2,000 students and faculty located on two campuses in unincorporated Jefferson and Shelby County, Alabama.
According to a press release from Briarwood, in March 2016, the Alabama Legislature established an Emergency Task Force on School Safety and Security, which released its report, “A New Culture of Safety” December 31 of that year. The report recognized that the presence of qualified first responders and law enforcement officers has proven to be the number one line of defense in providing a safe environment, and recommended that each Alabama school have a resource officer on location.
The church acknowledges its existing positive relationships with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, and Vestavia Hills Police Department and intends to continue these partnerships. However, they also recognize state budgetary issues and the demand for APOST certified qualified first responders creates stress on law enforcement departments. This can and does lead to full-time staffing issues for both campus locations.
Alabama Code 16-22 allows certain educational institutions to appoint and employ one or more suitable persons to act as police officers to keep off intruders and prevent trespass upon the institution property. The institutions currently provided the protection under this statute include a number that have less students than does Briarwood Christian School. “We are grateful to the governor and our elected officials for approving our request to be added to the existing Alabama Code 16-22.”
Critics argue that the mega-church already employs private security. The new law, however, grants the church state authority, raising concerns about potential abuse if officers are solely accountable to church officials. The new law is scheduled to take effect in the fall.
Randall Marshall, the executive director of the ACLU of Alabama, told The Associated Press that he anticipates legal challenges to the law.
Some critics also point to the church’s alleged history of racism and homophobia, though specific instances were not detailed in the original report. Other news accounts have simply identified biblical doctrine they claimed to be discriminatory.
Church officials stated that current Alabama state law “allows certain educational institutions to appoint and employ one or more suitable persons to act as police officers to keep off intruders and prevent trespass upon the institution property,” according to a statement made to WBRC in Birmingham. “We are grateful to the governor and our elected officials for approving our request to be added to the existing Alabama” law, the statement concluded.
(Feature image courtesy Brenna Joy Photography)