GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – An incident which involved a man stealing a crucifix from an area church, before damaging the sign in front of the FOX 11 studios, is fresh in the minds of many.
The incident startled the people who were in the church at the time.
A conference in Green Bay Tuesday offers guidelines to church leaders, faced with providing a safe place to pray.
10 swings from a five foot long crucifix damaged the sign outside the FOX 11 building.
Police say the 29-year-old Brendan McSweeney stole the crucifix from Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church in Ashwaubenon.
Inside the church, police say McSweeney acted strangely, shouting at parishioners before leaving the church with the crucifix.
Church leaders tell FOX 11 it’s the worst episode in 30 years.
“In today’s world, you know, nothing’s off the board and you know that something’s going to come up and happen,” said Wayne Efferson, Nativity Parish Worship Servant Leader.
About 150 religious leaders from around Northeast Wisconsin attended the very first house of worship safety awareness conference.
“Conflict is going to happen in a church setting. As much as we don’t like it to happen, as much as we don’t expect it to happen, it may happen.”
Green Bay Police Officer Mike Knetzger says communication is key.
“Whether it’s just verbal conflict, it’s verbal conflict that’s emotionally driven. How can we de-escalate individuals to ultimately prevent violence.”
From forming security teams in church, to responding to a possible active shooter, religious leaders say the sessions are necessary.
“So far, I have to say that I’m quite shocked that churches are dealing with these kinds of situations that we have to deal with,” said Dan Van Straten, Faith Chapel.
“We want to figure out the best practices for keeping an eye on things in our church community. And being safe,” said Marian Boyle Rohloff, West Side Moravian Church Pastor.
And that includes Nativity Parish, where the doors to the church are now locked.
“So we have like maybe a one-point source, one entry point, so we can monitor that a little bit more efficiently,” said Efferson.
This is the first year of the conference. In the future, leaders hope to expand the focus to include businesses, as well.
As far as the crucifix-wielding suspect Brendan McSweeney, he remains in custody in the Brown County Jail.
