Even religious organisations recognise that in today’s world, planning for any large gathering of members now requires more emphasis on security. This is especially true for an event that draws participants from around the world to discuss church doctrine and policies, and hosts numerous activities for hundreds of children.
A denomination of 1.5 million worldwide, the Church of the Nazarene gathers its members every four years to ratify resolutions, elect leaders and worship together. In 2005, more than 30,000 met at the Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA Dome, and were joined by another 15,000 via the Internet. For many years, it was enough for security personnel to patrol the convention floor with two-way radios. Convention organizers locked up expensive items at the end of the day and were careful about giving out keys. In 2005, however, a greater awareness of security vulnerabilities compelled them to introduce onsite photo ID badging.
