The recent fatal shooting at a church in Knoxville, Tenn., is a tragic reminder that houses of worship are no longer havens of safety.

Just as schools have increased their security, churches, synagogues, temples and other religious sites are taking measures to ensure the safety of their buildings and congregants.

"We pay attention to security," said Phyllis Weinkle, congregation director at Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill, adding that details of its security measures are not publicly discussed.

Like synagogues and other houses of worship, churches develop security suited to their individual needs. The Diocese of Pittsburgh does not have a general security plan and allows each parish to develop its own.

"We have a paid security person who is there for Sunday services and some weekday services, and we always have him for weddings and funerals," said the Rev. Donald Breier, pastor of St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.

For large diocesan events, St. Paul employs several security guards, Father Breier said.

"It's a dirty shame that it comes down to that," he added. "Unfortunately, the way society is today you have to be better safe than sorry."

In Knoxville last week, Jim D. Adkisson, a 58-year-old truck driver on the verge of losing his food stamps, was charged with opening fire at a Unitarian church, killing two people and wounding seven others. He left behind a note suggesting that he targeted the congregation out of hatred for its liberal policies, including its acceptance of gays, authorities said.

The congregation of Victorious Faith Evangelistic Outreach Church in Sheraden learned that lesson one Sunday morning in April 2004.

That's when Alvin Starks entered the church with a gun and abducted former fiancee Andrea Umphrey and their 9-month-old daughter from the church, but not before trying to shoot a church pastor (the gun jammed) and grazing the pastor's son.

In 2006, Mr. Starks was convicted of killing Ms. Umphrey after he forced her into a minivan and led police on a 50-mile chase that ended on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He was sentenced to life in prison.

As a result of that incident the church has initiated a number of security measures, said the Rev. Charles Brown.

The church has a security team with people posted at the front and back doors of the building. Ushers also receive periodic training to spot unusual behavior.

"Prior to that incident we had ushers, but they weren't really looking at the kind of things they're looking at now," he said.

Pastor Brown said local police have held several seminars at the church, which is also involved in a silent witness program. Aimed at getting guns off the street and preventing violence, the program allows people to fill out forms, which are anonymously submitted to police, regarding crimes or violent incidents.

Church members also are encouraged to become familiar with one another.

He said the church must be more cognizant of people's emotional and psychological needs.

"[Jesus] says watch as well as pray," Pastor Brown said. "That's Scripture."

The security plan at Allegheny Center Alliance Church on the North Side is designed to make the church safe and open at the same time, said the Rev. Ken Turnbull.

The church's greeting and welcoming team shakes hands with people, helps them find parking spaces and guides them to the right places. They're backed up by staff members, security guards, pastors -- all carrying walkie-talkies and cell phones.

Children are signed in and get identification passes to the children's area. All adults entering the children's area must get passes as well.

"If anyone sees someone struggling [physically or emotionally], more people will respond," Pastor Turnbull said.

"If you come to the Lord's house we're going to make you feel very, very welcome," he said. "If you've come for some alternative motive, for harm, we're going to hug you till you leave or till we get you to a safe spot."

Mega-churches like Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, pastored by T.D. Jakes, employ a security team that includes people who carry concealed weapons. Sean Smith, who is in charge of security at Potter's House, said while every church may not need armed guards, every church should assess its security needs.

"I think the conversation should happen all across the country, whether it's a church in the inner city or the far reaches," Mr. Smith said.

Houses of worship need to look at the neighborhoods they're in and the people they minister to in carrying out their security evaluations, he added.

"When you minister broken people you're going to get everything on a Sunday or Wednesday or daily basis," Mr. Smith said. "Some churches, because of their size, they need armed security," he said. "You have to be able to protect those in that group that really want to come and hear a word from God."

He said churches need to also develop evacuation plans and plans for protecting children in various situations.

It's a good idea for churches to bring in an outside agency or person to assist with the assessment, he said. Mr. Smith does security training for churches all across the country, and there are several organizations and agencies that have sprung up to address such issues.

Harry Trombitas, a special agent with the FBI in Columbus, Ohio, also does safety and security training for churches.

He developed the program he uses while putting one together for his church.

"Basically we were a very unsecured building, not keeping a close watch on our property, not locking up, not keeping an eye on who was in and out of our church," he said.

Since February he has done about 15 presentations, free of charge, that have included 10 to 15 churches per session.

Like Mr. Smith, he said churches must assess their vulnerabilities.

"You have to ask yourself, 'Has a lack of an incidence at our church been because of steps we've taken to keep our property and people safe or are we just lucky?"

He said churches need to put together safety and security teams that include people who are passionate about their jobs. He said the church leader also must set the tone that safety needs to be part of everything that's carried out at the church.

From time to time church officials should announce to the congregation what the emergency plans are in case of severe weather, fire, a medical emergency, etc. They should also have as many people as possible trained in CPR and how to use a defibrillator.