All in this together
RESPONDING TO UNEXPECTED EVENTS
As part of our work in maintaining a safe environment for everyone at All Saints', our staff and security team have developed plans to help our parish be prepared for emergencies that might occur. The plans are available for ready use on clipboards around the church campus and can be found below. The video below also lays out the protocols we will follow. Please contact the rector, Simon Mainwaring, for more information:
Responding to unexpected events at All Saints' Episcopal Church
Introduction
All Saints’ wants to ensure a safe environment for everyone on our campus. The All Saints’ staff and security team have developed these plans to help our parish be prepared for emergencies that might occur.
As always, everyone should follow the “if you see something, say something” principle. If you see something that looks unusual or out of place or a situation that is alarming in some way, please notify a member of the staff, an usher, the security team (in black shirts) or a uniformed officer.
General security
There are uniformed officers on campus on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. One is stationed inside the front door of the Pritchett Center, and one is in the courtyard. On Sundays, there is an additional officer on W. Peachtree Street. No weapons of any sort are permitted on campus other than weapons belonging to those providing security on campus.
Egress
Larger bags and suitcases are not permitted in the sanctuary or Ellis Hall. We will be happy to assist with storing larger bags while you are on campus. Wheelchairs will also be stored when not in use during the service or education hour and will be retrieved when needed by an usher or member of staff.
Medical emergency
If a church-goer has a medical emergency, call 911 and alert ushers, staff and security. Security staff will meet the ambulance and escort the paramedics.
All Saints’ is equipped with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) w/oxygen devices and First Aid kits located in the following locations:
- Ellis Hall of the Parish House
- Parish House 3rd floor by connector
- Chapel near access to nave
- Pritchett Attic in gym area
- Pritchett 1st floor near Bright Horizons breakroom
- Pritchett 2nd floor in Kennan Commons
All staff and ushers know the locations of the AEDs and will bring them if they are needed. There are several other first aid kits around the campus which ushers and staff members can access.
Disruptive church attendee
If someone becomes disruptive during the service, an usher will approach and ask the person to step outside. If the person refuses, the usher team will alert security, and one of the uniformed officers will respond.
Fire alarm or other need to evacuate quickly
In the event of a fire, locate the nearest fire alarm pull station to alert others to evacuate. See ‘AED and Fire Alarm and Extinguisher Locations’ to identify the nearest one.
Church
If there should ever be a need to evacuate the sanctuary during a service, ushers will open all the church doors and guide parishioners to the nearest exits.
If you are sitting in roughly the front third of the church, proceed out of the exits to the right and left of the altar.
If you are sitting in roughly the back two thirds of the church, proceed out the rear exits.
If you are sitting in the chapel, exit via the door to the left of the chapel altar.
Upon exiting the church, everyone should go across the street to the North Avenue MARTA station until security gives an all clear to leave the area or return to church.
Non-church buildings
If there is a need to evacuate the non-church buildings, proceed to the nearest exit and head to the North Avenue MARTA station to gather and reunite with family as appropriate.
Weather emergency with a need to take shelter inside, e.g., tornado warning
Church
Ushers will guide parishioners to the nearest exits and open all church doors.
If you are sitting in roughly the front third of the church, proceed out of the exits to the right and left of the altar.
If you are sitting in roughly the back two thirds of the church, proceed out the rear exits.
If you are sitting in the chapel, exit via the door to the left of the chapel altar.
Upon leaving the church, proceed to the to the North Avenue MARTA station where will take shelter underground.
Non-church buildings
If there is a need to evacuate the non-church buildings, proceed to the nearest exit and head to the North Avenue MARTA station to take shelter underground.
Shooting incident at church
If there were ever a shooting in any building on campus everyone should immediately get on the ground while security responds.
CURRENT COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Updated March 2022
In light of new guidance from the CDC, the All Saints' Public Health Task Force and vestry have approved the following COVID-19 protocols:
- Mask-wearing is optional for all parishioners indoors and outdoors.
- We have K95/N95 masks available for those who wish to wear one.
- Nursery staff will continue to wear masks in the nursery and when with children.
- We now have wine at communion and can share the common cup once again. Anyone is welcome to continue to receive communion in one kind by only receiving the bread; that remains a valid and longstanding way of receiving the full body of Christ.
We ask that you do not attend in-person events at All Saints' if:
- You have had a fever (temperature of 100.4 °F or greater) or any symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 3 days. Click here to view a list of symptoms.
- You have been exposed to anyone with these symptoms or anyone who may themselves have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- You have any health concerns about attending.
- You are not willing to accept a level of personal health risk in attending.
Several factors have been identified that increase the risk of severe disease in people who develop COVID-19, including older age and a host of underlying medical conditions. Please review the information on the CDC website here and/or consult your healthcare provider if you have questions about your potential risks for contracting severe COVID-19.