Securing Our Sanctuary

New maglock system concludes Genesis's multi-year FEMA security grant

The last significant project funded through the FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program award to Genesis in 2023 is now complete.

Installation of the new sanctuary electromagnetic lock (maglock) system marks the conclusion of a multi-year security initiative that has also included installation of impact-resistant classroom windows, shatterproof security film, exterior security cameras, and a building-wide public address system. All of these security improvements make the entire Genesis facility and the sanctuary we share safer.

The maglock system establishes a space in our sanctuary to shelter in place (until police arrive) behind instantly secured doors in the event of an attack or other threat in or near our facility, while still preserving the welcoming character of the sanctuary.

The sanctuary project presented a unique and delicate challenge in that respect.

Unlike windows or cameras, the new hardware needed to become part of the worship space itself. Throughout planning and installation, Genesis leaders, members of both congregations, and the project team devoted considerable attention to a question that had little to do with electronics or construction or even security: how could the sanctuary become better prepared for emergencies while continuing to feel like a sanctified space?

Those conversations shaped the final design. Multiple hardware options and installation approaches were evaluated before the team settled on a solution that met durability, code, and security requirements while minimizing obtrusiveness and prioritizing respect for the character of the sanctuary.

The finished installation exceeded our expectations. In many ways, we feel our new sleek crash bars look and feel more at home on the sanctuary doors than the large brass pull handles they replaced.

The completed project secures 18 doors serving the sanctuary area while meeting modern life-safety requirements, including immediate emergency egress.

Like many construction projects, this one took longer than originally anticipated. Completing the work before the FEMA grant expired required extensive coordination among the contractor, the Genesis FEMA grant team, and grant administrators. Genesis successfully completed the documentation required before the July 31, 2026 grant deadline.

This project closes the books on one of the largest grants Genesis has ever received.

Administering the FEMA grant involved far more than selecting contractors and installing equipment. Competitive bidding requirements, procurement rules, cash flow and reimbursement procedures between Genesis and TBE, inspections, documentation, and coordination with state and federal agencies occupied countless hours over nearly three years. That work was carried by a dedicated team of Genesis volunteers and staff working largely behind the scenes.

Genesis extends its thanks to Shannon Hall, Wendy Hatem, Joanne Heaton, Steven Kurz, Bob Merion, the Genesis Board and Building Committee members who served over the past three years, and congregational leaders and clergy, all of whom helped guide the grant from application through final completion.

While we pray that the sanctuary's new security features will never be needed, the project reflects the same goal that has guided the entire FEMA initiative: helping ensure that our building remains a place of sanctuary where members of Temple Beth Emeth and St. Clare's Church can gather and worship in peace and reverence.