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We just changed churches in August, 2016

In our old church, I was a member of the board and good friends with the then interim pastor. He found out that I carried. Several of the other board members did, too, The president of the congregation tapped me to help lead the discussion about open carry when that came up. I helped them work through the decision. They were going to prohibit OC but I managed to get them to do it without posted signs. II also helped them work through the child care licensing letter which strongly implied that they needed to post 30.06 signs on the church because of the nursery school that the chuch hosted. I knew through personal contacts that a number of others in the congregation. The total number that I knew about came pretty close to the state percentage of LTC holders in the population. There was a very strong anti-gun group within the congregation so there was never public discussion.

When we joined the new church, it also had no signs. I "tested the water" with one of the head ushers and the pastors and was met with a luke warm response. The new congregation is significantly more Conservative leaning than the old one but the subject of firearms does not seem to be greeted enthusiastically when the openings for it have appeared over the past year. I really like the church on many levels and don't want to strain my relationship with it so I'm on a "don't ask, don't tell" approach. I carry all the time and have looked closely to see if I can see any others who do but have not yet identified anyone. Either they are using deep concealment methods or there are not a lot of daily carriers like me. I'm very careful to make sure that I don't print which is much different than when I'm in general public situations where I don't care if I do.

Both times that I've been outed for carrying were in church. In one, my shirt rode up, exposing my gun when I was helping to move something. There was shock and surprise in response. The other was at a funeral where I did not control a hug carefully and the questions started. It is surprising the number of people who believe that church carry is prohibited by law and are surprised (shocked?) to find out that it isn't. It wasn't the time or place to have the discussion in my view but I am forthright when questioned, particularly if they already know that I'm armed.