Dozens of members of law enforcement and area churches, mosques and synagogues met Monday to discuss security, just days after police say a man walked into an Austin area church with a BB gun.

Austin police charged Harris Washington, Jr. with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after investigators say he walked into the Promiseland Church on 51st Street with the gun after an argument on the church basketball court.

In July, a gunman walked into a Tennessee church and opened fire, killing two and wounding several more.

Monday's seminar took place at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in downtown Austin. Participants talked about how to develop and implement safety policies and procedures on their properties.

The seminar is about more than just keeping the congregation safe during Sunday worship services. Many houses of worship have child care centers and schools on the premises, so security is an issue every day.

"We're living in a different world, and we want every religious institution to have security as one of their rituals," said Rebecca Clark, Anti-Defamation League. "It's something that doesn't happen by itself -- they need to develop relationships with law enforcement; they need to create security policies and procedures for their institution."

This is the second year the Anti-Defamation League, Austin area interreligious ministries and local law enforcement have held the security awareness conference for religious institutions.

Organizers tell KVUE News the response this year has been tremendous, more than double the number of churches that attended last year are taking part.