Churches and Covid-19

The following thoughts and ideas are simply to get you thinking about how to safely reopen church. Your first responsibility, in my opinion, is to abide by the guidelines given by the USA national guidelines, and further your State, County, Community, and denominational guidelines. These thoughts are meant to get you thinking and are ONLY meant as conversation starters as the day comes to open the doors of the
church. These thoughts are not based on legal precedents, community guidelines, national guidelines, mental health guidelines, etc. It is not a medical, legal, or mental health document, but is only the thoughts garnered by me, a retired pastor and now consultant, from others. CONTACT your local health department for guidelines; if possible, involve your local health department in your planning.

Dear Church Leader,

I have been talking to a few people about the issue of reopening churches and the opportunities for outreach. I am sure you have thought of most of these, but I wanted to at least share briefly.

Just some thoughts from my conversations and some of my own thoughts entwined. This is to simply get leaders talking and thinking about how to reopen church.

• Create one-way pedestrian traffic in the church and separate doors for entrance and exit if possible.

• No coffee, no food of any kind, no sign ups, no place that would cause people to congregate

• Limit services to brief period.

• Limit bathroom access.

• Perhaps limit attendance by initial of last name.

• Appointed people will have to enforce the rules.

• Take temperatures of every person coming in the door. Use non-touch thermometers.

• These digital thermometers are hard to come by so plan as early and buy plenty. I have also seen a facial recognition thermal app software that you could check on.

• Develop a cleaning protocol after service guided by your local Health Department.

• Only have physical service once a week in a large room.

• Everyone should wear a mask. Obviously, no hugging, touching, and no talking in hallways.

• Do not separate families but rather have children/families seated together. Children should never be alone or separated from guardians or parents. (The meaning here is that those already quarantined together should stay together as a group.)

• Church will not be the social event it was in the past. At least for a time.

• Have a plan in place so that you can give it to the local health department if asked. Larger churches especially will be suspect.

• If you have a plan develop a good relationship with the health department, be pro-active and ask their advice.

• Have a plan for contact tracking, if possible, should an attendee come down with Covid-19. Video at entrance and exit? Video of Sanctuary and seating? Text sign in?

• Have a plan to professionally sanitize the church should an attendee come down with Covid. Already have this prearranged. Get names of company from Health Department or companies you know.

• Of course have plenty of hand sanitizer stations.

• Appoint a committee with the following people on the committee:

o Healthcare/nurse/doctor

o Someone representing life safety

o Someone from legal

o Someone that represents the senior and vulnerable population

o Someone that represents the youth, young couples, middle aged

o Pastor/board member/security

• If you don’t have the personnel in your church for this committee look outside and get volunteers or ask for a local Health Department representative to review committee’s decisions or have someone from health committee join the committee.

Other comments that were a bit disconcerting to me. This is from the frontline of this thing.

One anti-viral person I spoke with: Sees upheaval in summer activities and a Fall rebound with no school in the Fall. The social and economic pain will be felt for years. This simply says to me, to keep plan in place for future.

Mental health in teens and young adults will be a huge challenge. Teens are not mature enough to handle a worldwide catastrophe that we are seeing now. There must be focused time and energy given to this age bracket. The CHURCH cannot afford to miss this group! Many teens and young adults are looking into a job vacuum and a dark abyss. Their hopes and dreams have been crushed. Some of their issues seem small to us but are huge in their minds. RX for depression and anti-anxiety are going up.

Schools would WELCOME any way you can honor HS seniors. What could you do?

Protect the senior adults and those with health issues. This is the most vulnerable group and the ones who often feel conviction if not at church. Make them feel safe and validated for staying at home during this time even long after the church has opened.

There is a unique solution to each problem, but it will take prayer and an anointed logical mind to discover them.

There are unique outreaches ready to be birthed, but again, it will take prayer and an anointed mind to discover them.

The world is in darkness today. The smallest light from the church will glow like a beacon. This is the time the CHURCH can step up.

I believe God will use this time and church leaders will step up to the challenge. May the Lord guide and direct you.

Jim

Dr. James D. Allen

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