As congregations enter a second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are tired. Tired of mask-wearing, tired of Zoom meetings, tired of being unable to meet together. And if we do meet, we are tired of not being able to sing, or hug, or sit closely together.
Of course, it is foolish to think we can just ignore the warnings. After a month of low infection rates in Michigan, in the last month they have increased to dangerous levels. The number of new cases in our state have returned to post-Christmas levels, and over half of the counties in our presbytery are rated at “very high” or “severe” risk of infection. Although we long for a Holy Week and Easter when we can celebrate together, we are not there yet.
But there is good news. With vaccination rates increasing, the number of deaths from COVID are very low. That doesn’t mean the crisis is over! COVID can cause severe long-term complications even if it doesn’t kill you. But there is light at the end of the COVID tunnel, and sometime in late spring or summer, it will be safe to resume limited in person gatherings.
But emerging from COVID is not as easy as we might think. In every congregation there will be a mix of people who have been vaccinated and who have not. There will be those who feel comfortable taking a low risk by meeting, and those for whom any risk is too much. There will be those who long for the chance to worship in person and those who have grown more comfortable with online experiences. And, there will be those whose faith has weathered the COVID crisis and those whose faith has languished.
I recently came across two articles that I think are essential reading for church leaders as they plan to resume in person gatherings. The first,
"Where Two or More are Vaccinated," published in Christianity Today, is by Daniel Chin, a physician trained in pulmonary and critical care medicine and epidemiology with 25 years of global public health experience. He addresses congregational strategies in the “partial vaccination” period where it is less clear whether or not it is safe to meet. He lists five science-based recommendations:
- Use the level of COVID-19 infection as your primary guide. Indoor worship can start for unvaccinated people when the seven-day average infection rate is less than 7 persons per 100,000. Only three counties in our presbytery have achieved this level. The highest rate is in Huron County, where it is more than 15 times the safe gathering level.
- Consider allowing vaccinated congregants to gather separately. The safe infection level for vaccinated persons is up to 25 per 100,000 residents. Check www.covidactnow.org to see what your county rate is.
- Take a step-wise approach to resume specific forms of in-person gathering. This is similar to the four-color grid our Council has published suggesting when it is wise to resume or suspend in person gatherings, and what types of activities might be offered.
- Encourage congregants to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19. This includes observing masking and distancing protocols, and limiting public gatherings.
- Encourage your congregants to get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe and effective and provide the quickest and safest way for us to return to more normal patterns of church life.
- Have we represented Jesus well during the lockdown?
- Are we representing Jesus well as we come out of the lockdown?
- What have we learned – and what are we still learning?
- How can we better serve the people at home?
- How well are we serving our online church members and visitors?
- How are people hurting and what can we do to help them?
Unlike many blogs, this advice is geared especially to smaller congregations. Each question is explained with valuable insights. I especially want to highlight the last question. Vaters warns that as we emerge from COVID, we will see record numbers of divorces, bankruptcies, evictions, homelessness, mental breakdowns, joblessness, church closures and pastoral resignations, along with other unforeseen consequences. These pose challenges for pastors and church leaders everywhere. The more forethought we give to our caring responses to these surges in our churches and communities, the more faithfully we will represent Jesus in our ministry and mission.
I encourage you to visit the links and read the articles yourselves. Use them as discussion pieces at session meetings. Share them with your members. You will find them useful and worthwhile.
May you have a blessed Holy Week and a joyful Easter!
Faithfully,
Dan Saperstein, Executive Presbyter
