As our lives and our world have undergone enormous change as a result of COVID-19, so has our church. How wonderful it would be for St. Barnabas to spontaneously resume the spirituality, the energy, the music and the camaraderie of pre-COVID. Unfortunately, current circumstances still prevent us from gathering in person to worship together.
Over the past several months, the Strategic Planning and Organization Development Committee (SPOD) has been working diligently to assist the Executive Committee and Vestry to develop a reentry plan. It is a daunting task but we, along with your input, are up to the challenge.
The key directives set forth to guide the committee’s work are following government and Diocesan guidelines, ensuring the safety of our congregation, and maintaining flexibility as circumstances change.
The Bishop has recently issued new guidelines for reentry for our diocese. They are extensive, very specific, and will take significant time and effort to fully implement. As with CDC and Ohio guidelines, they are meant to ensure the safety of each and every member of our congregation as we move toward the goal of the “new normal”.
The SPOD Committee has grouped reentry into three categories: near-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. Fortunately, the provisions in their plan aligns almost exactly with the guidelines set forth by the Bishop just a few days ago. The definitions of timelines for each phase will ebb and flow as dictated by the course of the virus, the state, and the Diocese. We will communicate regularly as we step through the different phases and the overall situation evolves.
We are currently in Phase One. The Bishop has directed the suspension in-person worship services. For now, our only option is to proceed with the online ministries we currently offer, while are are restricted to no more than 10 people at a time in the sanctuary. We will continue to operate this way through at least June 14th.
Phase Two of reentry includes a long list of essentials that need to be undertaken for both the physical facility and the implementation of in-person worship of any size. The leadership will move diligently to address these recommendations, but it will take time and patience.
This week's newsletter will include a brief SPOD survey designed to learn what is important to you when considering re-opening our church. We encourage you to take the short time it will take to complete it.
As with every crisis of any dimension, this is an opportunity for us to think creatively and with courage to define the “new” St. Barnabas. We will take a deep breath and know we will get through this together and in Christ.
Thank you as always for on-going support, patience, and commitment as we move forward together.
Pastor Nancy
John Davies, Senior Warden
