The church, being a haven of safety, security, and encouragement for many people, is one of the institutions that is seeking to get back on track in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Church gatherings had been discouraged because many activities within the church setting could encourage the spread of the virus, e.g. touching of shared items and surfaces, sitting close to each other, large gatherings, etc. As a result, any church that desires to reopen must consider a few things before they take the plunge. Coming up is a list of COVID-19 resources – 10 things that every church must do that you can refer to as you plan to reopen your church.
10. Special Events
- What happens to the special events in the church, e.g. weddings, funerals, baby dedication, etc.? When the church does reopen, the church leaders may have to consider either holding off on some of these events or conducting them in the same way they did when the church was closed.
9. Meeting the needs of vulnerable people in the congregation
- Every church needs to find a way to meet the needs of the members of the congregation who are unable to go to work, have lost their jobs, or have fallen ill, while still maintaining social distancing and sanitization rules. This can be done by setting up the recipient lists online and then designating a specific collection point where the people can pick up their relief packs without crowding. The church can also set up a delivery service, or find a way to transfer money to the vulnerable individual.
8. Catering to the needs of those who will still not be able to attend church
- It will be a while before those who are elderly, have pre-existing conditions, or are immune-compromised will be able to attend church. Online church services and Bible studies will, therefore, have to continue, preferably with the same content as the physical church service.
7. Mid-week activities
- Many church members looked forward to meeting up in church in the middle of the week for Bible study, prayer meeting, etc. Having all these people come in once the church reopens may turn out to be a church safety and security nightmare, as keeping tabs on all the people on different rooms will be a challenge. For mid-week activities, therefore, sticking to online platforms is the best way to go until the church is fully operational and the service(s) are running smoothly;
6. Church Premises
- The next consideration on the list of COVID-19 resources – 10 things that every church must do is the church premises. If the church is on rented premises, it would be a good idea to seek permission from the owner of the property before opening the church. Also, if the church shares rental space with another institution, some form of agreement should be reached so that there is no chance of overcrowding on the property.
- Secondly, if the church is on its own land, there should be enough space for the members to distance themselves socially, even in the car park.
5. Children’s Church
- Planning ahead for the children’s church is also an essential part of the reopening strategy. Because it may not be easy for younger children to adhere to all the restrictions, they may need to stay at home for a while as the older children attend church in shifts. Careful planning regarding use of washrooms, social distancing and handling surfaces is also necessary. The Sunday school curriculum should also be available online for those who may not be able to access the church for a longer period.
4. Face Masks
- Depending on the state your church is in, you may be required to wear facemasks when in public, or in public gatherings. The church must therefore come up with guidelines concerning wearing of facemasks in the church, like should people who do not have masks not be allowed into church? How about children – should they be made to wear facemasks when in the children’s church?
3. Social Distancing
- When coming up with COVID-19 resources for your church, note that among the top 10 things that every church must do is put in place social distancing measures. First of all, the church must figure out how to limit its gatherings to the recommended number of people without leaving anybody out. This can be done by increasing and shortening the number of services held every Sunday.
- Next, the church will need to figure out how to distance those people who come to church. Reducing the number of chairs and spacing them out is one option, or blocking off alternate pews.
2. Sanitize and Sterilize
- For the church to be a safe place for all who attend service, there will have to be measures in place for sanitizing the facility before and after use. While sterilizing the entire building, care should be taken to sanitize door and window handles, open surfaces, hymnals, pens, and washrooms.
- In addition, there should be sanitization points for the worshippers to use before they enter the church building. Have sanitizers placed strategically at the entrance and exit of the building, within the building, and all over the children’s church.
1. Have a plan
- Having a concrete opening plan is the key to the successful implementation of all the other items listed above. Your church leaders should come up with a plan for reopening, whether it will be a full reopening or a stage-by-stage reopening. Also, let them decide what measures they will have put in place before any form of reopening takes place, and identify key people to help assist with a smooth reopening.