Congregations will gather again. That’s a given. The details of when and how are dependent upon local, state, and federal guidelines. Even then, your church leaders and members need to decide what is best for your particular situation. Recently, a large multi-site church polled members and 81% indicated they wanted to wait to reopen rather than attend with social distancing, masks, no singing and the like.
Wherever your church is on the spectrum of reopening for in-person worship, here are a few tips that offer practical insights on how to open safely and minimize legal liability.
Consult your insurance company before meeting. Have information ready to give your insurer to prove you are legally allowed to resume services.
Designate someone from your staff to keep track of changes in local health authority policies. This person could make weekly phone calls to the local health department, seeking updates and guidance going forward. The pastoral staff or board can then respond to updates.
You may choose to have a healthcare worker in your congregation be a part of the conversation to reopen or even record or write updates to send out to the congregation. This is a great time to give attention to the heroic medical staff you have in your church family.
To see the complete list of related articles visit Coronavirus and the Church: The Latest News and Advice from Church Law & Tax or Online Worship and Meetings.
Also, please go to the North Alabama Conference website (umcna.org) to see the information offered by the cabinet as suggestions for a phased-in return to in-person worship.