Guidance for returning to in-person worship

April 29, 2020
Springfield UMC in the Southern Prairie District. Photo courtesy of Rev. Dr. Fred Vanderwerf.

By: Christa Meland

When are we going to be able to worship together again? That’s a question weighing heavily on the minds of both clergy and church members—and unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. Given the current state and federal health agency recommendations, the number of cases of COVID-19, and the severity of the illness for a portion of the population, it’s clear we’re not going to be able to simply resume the types of gatherings we had in February.
 
The question we need to shift our attention to asking isn’t about when to re-open our churches and resume gathering but how to do it. In order to keep people healthy and safe, recovering from the pandemic is going to need to be a marathon, not a sprint. In other words, returning to church will need to happen in phases. The Minnesota Department of Health has said that restrictions will be lifted gradually, so initially, after Governor Tim Walz’s “Stay at Home” executive order is lifted, it’s likely to be small groups of 10 or fewer that will be able to safely gather. Over time, that number will likely increase in the reverse of how it decreased—so 10 perhaps becomes 50, then 100, then 250, as the situation in Minnesota improves.
 
“As I have said before, I believe those of us in the faith community should be the first responders when it comes to the spiritual, physical, and mental health of all of God’s people,” said Bishop Bruce R. Ough. “Therefore, I am asking every Minnesota congregation to continue to suspend in-person worship through May 30 and to spend that time carefully and prayerfully developing a plan for how to return to in-person worship in a gradual manner while continuing to strictly adhere to federal and state recommendations. As we continue to navigate this challenging season, let us remember that God is with us.”

Creating a plan for your church

Although it is imperative that we continue to take our cues from the Governor’s Office, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spend the month of May working with your leadership team to consider how you might safely offer small group, in-person worship experiences as state guidelines allow it. Consider the following questions as you create a written plan:
  • How will you continue to offer online worship and small group experiences for those who are not able or do not feel comfortable meeting in-person? It is clear that we will not soon be able to return to the size and scope of in-person gatherings we led earlier this year. At the same time, it has become evident that a tremendous amount of creativity and innovation has been unleashed in this season of quarantine, which has enabled us to connect with new people in new ways. In order to continue to minister to all current members and reach new people, how can our new normal blend both virtual and in-person experiences? We encourage you to begin your plan by considering how to offer virtual worship and small groups on an ongoing basis.
  • What would it look like to offer multiple small group, in-person worship experiences rather than one or two large gatherings? Where could smaller gatherings be held and how will you ensure social distancing of at least six feet between each family unit? Who could help lead smaller gatherings? If you have a large church, it might not be feasible for your pastor(s) to lead each one. What times could these gatherings be offered to enable broad participation? If you’re meeting in the sanctuary, consider having one family unit per pew and cordoning off every other pew to allow for proper distancing. If you have a smaller sanctuary, consider meeting outdoors.
  • How will you make the gradual transition to larger in-person gatherings? We urge you to expand the number of people gathered in accordance with Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, and increase the number gradually. Even when it’s safe for small groups to gather, encourage those over 60 and with underlying health conditions to continue to connect virtually until health agencies indicate it is safe for them to participate in-person.
  • How will you thoroughly clean and disinfect surfaces between each gathering? Be sure to sanitize every surface in common areas before and after each group meets.
  • How will you handle greetings and passing the peace without person-to-person contact? Use no-touch alternatives like a friendly wave, a slight bow of the head, or crossing your arms over your heart.
  • How you will collect the offering without person-to-person contact? Consider having one or more baskets around the sanctuary that people could simply place their offering into during worship.
  • How can you minimize the number of items that need to be touched or distributed, and ensure anything that requires a direct touch point is done in a safe manner? Consider using screens or bulletins (one-time use only) rather than Bibles, hymnals, or other worship books to avoid having multiple people touch surfaces that could carry the virus.
  • How will you offer communion in a safe manner? Consider alternatives to in-person communion—like offering it online only given that touching or removing face masks contaminates them. If you do in-person communion, have each person pick up a set of pre-packaged elements as they enter and remain socially distanced in their seats as they take communion.
  • How could you provide music safely? As difficult as this is to think about, consider not singing when gathered. Singing has been known to spread droplets/aerosols that carry the virus a substantial distance and keep them suspended in the air, and a cloth mask is unlikely to be adequate protection. Instead, think about playing pre-recorded music and asking those gathered simply to listen or to hum along.
  • How will you handle fellowship time? Consider creating opportunities for fellowship time online instead of before or after worship. For everyone’s safety, think about encouraging people to leave the building as soon as worship concludes.
  • Which additional precautions will you take? Consider having each person wear a cloth face mask in accordance with health agency recommendations for those gathered in public spaces. Your church could make and offer these to those who don’t have one. Verbally and with signs posted on entries, tell people what the symptoms of coronavirus are—and advise those who aren’t feeling well or are exhibiting any symptoms to stay home. Also consider eliminating or limiting volunteer-based nursery care when you first begin in-person gatherings given that social distancing guidelines likely couldn’t be followed in a nursery with young children.
  • How will you direct the flow of traffic in your church to ensure everyone’s safety? Consider having people come in through one entrance and exit through a different entrance, one family unit at a time, so as to avoid unintentionally disrupting social distancing guidelines—and think about propping open the entry and exit doors to eliminate the need for people to touch door handles.
​If you have questions about how to develop an adequate plan for your church and your context, feel free to contact your district superintendent for guidance.

Other recommendations

We offer considerations for other ways you can keep your congregation safe now and as we head into the summer:
  • Funerals: If a family decides to have a funeral service immediately, limit attendees to the same number gathering for worship at that time; encourage families to have funeral services outdoors so people can more easily adhere to social distancing guidelines. Live stream funerals whenever possible to allow greater participation.
  • Vacation Bible School: We strongly advise against having in-person Vacation Bible School (VBS) as children can be asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Instead of VBS, consider offering a virtual gathering for children that includes some type of lesson and activity and/or providing backyard VBS kits for families to use at home.
  • Mission trips: We strongly recommend against offering mission trips this summer as travel will be risky for some time. Rather than going on a mission trip, partner with your local food shelf or emergency shelter, and help it meet vital needs. 

Helpful resources

In addition to closely examining state and federal health agency recommendations, we consulted a variety of other resources in developing the above set of recommendations, including:

Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 400 Minneapolis, MN 55404

info@minnesotaumc.org

(612) 870-0058