Worship and Ministry After the Lockdown Ends

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What happens when the stay at home orders or lockdowns in your country or area end? What restrictions will be in required for churches to return to in-person worship services, small groups, and other meetings?

This post outlines an illustrative set of restrictions in line with guidelines published by or being discussed by the US and other governments. In addition, I have incorporated hypothetical timeframes and phases for when restrictions may be lifted over time. Finally, I have included potential measures that churches may need to consider when planning to restart meeting again in-person.

Note all church leaders should review local guidelines and recommendations as you develop specific plans for your congregations.

The US Government announced a set of guidelines, Opening Up America Again, for states to begin reopening their economies on April 17. Given this set of guidelines, it is an appropriate time for church leaders to assess their local situations and begin planning how they would restart in-person meetings. The US government plan seeks to balance safety with the needs to get the economy moving forward.

In the US guidelines, churches are included in the “Large Venues” category of employers. This group contains “sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship“. According to the suggested guidelines these venues cannot open unless they “operate under strict physical distancing protocols“. The guidelines published by the US are similar in many aspects to those being discussed by other countries and can help us estimate what potential restrictions may look like not only in the US but around the world for the next 18+ months.

Potential Restrictions to Consider

The first table provides an overview of potential restrictions by various stages of “opening” a locality, state, region, or country. These stages would be similar to the Phases identified in the US Government plan. As discussed in my previous post, Moving Towards the New Normal, it is extremely unlikely that any country returns to a pre-virus state soon, although some more isolated or lesser impacted regions could be an exception to this rule. Individual country requirements will vary, so church leaders will need to stay closely in touch with local requirements as you begin restarting in-person services.

Level	Illustrative Restrictions and Required Capabilities
Stage 4 - None:	None
Stage 3 - Limited	No Size Limit for Gatherings / Functions, Events, People Simultaneously Inside a Building All Businesses and Venues Open Population Takes Minimum Precautions, e.g., Face Masks Required for Gatherings over specified number of People (Specific limits determined by local authorities) Expedited Contact Tracing on New Cases and Identifying Individuals that may have been Exposed Wide-spread Testing Available as and When Needed Limited Isolation for Exposed / Potentially Exposed Individuals, e.g., Self-Quarantining
Stage 2 - Moderate	Functions / Gatherings / Meetings Limited in Size, e.g., no groups exceeding a specific number of people (specific limits determined by local authorities) Specific Maximum Number of People Allowed Inside a Business or to Attend an Event Population Takes Minimum Precautions, e.g., Face Masks Required Publicly No Admittance to a Public Event or Business Without a Mask Social Distancing Remains in Place All Meetings / Gatherings / Businesses Require Masks and Gloves for Employees / Staff Attendance Tracking for All Events for Contact Tracing on New Cases and Identifying Individuals that May Have Been Exposed Wide-spread Testing Available as and When Needed Ongoing Testing Based Upon Statistical Sampling to Help Ensure the Virus Remains Under Control Limited Isolation for Exposed / Potentially Exposed Individuals, e.g., Self-Quarantining Some Form of Mass Exposure Tracking Restrict Travel to or From Other Infected Countries / Areas
Stage 1 - Substantial	Limited Movement; large Public Gatherings Prohibited, e.g., No Groups Exceeding 10 People (maximum number of people is estimated, the specific limit will be determined by local authorities) Very Limited Number of Non-Essential Businesses are Open All Gatherings Require Masks and Gloves Everyone’s Temperature Must be Taken Before Entering a Building, Market, Workplace or Other Venue Attendance Tracking for All Events All Employees / Staff Wear Masks and Gloves Shields in Place to Protect / Retail / Other Transactions Requiring Close Interaction Between People Virus Passports / Travel Documentation Required for Work and Entry into Places of Business or Operations or Leaving Your Home Utilize Individuals that have Recovered from the Disease to Jump-Start / Maintain the Economy Expedited Contact Tracing on New Cases and Identifying Individuals that may have been Exposed Wide-Spread Testing Mandated and Ongoing Strictly Quarantine and Monitor Newly Infected Individuals Travel Prohibited to or From Infected Countries / Areas

Application of Restrictions to Church Ministry Activities

This second table presents potential restrictions on various types of ministry activities from worship services to small groups. Again, each of these restrictions are hypothetical and provided to help churches envision what they may need to consider when restarting in-person worship services and ministry activities.

What

Stage 1 - Near-Term

Stage 2 - Intermediate-Term

Stage 3 - Longer-Term

Worship services

Masks required for all attendees, staff and leaders at all Services
Maintain 6’ Social Distance
Members / attenders over 60 required to stay home (specific age to be determined by local authorities)
Prominently Display Social Distancing Criteria
All Worship Team Members wear masks, except when leading. Must maintain social distancing.
Temperature taken for all attending services before entry into meeting area / sanctuary
No admittance without a mask
Extra masks available for those that do not have them
Attendance tracking for all services / meetings (based upon local requirements)

Members over 60 requested to stay home and not to attend services in-person (specific age to be determined by local authorities)
Social Distancing remains in place
Prominently Display Social Distancing Criteria
Masks suggested for all members, attendees, and visitors at all services and/or programs
Extra masks available for those that do not have them and want them
Attendance tracking for all services / meetings (based upon local requirements)

Social distancing requirements no longer in place
Members over 60 invited to attend services again in-person
Masks optional
Attendance tracking for all services / meetings (based upon local requirements)

Children’s programs / ministry

Only Children’s Ministry workers allowed in rooms
Sign-in and sign-out required for all children under 12 years old
Workers must wear masks and gloves
Children must wear masks

Only Children’s Ministry workers allowed in rooms
Sign-in and sign-out required for all children under 12 years old
Workers must wear masks and gloves
Children may wear masks

Only Children’s Ministry workers allowed in rooms
Sign-in and sign-out required for all children under 12 years old
Workers and children may wear masks

Greeting Before, During, or After Services

Official Greeters wear masks and gloves
Official Greeters take temperatures of all people seeking to attend services / meetings before allowing entry
Greeters remind people attending services of social distancing requirements as needed
Greet without physically touching or shaking hands
Maintain social distance when greeting

Greet without physically touching or shaking hands
Greeters remind people attending services of social distancing requirements as needed
Maintain social distancing when greeting before, during or after services

Greet with or without physically touching or shaking hands – make those not wanting to shake hands feel welcome

Offering

Do not pass offering plate or basket
Online giving and/or offering box or container provided for individuals to deposit checks or cash before or after a service

Do not pass offering plate or basket
Online giving and/or offering box or container provided for individuals to deposit checks or cash before or after a service

Pass offering plate or basket
Ushers wear gloves and masks
Online giving and/or offering box or container provided for individuals to deposit checks or cash before or after a service

Facility Sanitation

Sanitary wipes, soap or hand-cleaners are available throughout the facility
Facilities and rooms must be emptied and cleaned between all services after each meeting / service
Signs posted reminding people to wash their hands frequently
Signs posted reminding people of the specific social distancing requirements that are in place

Sanitary wipes, soap or hand-cleaners are available throughout the facility
Facilities and rooms must be emptied and cleaned between all services after each meeting / service
Signs posted reminding people to wash their hands frequently
Signs posted reminding people of the specific social distancing requirements that are in place

Sanitary wipes, soap or hand-cleaners are available throughout the facility
Clean facilities after each day’s services or meetings

Prayer Groups / Small Groups

Prayer Group / Small Group meetings on or off premise must abide by local social distancing guidelines
Encourage prayer meetings / small groups via technology links vs in person meetings
Prayer groups and meetings have online / streaming / app option for those that cannot / should not attend in person

Prayer Group / Small Group meetings on or off premise must abide by local social distancing guidelines
Prayer groups and meetings have online / streaming / app option for those that cannot / should not attend in person

Prayer groups and meetings have online / streaming / app option for those that do not want to attend in person

Weekly Programs / Ministries / School Programs

All leaders, staff, attendees, schoolteachers, and students must wear masks
Number of people allowed to gather in a single room limited by local social distancing requirements
Maintain social distancing requirements inside rooms
Track people attending in person

All leaders, staff and attendees must wear masks
Number of people allowed to gather in a single room limited by local social distancing requirements
Maintain social distancing requirements inside rooms
Track people attending in person

Masks optional

Baptisms

Baptisms only in extreme circumstances; no public service; only pastor and person to be baptized and someone to assist as needed
Masks and gloves are required for the pastor and any assistants
Mask required for person being baptized
Baptism potentially streamed online, via app or recorded based upon local conditions

No public service; only pastor and person persons to be baptized and someone to assist as needed
Masks and gloves are required for the pastor and any assistants
Mask required for person being baptized
Baptism potentially streamed online, via app or recorded based upon local conditions

Masks and gloves are optional for the pastor and any assistants depending upon local circumstances

Non-Church Facility Use

All people must wear masks while on any church premises
All facilities must be cleaned and sanitized after each use and before the next use
Social distancing criteria in place
Prominent display of social distancing requirements
Prominent display reminding everyone to wash hands regularly
Tracking required for everyone using the church’s facility or attending a non-church function on premise

All people must wear masks while on any church premises
All facilities must be cleaned and sanitized after each use and before the next use
Social distancing criteria in place
Prominent display of social distancing requirements
Prominent display reminding everyone to wash hands regularly
Tracking required for everyone using the church’s facility or attending a non-church function on premise

Masks optional
All facilities must be cleaned and sanitized after each use and before the next use
Tracking required for everyone using the church’s facility or attending a non-church function on premise

Refreshments

No Refreshments

Refreshments served by designated individuals, no self-service
Designated servers wear masks and gloves
Maintain social distancing

Refreshments served by designated individuals, no self-services
Designated servers wear masks and gloves

Member / Visitor / Attendee Becomes Infected

Provide list of all people that were on premise the same day as the person infected for contact tracing

Provide list of all people that were on premise the same day as the person infected for contact tracing

Provide list of all people that were on premise the same day as the person infected for contact tracing

In Summary

I think the only guarantee that I can give is the restrictions listed above are probably wrong…… However, they are probably close in many respects to what will be in place at various stages of “reopening” a given geography. The virus along with treatment options that are developed, will dictate the actual timelines for reopening.

Please provide me with your thoughts as well as what you are seeing on the ground in your given location. This information will be helpful as we help churches around the world to restart in-person services and continue ministry to their members and communities.

Potential Restrictions to Consider

Application of Restrictions to Church Ministry Activities

In Summary

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