Re-opening of the church building - some matters to consider - Midweek Message 5th August

Dear Friends,

I was encouraged yesterday afternoon to receive an email  from the current Moderator of the General Assembly, Martin Fair  which had been sent to Presbytery Clerks, Ministers, OLMs and Auxiliaries, MDS, Interim Moderators and Locums, Readers, the Diaconate, Ministry Candidates & Probationers and Session Clerks in the Church of Scotland. It was calling on all these and the congregations they (we) represent to a Week of Prayer for Church and Country from Monday August 17^th to Saturday 22^nd. Let me quote you a little of Martin’s reasoning behind this:

While some churches have already re-opened for public worship, most are still considering how best, and when, to do so. The need to navigate our way through the challenges involved and to properly implement the published guidelines is causing a degree of anxiety not seen since the beginning of lockdown. Rightly so, there are all kinds of questions to be answered and systems to be put in place to ensure as much as possible that those who visit our buildings are kept safe. I am enormously grateful to all those who at national, regional and local levels have worked so hard to get us to this point.

 

But while we order supplies of sanitising agents and face coverings, measure our sanctuaries to calculate allowable numbers, and work out how best to handle ‘in church’ worship alongside digital content, we mustn’t miss the opportunity that is now before us to ask the crucial questions of what it is we’re going back to do and how best are we going to do it? Will it be business as usual or might this be an opportunity for us to invite a fresh blowing of the wind of the Spirit to refresh and reinvigorate us and to ‘revive us for this hour?’ (bold print added by me!)

 

This may well be a critical moment in the life of our Church - a paradigm-shifting moment. And if that’s true for the Church then it may be equally true for the country, not least as COVID-related economic realities begin to bite.

 

All of that resonated with me and gives us all good cause to be praying, not only during that week but in the run-up to the re-opening of our own church building, whenever that happens. As I mentioned at the weekend, no date has yet been fixed and nothing is going to happen before September.

 

However along with that encouragement to pray I also wanted to write something in this message about the principles the elders have been wrestling with in any decision about the timing of re-opening as well as some of the practicalities that have to be included and addressed in preparation for re-opening and in the format of Sunday Gatherings when we do re-open. This is simply to give you an understanding of why this is not a straightforward decision.

 

In terms of principles, one of the things the Session has been thinking deeply about concerns the limited number of people who under current Government guidelines are able to meet in a church building for worship at any one time on a Sunday. The limit is currently 50. As you’ll be aware, we would normally have between 200 and 250 people at our morning gatherings. This restriction has led some churches, particularly with larger congregations, to consider delaying reopening until more (or in the case of one congregation we are aware of, all) people can come at the same time. (It’s worth saying in relation to this, the Kirk Session have decided in principle that when we do re-open we will be livestreaming our Sunday Gatherings so that those who are not able to be there for whatever reason might have the opportunity to watch online at the same time.)

 

Practically speaking as well if we do re-open under current guidelines it’s important that people have an idea of what will and what will not be part of Sunday Gatherings. Here’s a list of some relevant matters:

 

·         There would be  a maximum of 50 people , which would include ministers, those on door duty & other volunteer helpers.

·         Each individual/ household would be seated 2m distance from others.

·         There would be no congregational singing (though we would intend to play hymns/songs to listen to)

·         Face coverings are strongly advised.

·         Hand sanitisers & toilet facilities will be available

·         There will be no Truthtrackers or creche available (though the gatherings would seek to take account of any children present.)

·         There will be no tea/coffee etc served. If they wish, people can bring their own water.

·         People will have to reserve their place at the Gathering ahead of time & we are required to keep a register, for a period of 21 days, of those who attend to support contact tracing as part of NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect programme.

 

Procedurally, we also have to inform Presbytery of our decision to re-open and have to complete the Church of Scotland’s Covid-19 Reopening of Church Buildings Checklist and the Risk Assessment Form.

 

 We hope in the next week to send out a survey to the congregation to see who would intend to come whenever we do re-open. This is to get some indication of the numbers we might be dealing with.

 

All of this is seeking to keep you informed as best we can and to assure you that we will continue to communicate with you as and when decisions are made and there are developments. In the meantime, please continue to pray and keep looking out for one another.

 

If there any questions in relation to any of the above or any other relevant matters, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with myself,

 

Yours in Christ

 

David