Recommendations to our Western Region Family of Churches
In the midst of adversity and uncertainty around us, we are confident that the Lord is leading us in the way we should go. Our trust is in Him and we are not leaning on our own understanding. He will direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
With the announcement of restrictions on the size of public gatherings across our region, we are recommending that all our church families exercise an abundance of caution by not congregating for public worship at this time.
Please consider:
- Provide care to high-risk individuals who may feel isolated at home.
- For all meetings/gatherings – social distancing requires people to not sit together in the same row – approximately six feet is advisable.
- Live-streaming (if possible) may be the best option.
- Encourage smaller gatherings in homes of 10 people or less.
- Increase communication and non-physical contact.
- Continue cleaning—doors, handles, water fountains, tables, sinks, check-in stations, touchscreens, kid’s areas and toys, podiums, mics, adult classrooms.
- Review list of doctors and nurses in your congregation.
- Schedule a call or meeting with your congregation’s medical professionals and plan screening steps.
- Get scripts together for what to say and do if someone has an above normal temperature or tests positive. Who have they been near at church?
- Evaluate high contagion areas—open coffee bars, donut trays, water fountains, door knobs and handles.
- Continue to educate staff, key leaders and your board.
- Pray for opportunities for trained teams to serve the sick and needy in your community.
- Establish a fund for helping patients and their families.
- Don’t neglect self-care. This is a marathon – not a sprint. Make sure you and your church leaders and volunteers are getting adequate rest and personal support.
Several of our church families have already made the decision not to gather this Sunday. Here are links to communication from Crossroads Church in Camarillo (email) and Ventura Missionary Church (video).
If you are not worshiping this weekend, consider that if people are still using the building (even if staff only), extra cleaning will need to be in place to protect them.
Here are some helpful resources that may assist you in caring for your church families during this crisis:
Mike Somers, our Regional Executive Pastor, provided these Areas of Discussion you may consider with your leadership team… (see below) He also recommends that you go to your local public school website for info. It’s the standard that the churches may be held to in case of liability issues and it usually has solid facts and links. (i.e. my husband died of Covid-19 because he contracted it at church.) Mike’s local school link: https://www.pleasantvalleysd.org/coronavirus (example)
Would you please let us know what you intend to do this weekend – and also let us know how we can assist? (send a quick email here)
We continue to pray for you and your church leadership team and church families.
COVID-19 Response: Areas of Discussion for Church Leadership
Monitoring the situation
- What is the plan to monitor and re-access the virus situation?
- Who will be the point person or on this team?
- Team should include one member of the pastoral team, a facility team member, a finance committee member, a communications/website team member, and a local health care professional.
Weekend Services
- What will be the trigger to close the church services?
- Logically, what is needed to do a service online?
- Stream equipment and services – options include Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and other professional services.
- Production · Tech, band, vocalists
- Message and Message notes
- Connect Cards
- Announcements
- Offering
- Bulletin
- New believers
- Youth and Children
Prayer
- What needs to be mobilized?
- How can prayer be used in new ways?
Communication
- What needs to be communicated?
- How will we communicate? Text, emails, newsletters, other
- Whose voice needs to be heard? Elders, Pastor/s, Staff
- What technology can we take advantage of? Whatsapp, mass texting, Zoom, other
- How can social media be used in new ways?
- How can streaming be used in new ways?
Creating Fellowship and Community
- What new opportunities do we have? Leaders connecting with those that they are caring for/leading
- How can we communicate that we are the “body of Christ” in new ways?
- Who in our congregation is the most isolated?
- Who are our most vulnerable congregants?
- How can they be cared for?
- What ministries can we still do? Food pantry, small groups
- Staff – what special needs need to be addressed with staff as their duties and roles change?
Programming
- What short-range programs need to be rescheduled, modified or cancelled? Easter, Mother’s Day, Spring missions trips, camps
- What long-range programs need to be rescheduled, modified or cancelled? Summer missions trips, conferences, travel, camps
- What new program ideas are possible in this new reality?
Ramping Back Up
- What logistical plans can be made now to prepare to restart services, programs, etc?
Finances
- What is our present financial status?
- What kind of reserves are in place?
- Based on our demographics, who is going to be affected by closures and canceled events?
- What ways can we best estimate loss of income?
- Tithes and offering – How can we maximize electronic giving?
- Reducing expenses – What are ways to the minimize expenses to just non-essential spending? What is essential? In what order will expenses be reduced?
- How can we mitigate those affected by these reductions? Staff, Missionaries and other missions supported expenses
- What are ways we can monitor our financial situation to make better decisions at moment’s notice?
Mike Somers is available to discuss any of these areas with you – you can email him. He has enrolled in a 5-week course with XPastor.org, an organization that trains executive leaders in churches, and will provide all of our church leaders with valuable information throughout this crisis. If you are interested in participating in this course – enroll online.
Ideas for Communicating with your Church Body
If you have not already addressed growing concerns in your area, I would encourage you to be proactive in your communication with your church family. The church where Deanne and I belong has cancelled all mid-week activities and programs and has created a Health and Wellness page on the church website to keep people aware of steps they are taking to prevent the spread of the virus. (Here’s a link to the email that was sent to our church family).
I highly recommend that you review this information: All Things Coronavirus – developed by Northshore Church in Kirkland, WA – the epicenter of the US coronavirus outbreak. While you might not find all of this information useful – there is still quite a bit that can be gleaned.
Many churches find themselves needing to respond and adjust to the spread, as well as minimize the effects. This Concise Coronavirus Guide for Churches from Christianity Today and Church Law & Tax offers tips on forming a plan, staying informed, and caring for those affected.
Our health insurance provider, Anthem, has informed us that Anthem will cover the care for members diagnosed as having COVID-19, based on the member’s plan benefits. It’ll also cover testing for COVID-19. Members will pay any out-of-pocket expenses their plan requires, unless otherwise determined by state law or regulation. You can download COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about how it is spread, symptoms and how to protect yourself.
Finally, if you haven’t read the latest blog post from our Missionary Church president, Steve Jones – please follow this link: What You Need to Know About Coronavirus.
We are here to help you and serve you in any way that we can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and our regional team.
