Last week amidst a flurry of political announcements regarding the reopening of America, there was also a blizzard of blogs, webinars, and articles pertaining to when and how churches can also reopen. I’ll link to some of them as we go, but I want to try and boil this down to some big thoughts and questions that need to be wrestled with before your church has in-person services again. 

On March 12, I wrote a blog encouraging churches to suspend in-person services because it was how the church–in this time and place–could care for the least among us and love our neighbors well. By all accounts, this appears to have worked as Houston has reached the peak of COVID-19 cases. 

Now many church leaders are asking the question, “When can we get back to meeting in our buildings?” At its heart, I believe this to be a question of leadership built on a foundation of risk management. 

As church leaders, we must consider not only what is permissible but also what is most profitable for our church members and communities in our particular context. We must practice servant leadership by putting the needs of others before our valid desires to be together in-person right away. Let's make the most of the opportunity that God has given us and trust God's good plan even in these trying times. 

I have co-authored this statement along with other Christian leaders from across our city. We urge churches to continue providing online-only worship services through the month of May. Several UBA churches have signed on. I encourage you to add your church’s name to the list as well. If you would like to add your church to it, please let me know.

WHAT’S HYPE, WHAT’S NOT, & WHAT’S HOUSTON?

While COVID-19 has affected the entire country, it has not affected it equally. At the moment of this writing, Harris County had more confirmed cases than any county in Texas (just a few shy of Dallas, Tarrant, and Travis counties combined). Harris County also has the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths, while Liberty, Waller, and Chambers Counties do not have any. By contrast, the death rate in Galveston County is almost twice that of anywhere else in the greater Houston metropolitan area (Ft. Bend is next) and almost three times higher than Harris County. 

I say that to say, as with many things, context is king. 

The White House and Center for Disease Control (CDC) have issued guidelines for a staged reopening of American society with a focus on the business sector. This document calls for states or regions to enter into stages after meeting certain criteria for a 14 day period. They must then meet that criteria again before proceeding on to the next phase. 

In essence, the triggers for a move to each phase should be when a state reports a sustained reduction in cases (or positive tests as a percentage of total tests) for at least 14 days (i.e., one incubation period); local hospitals are safely able to treat all patients requiring hospitalization without resorting to crisis standards of care; and the capacity exists in the state to test all people with COVID-19 symptoms, along with state capacity to conduct active monitoring of all confirmed cases and their contacts. If Harris County can accomplish these gating criteria for 14 days, then we enter phase 2 and see if we can repeat the gating criteria two weeks later. 

The CDC has also issued guidelines for child care programs that every church should read before considering opening their nursery or children’s ministry at some point in the future.  

When Governor Abbott speaks for the state of Texas, he must speak for all of it. He must speak for everything from the counties that do not have a single confirmed case of COVID-19 to us here in Houston. This is also why we depend on our local officials to supplement those executive orders with local guidance, such as Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s order that masks be worn in public for the next 30 days. 

We know that carriers of COVID-19 can be asymptomatic, which means you can be a transmitter of the virus before you have a fever. We hope that sunlight and warm temperatures greatly diminish the virus’s effectiveness, but there is no published research to support this pertaining to COVID-19 at this time. We know that social distancing in some form or another is here to stay for several more months, and we know that our older generations and those with underlying health conditions will continue to be at risk.

DISTINGUISH NEEDS VERSUS WANTS

As church leaders, we have to remember to see the entire system in which we lead: a system that includes politicians, business leaders, medical professionals, educators, social workers, the families in our churches, and our own loved ones. Civic leaders–whose needs and demands are fundamentally different than church leaders–have begun to issue measured policies balancing medical advice and economic concerns. 

However, Joe Carter makes an excellent point:

“Despite what some people in our congregations may assume, the loosening of restrictions on gatherings will not mean the COVID-19 crisis has ended. What it will do is shift the burden of risk onto the shoulders of pastors and elders.” 

Fatigue is real. The need for fellowship is real. Some churches still wrestle with taking most of their offerings via physical payments versus online methods, and the financial pain is real. I’m not minimizing any of those factors when I say that church leaders must decide how best to meet the needs of their flock, and make that decision apart from the political and economic pressures facing leaders in other sectors of life. 

The questions that remain in this area are: does your church need to rush back to meeting in-person, or does it simply want to meet in-person? Would you be placing people that you care for at risk because of your needs or your wants? Can your facilities be used in such a way that the potential gains outweigh the risks of meeting in-person? That means repetitive cleaning, social distancing in all areas—including hallways and bathrooms, and no children’s ministry for the time being. Next week, I will post about some of the best reopening strategies I’ve seen and some options for different sized churches.

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY

I’m in the same camp as anyone who says this season will be a monumental turning point in our ministry lives. I’ve heard churches of all sizes say that this season has helped them explore new territory with technology and groups, and I’ve seen churches innovate in ways that surprised even them. I’ve heard tales of our ethnic churches launching online services that meet the needs of their congregations here and reach their extended families and virtual members in their home countries for the first time. 

Amidst all the sadness, those things are worth remembering too. God is sovereign, and the Word will not return void. 

Many churches are reporting success stories right now. They're reporting the expanded reach of their online services. Giving–while maybe not as high as normal–is not as low as they had feared or may even be exceeding expectations. Many people are enjoying the newfound freedom and flexibility of online groups. While I haven’t yet spoken to a pastor that likes preaching to a camera, every pastor likes preaching to his people knowing that none of them are being exposed to unnecessary risk. I’ve even met a few who like preparing and preaching one sermon instead of the four or five they would normally deliver on Sunday. Their families like it too. 

We recognize this season is especially difficult for pastors, so don't do it all yourself. Now is a great time to be multiplying yourself by training others to do the work of the ministry. As you delegate tasks to others, you're not only making your own life easier but also raising the next generation of leaders. You're creating a healthy church culture. 

As the next season of re-opening begins to dawn, I’m begging churches not to try and go back to a pre-COVID state. Things are not going back to normal, so don’t even try! Instead of letting that reality create a sense of dread in you, let it fuel a renewed sense of innovation. 

How will you continue to capitalize on the gains your church has experienced during this season? Will you continue to offer your groups the flexibility of online options if they choose it? Will you continue to provide your membership class online and push your online giving platform? Will you find new ways to connect to the audience who won't or can't venture out—even after you re-open?

No matter what you do, let's make the most of these strange times to be the leaders we need to be by shepherding our flock, loving our community, and advancing the gospel no matter what the situation.

#BetterTogether

Josh Ellis is Executive Director of Union Baptist Association. He has a PhD in Leadership Studies and has served on the UBA staff since 2005. With both practical and scholarly knowledge, he leads the association into innovative collaboration for the sake of strategic gospel advancement.