A LOOK AT OUR CHURCHES FOLLOWING COVID PANDEMIC

Just imagine...Just imagine for a minute what life would be like if COVID, or (Heaven help us) the threat of a follow up virus of equal intensity, never completely went away.

What if social distancing would become the norm for the foreseeable future?

For instance, how would such a situation impact the future of our in-person congregational churches of worship? What would be the need of un-used church sanctuaries with their associated cost of upkeep? Would congregants tend to slip away from their former church families and become more insular in practicing their religions? What would be the role of already low-paid ministers and priests who rely on a portion of Sunday collection plate offerings for their mere subsistence, not to mention ministry and mission initiatives? Certainly, a lot of things to think about for the church-goer of today and respective worship leaders and administrators.

Indeed, a lot of things for which we do not yet have ready answers. Realistically, many things may never be the same, but there are some positives emerging in the interim that may be indicative of the short, even long-term, future of our churches. A survey by the Pew Research Center in April found more than 90% of regular churchgoers saying their churches had closed their doors to combat the spread of the coronavirus, with the vast majority saying that worship services had moved entirely online. Social hours and church suppers are a thing of the past, at least for now. Likewise group and committee meetings so crucial to the operation of a church.

The changes are not all negative, however. Many pastors have intensified efforts to stay in touch with members of their congregations and maintain their church communities.

"This crisis has actually caused us to do a better job of picking up the phone and checking on our members," says a senior pastor of one church we talked to. "It's made me refocus on connecting individually with people. We also have members of session checking on every elderly person in the congregation every couple of weeks to see what they need and how we can serve them. So there are some connections that are probably stronger now than they were before."

Another devoted church member who has been extremely active in church outreach programs says that under the shutdown she has been able to do even more. "I can do it all from home. There's no running to meetings. There's no strain on my kids. There's no strain on my husband. I'm not always rushing somewhere."

"It's almost like God is sending everyone to their room for a time out," she adds. "With all the business taken away, I can just be still and really focus on my relationship with God."

In some cases, however, the coronavirus shutdowns have weakened church connections. The pew survey and a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found that one-third or more of those who had previously attended church regularly were not bothering to watch online services that have become so popular and to date the only way of bringing church to the people. For those whose church affiliation was already tenuous, the disconnect may be permanent.

Clearly, the way churchgoers are reacting to the pandemic depends in good part on their past experience. For some the required adjustment will be easier than for others.

One of the most disturbing changes for Christians has been the suspension of congregational singing and church choirs. Health experts say the coronavirus is easily spread through singing, but music is an essential part of the worship experience for many churchgoers, especially in the Protestant tradition.

For me the old familiar gospel hymns are a major part of my church experience. Similarly, the simple things like social interaction in the familiar, but hushed atmosphere of God's house, a refuge from the stresses of everyday life. For an old-timer like me, a re-connect with the sites, sounds and smells of the church of my youth. 

The sense of growing separation from one's church community under pandemic conditions may be most acute for those who have depended on that community for support. Support, solace and a spiritual bond are some of the things that matter in a worship experience. For some people, those are also the things they now realize their church was not providing. Under the coronavirus shutdowns, such distinctions have become all the clearer.

Some ideas for ongoing ministry

COVID-19 has definitely required congregations to adapt their ministry methods, extend grace, and to streamline budgets. Most churches have sustained in the face of such changes, but what will it be like as our congregations hopefully begin to physically meet again? One geographically representative panel of ministry leaders brought to my attention, came together to discuss this topic, and came up with a refined summary of ideas worth considering for ongoing ministry in the forthcoming post-pandemic context. It is worth serious scrutiny.

MISSION DRIVEN AGILITY: Going forward, churches must determine what ministry methods work best in their context. However, those church members and leaders who are aligned with their church’s mission more than their church’s traditions will experience the necessary grace, freedom, and unity for exploring and embracing new methods that work in their context. 

LOCAL OUTREACH: As communities have grown closer, congregations will need to place higher ministry and budgetary priority on relational outreach within their local context. This will likely result in many church leaders and mission teams reviewing and re-prioritizing their supported ministry partnerships.

CHURCH COMMUNICATION: High congregational communication expectations will remain the norm. Therefore, churches will need to emphasize communication quality, consistency, church data management, online presence, and the development of their church “brand” recognition.

CHURCH FELLOWSHIP: COVID-19 has revealed that the one thing that cannot be virtually replaced is physical human interaction. Sermons can be delivered via video but congregational fellowship cannot. Going forward, churches will need to facilitate, celebrate, and allow for more congregational involvement and interaction during their congregational gatherings. And that in itself will be a major challenge.

CHURCH FINANCES: Research is showing that urban churches are experiencing 15% to 25% decline in giving and rural churches are experiencing a 25% to 35% decline in giving. Budgets have been streamlined for sustainability and will likely remain streamlined going forward. Volunteer efforts and lower-cost contractual services will likely be sought to fill necessary operational gaps. Three areas of budget increase will likely be to ensure a quality audio/video recording capacity, increased communication capacity, and to ensure the sanitization of  church facilities such as washrooms and kitchens.

ONLINE GIVING: Online giving options will become a necessity especially as use of cash is fading out for sanitary reasons. All churches will need to equip attendees and members for online giving options such as ACH transfers, online bill pay, automatic bank withdrawals and debit/credit cards. Furthermore, churches need to make budgetary provision for the fees associated with online giving. 

COUNSELING: This pandemic has overwhelmed many families, individuals, and marriages. Ministry services in larger city churches such as grief counseling, divorce care, and local Biblical counseling services or solid counseling recommendations will be important for both congregation and community in the wake of the pandemic.

VIRTUAL MEETINGS: It has become clear that online meeting venues work, can be more time efficient, and are sustainable for certain types of church meetings. Be prepared to continue using online video platforms for various meetings as well as for certain trainings and transfer of ministry content.

FOSTERING & ADOPTING CHURCHES: Some congregations have greatly struggled through the pandemic and need a church(es) to come along side of them for revitalization or to restart. Fostering or adopting such a church in your area can become a momentum building kingdom effort with eternal ramifications. 

INCREASED WORSHIP SERVICE OPTIONS: It is not certain when social distance restrictions will fully disappear. Until then, churches need to prepare their gatherings for social distance realities. Though some churches are philosophically opposed to this concept, in order to legally accommodate congregational size, there may be a need to offer multiple worship services and not on weekends only. Be prepared to maintain six-feet between family units and be sure to evaluate community expectations as well as congregational convictions, norms and needs in light of these ongoing restrictions.

DELEGATION & DISCIPLESHIP: Many churches have been confronted with an unrealistic over-dependence on pastoral and church staff. Delegation, equipping, and releasing people to use their skills and passions will be increasingly necessary, especially in the area of congregational care. Not the least of these areas should be the intentional equipping of parents to serve as the primary disciplers and spiritual leaders of their own children and teenagers. Another tall but advisable order for some churches falling under this category.

Sad to speculate, but there will be churches who make the necessary transition...and some that will not.