Considerations for Churches as They Move to Reopen

Transform Minnesota and evangelical leaders encourage caution and compassion as public worship resumes.

Today Governor Walz announced new guidance for resuming public worship gatherings beginning May 27 in a new executive order: 20-62. Worship gatherings of up to 25% of sanctuary capacity, or a maximum cap of 250 people will be allowed to assemble, following recommended public health guidance regarding social distancing, disinfection, and other preventive measures. 

Two weeks ago, Transform Minnesota and nine evangelical leaders submitted a plan to Governor Walz for safely opening churches, and we have remained in dialogue with his office. Specific guidelines for houses of worship are provided on the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) website beginning today. Each church has the responsibility to assess their own level of preparedness to ensure that they can safely resume meeting.  

“We are not returning to the same kind of worship experience we last had in March”

“We are confident that churches will take all reasonable measures to protect the community’s health and safety and not rush to reopen until these measures are in place”, says Carl Nelson, President of Transform Minnesota. “We are not returning to the same kind of worship experience we last had in March,” he continued, “and pastors need to prepare people for what worship will feel like in these new conditions.”

It will also be important to understand the feelings and emotions of your congregation; some people will feel safe gathering in public, and others will not.  

“Christians will need to exhibit abundant grace to each other in the coming weeks”

“Christians will need to exhibit abundant grace to each other in the coming weeks,”said Schelli Cronk, COO of Transform Minnesota. “We must extend love and understanding to our sisters and brothers in Christ even as we are excited to worship together again.” 

Churches will need to consider: 

  • Ways to maintain physical distance between households while seated in the sanctuary 
  • Communication or reservation plans to manage how many people attend worship
  • How to implement no-touch protocols and disinfecting routines of common surfaces
  • Directional signs to avoid congestion points as people enter and exit 
  • Ways to avoid crowding in restrooms

Our hearts have longed to gather in sanctuaries again and worship with fellow believers. Now that we are able, we must balance that freedom with the needs of public health. 

May 23, 2020
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