![\"\"](\"https:\/\/faith-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/20200519091854\/2020-COVID-19-Coronavirus-and-the-Church-300x100.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been a Sr. Pastor, an Associate Pastor, and a Lead Elder. So, I know something about the stresses of pastoral decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n However, I\u2019ve never been a pastor in a pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s why I find myself praying a lot for my current pastor and the staff and elders at our church, for past churches where we\u2019ve ministered, and for my scores and scores of friends who are pastors.<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout the book of Nehemiah, God\u2019s leaders always prayed and planned<\/em>. So, in addition to praying for my pastoral friends, I wanted to provide some planning resources for them.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve categorized the following resources in two ways:<\/span><\/p>\n The heart is where the action is. We can make all sorts of decisions about if, when, and how to reopen churches. However, how we relate to one another, how we think about one another, our heart attitude toward one another\u2014Christ calls these issues one of the two most important matters in the entire universe (Matthew 22:35-40).<\/span><\/p>\n Why Humility and Submission Are Especially Important Right Now<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n My life-long friend, Steve Viars, is Sr. Pastor at Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana. If anyone is a \u201cgo-getter,\u201d it\u2019s Steve. If anyone is passionate about churches meeting to encourage one another and about churches impacting their community for Christ, it\u2019s Steve. When Steve talks about (and models) humility and submission, we should listen. For biblical wisdom on how to humbly respond to governmental authorities during COVID-19, read and apply Steve\u2019s blog post:<\/span> Why Humility and Submission Are Especially Important Right Now<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Church, Don\u2019t Let Coronavirus Divide You<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Brett McCracken is Senior Editor at The Gospel Coalition (TGC), and also serves as an elder Southland Church in the Santa Anna, California area. Brett\u2019s recent post at TGC was quite convicting. If Steve Viars\u2019 post highlights humility toward governmental authorities, then Brett\u2019s post highlights humility toward one another in our churches. If you want to be convicted, read Brett\u2019s TGC post:<\/span> Church, Don\u2019t Let Coronavirus Divide You<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Does Online Church Violate Hebrews 10:25?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Joel Kurz is the Lead Pastor of The Garden Church, a multicultural congregation in Baltimore, Maryland. Writing for TGC, Joel ask and answers the question, \u201cAre we disobeying the clear command of Hebrews 10:24-25 by moving our Sunday worship services online due to COVID-19?\u201d Read Joel\u2019s thoughtful, biblical response in:<\/span> Does Online Church Violate Hebrews 10:25?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n 3 Thoughts on Navigating Potential Conflicts in Reopening Church<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Jared Poulton serves as the Pastor of Biblical Counseling, Discipleship, and Outreach at Harbins Community Baptist Church in Dacula, Georgia. He introduces his post with these words: \u201cAs government restrictions in some places relax and communities begin emerging from confinement, many churches now face challenging questions as everyone considers how to retain some level of normalcy. Many leaders are quickly realizing that there is no \u2018one size fits all\u2019 approach to the question of reopening churches.\u201d Read Pastor Jared\u2019s follow-up insights in:<\/span> 3 Thoughts on Navigating Potential Conflicts in Reopening Church<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Wisdom for Life Together During Our COVID-19 Journey<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Many blog sites have collated a series of articles and resources for churches\/Christians during COVID-19. One that I\u2019ve been reading daily that I highly recommend is Pastor Kevin Carson\u2019s blog, Wisdom for Life Together in Christ<\/em>. Kevin has a focused, designated section of his site where he\u2019s collated scores of COVID-related posts\u2014his and guest posts\u2014that you can find here:<\/span> COVID-19 Resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here are 6 resources designed to help pastors, staff, elders, leaders, and people think wisely about reopening in-person services during these COVID-19 days.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n LifeWay Research COVID-19 Congregational Survey<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Aaron Earls of LifeWay Research has penned a post about what churches must know before reopening their building. At the end of the post is a direct link to an excellent 14-question congregational survey\u2014in Word format so each church can individualize the survey. Aaron introduces the survey with these words. \u201cThere are numerous needs to consider and questions to ask. Leaders should be constantly in prayer while listening to government officials and health experts to make the best decision for their congregation. There is another group, however, that leaders must listen to before they start the re-entry process: their congregation. Understanding the concerns of everyone in the local church will help leaders better assess their current situation and make the proper plans before welcoming worshippers and guests back to the building.\u201d Here\u2019s the link to Aaron\u2019s post:<\/span> What Your Church Must Know Before Reopening Your Building<\/em><\/a>. And click here to download the <\/em><\/span>LifeWay Research COVID-19 Congregational Survey<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n How 6 Pastors Are Thinking About Reopening<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I love researching pastoral best practices. Sarah Eeekhoff Zylstra, at TGC, interviewed 6 pastors, asking them each a series of questions, about how they are thinking through the reopening process. For their thoughts, read Sarah\u2019s post:<\/span> How 6 Pastors Are Thinking About Reopening<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Preparing Your Church for Coronavirus (COVID-19)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Wheaton College\u2019s Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) has produced the guide: Preparing Your Church for Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Step-by-Step, Research-Informed and Faith-Based Planning Manual<\/em>. As they state, \u201cThe aim of this guide is to help churches in the United States plan and prepare for COVID-19. This church planning and preparedness guide draws on biblical wisdom and our team\u2019s research. We will share insights and best practices from our collaborative work with local, state, and federal public health agencies.2 Our team\u2019s experiences with helping churches around the globe for nearly a decade have also informed this guide.\u201d Access this free guide here:<\/span> Preparing Your Church for Coronavirus (COVID-19)<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n TGC on: CDC Document Outlines Guidance for Reopening Churches<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Joe Carter at TGC, distills into easy-to-digest bullet points new CDC guidelines. Joe describes those guidelines as follows: \u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiled new \u201cInterim Guidance for Communities of Faith\u201d that outlines precautions churches may need to take when states lift their coronavirus restrictions.\u201d To read Joe\u2019s summaries, visit:<\/span> CDC Document Outlines Guidance for Reopening Churches<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n The CDC on COVID-19: Community and Faith-Based Organizations\u2014Plan, Prepare, and Respond\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n For a direct link to scores of up-to-date information from the CDC, visit:<\/span> Community and Faith-Based Organizations\u2014<\/em>Plan, Prepare, and Respond<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n Guidelines for Reopening and Returning to Church Building<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Georgia Baptist Mission Board has a continually updated section of their site with information on churches related to<\/span> COVID-19\u2014you can find it here<\/a>. Among those resources is this PDF:<\/span> Guidelines for Reopening and Returning to Church Building<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n I often call Philippians 1:9-11 \u201cThe Biblical Counselor\u2019s Prayer.\u201d<\/em> And I often pray it for myself and my counselees. It struck me as I was preparing this document, that Philippians 1:9-11 is a great prayer for all of us to pray for ourselves, our churches, and our church leaders as we navigate church life and slowly\/wisely returning to in-person services during these COVID-19 days.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nPraying and Planning<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Resources Related to Our Heart Attitude toward One Another<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Resources Providing Clear Information and Wisdom Principles<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Praying Philippians 1:9-11 for Our Church Leaders, Our Churches, and Ourselves<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n