The World Ahead of Us is Nothing Like the World Behind Us
Reopening Church in the Face of a New World
 
We didn’t know it then. Two years ago, when we hosted the Canadian adaptive leadership conference Navigating Change Together* none of us had any idea how truly uncharted our lives and ministries would become. Tod Bolsinger’s keynote sessions at that event were titled: (1) ‘The World in Front of Us is Nothing like the World Behind Us,’ (2) ‘We Need to Learn to Lead All Over Again,’ and (3) ‘Forming Leaders for a Changing World.’ His definition of adaptive leadership is “Energizing a community of people toward their own transformation to achieve a shared mission in the face of a changing world.”
How apt those words seem now, as our world has changed so greatly in so little time. At the end of December, when COVID-19 was just beginning to spread, none of us knew it would have the global impacts that it has had in just a few short months. Since then, the virus has been declared an international pandemic – it has shut borders, closed businesses, flooded hospitals, taken thousands of lives, and forced millions of people into isolation. The doors of our churches were also closed. But the Body of Christ is still alive and active! Just before Easter, my own pastor came to my front door (from a distance of 6 feet) to drop off an Easter Lily as a gesture of connection and a reminder that Christ has died, but Christ IS risen, and Christ WILL come again. The one who conquered death shows us how to live during these unprecedented times. With grace and truth, compassion, creativity, courage… and resurrection life.
I am so encouraged by how our Canadian churches have adapted to a pandemic world. How you are canoeing the mountains! I have spoken with many of you, and have seen you take on everything from online worship services, to pastoral care in quarantine, leading meetings by video, e-transfer tithing, and offering comfort across barriers of fear and chaos. You are grace-filled, creative, brave, determined, resilient, strong, authentic, and compassionate. You are the very presence of Christ in this changing world.
Now, as our communities begin to think about the gradual reopening of businesses, parks and services, it is important that we as church leaders also carefully consider what our congregations will do as these restrictions are lifted. In all of this, the Regional Synod of Canada is urging caution and care. While we know that everyone deeply misses gathered worship and dearly wants to meet together again, we must also take our time. But you know that already. When I have spoken to church leaders across Canada, it has been clear that each consistory and congregation is doing their due diligence to carefully research and discern next steps. Many of you have shared your careful plans with me. Others are raising good questions about what to do next. We are all trying to make faithful and informed decisions.
 
To assist all of us in this discernment process, our RSC board would like to recommend several values and guiding principles to consider, as well as share resources with you for re-opening (some of the following is adapted from resources offered by the RCA and the CRCNA):
 
  1. Our God is Sovereign - As we lead our people through this crisis and into unknown territory, we are called to be voices of peace and wisdom, rejoicing that our only comfort in life and death is in our belonging to Christ.
  2. Church is more than a building - We can be tempted to talk about the next stage of life as a time when churches “reopen.”  The truth is, that churches never closed. While the doors to physical buildings may have been shut, the church continued to carry out her ministry and mission through caring for our neighborhoods, praying for the world, supporting our missionaries, caring for each other and worshipping in new ways.
  3. Care for the vulnerable - Throughout scripture, God calls on his people to care for the poor and needy among them. This has been a hallmark of what church is all about. As we think about next steps for congregations, we need to remember how our decisions might impact the most vulnerable around us.
  4. The Great Commission - Churches are called to care not only for the needs of their members but also for the concerns of our surrounding communities. In making decisions about church gatherings, consider the impact on your neighbors and your witness in the community.  Our attention, love and care can be directed both toward our members AND focused on the sake of the world. Would decisions to gather for public worship be viewed as risky, insensitive, or inappropriate by others in our communities?  How do our decisions help our long-term ability to build relationships and share the Gospel?
 
In addition to these overall values, we recommend that your church consistory consider these general guiding principles.  What comes next for your congregation:
 
  1. Will likely be gradual and take time - we expect restrictions to be gradually lifted around physical distancing, but these changes will occur at different rates in different places and may stretch out for several months yet.  As you think about what comes next for your congregation, pay close attention to local health authorities and expect to plan far in advance.  For example, what will your fall programs for youth look like if you can’t gather?  What will a worship service look like, if attendance is limited to 50 people and you can’t sing?
  2. May sometimes move backward - we don’t know the trajectory of COVID19 or when a vaccine may be found.  Experts suggest that there may be times when we see repeat spikes of infection and have to return to physical distancing.  Plan ahead for how you will manage these setbacks. How will you make decisions about when to re-introduce restrictions regarding in-person meetings or worship.  
  3. May not feel the same as before COVID19 - after several months of being physically distant from each other, we are all craving being together again. The truth is, however, that even when we are allowed to gather again, it likely won’t be the same as it was before COVID19. Gatherings may be limited to 10 or 50 people. Singing may be prohibited. We may not be able to hug each other, shake hands, or share a time of coffee fellowship. Nurseries and children’s programming may not be able to run. Think about how you will help your congregation deal with the grief and trauma of this new reality they will be a part of for the next several months.
  4. Does not need to include physical worship gatherings - Just because a public health authority says it is OK to worship, and because your members are requesting you to do it, doesn’t mean that every congregation should do so. Some congregations may decide to start meeting again, and that is right for them. While for others, their location or circumstances could make it dangerous. Of course, you will need to make that decision together. If you decide to wait, as many have done, there may be other ways that you can use your building and/or continue to carry out the mission and ministry that God has called you to. Perhaps you could re-open your doors for a food pantry or community program that meets a vital need to those around you.
  5. Does not need to eliminate the new ways of worship you have discovered – Once you reopen, there will continue to be people who are afraid to attend physical gatherings, who may be unable to attend because of health concerns, or who may be infected and under quarantine. While we can consider a return to physical gatherings, let’s not cut back on the new ways of being the church that we’ve learned over the past few months. Online, family, and small group worship, faith formation, and missional practices can continue to be a vital part of what it means to be church. Let’s also think about other ways that our congregations can care for the vulnerable, both within our churches and in our communities. This includes essential and frontline workers.
  6. Should not ignore your liabilities - Don’t forget to check with your congregation’s insurance provider to make sure that the decisions you make and the programs you chose to carry out are covered and you are not opening yourself up to legal challenges.
 
A FEW ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
 
BC RCA Classis Webinar on Re-Opening

Ontario RCA Classis Re-Opening Suggestions
 
Health Department Resources
Reformed Church in America COVID-19 Resource Centre

A CRC Resource for Re-Opening Churches - Conversation Starters (from CRC Classis Wisconsin)

Other Resources (Some of these are Canadian, and some are American. We believe they are all helpful!)


*NOTE: to access 'Navigating Change Together' session videos, use password: "rsc"
PO Box 1583 Stn Main,
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