Pastors consider what it means to open churches in the midst of COVID-19

The Rev. Watson Jones III is the pastor of Compassion Baptist Church. Jones said there is a high risk nature of opening the church in the midst of COVID-19. Photo by Tia Carol Jones
The Rev. Watson Jones III is the pastor of Compassion Baptist Church. Jones said there is a high risk nature of opening the church in the midst of COVID-19. Photo by Tia Carol Jones

Pastors consider what it means to open churches in the midst of COVID-19

BY TIA CAROL JONES

As Chicago re-opens from its stay-at-home order during COVID-19, clergy members are having conversations about what it looks like to welcome congregants back into houses of worship.

On Saturday, June 6, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s press office released the city of Chicago’s guidelines for reopening places of worship, which was part of the city’s phase three reopening plan.

The guidelines include limiting the number of congregants to a maximum of 50 people per room, or 25 percent of the room capacity, whichever, is fewer, as long as required social distancing of six feet can be maintained.

Protocols also include the frequent disinfecting of facilities, providing sanitation stations throughout the facility, and wearing facial coverings.

The Reverend Watson Jones III is the pastor of Compassion Baptist Church, located at 2650 E. 95th St. Jones said the idea to open the churches was more political, as well as economic pressure put on churches.

“When people started pushing these lawsuits saying, ‘we’re the church, you can’t tell us what to do,’ is when the city and the state said, ‘fine, churches are essential, you can open,’” he said.

Jones said after reading the guidelines from the CDC, the verbiage of the guidelines strongly discouraged people older than 65 with pre-existing health conditions from attending services.

“The language to me sounded like we prefer you not to, but if you insist, here’s what you do,” he said. “To me, it was a premature move, [a] premature decision for Black churches to aim for that, in that time, given what we know, who the majority of our people are who attends churches, given the high risk nature.”

Jones said there have been conversations with his trustee boards and deacons and treasurer at the church. He said talks have included purchasing disinfectant and ministers needed to disinfect rooms.

“Even in terms of how worship services happen, who does what and how it’s done, that has to change,” he said. “All of those conversations are being had and are being thought through because whatever open[ing] up looks like,” Jones said, it’s going to be “Phygital,” which is the concept of blending digital and physical experiences together.

Jones added the goal is to make sure congregants at home have the same experience as congregants who will be able to attend services at the church.

The Reverend Reginald W. Sharpe is the pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, located at 4543 S. Princeton Ave. Sharpe said the church is still developing a re-entry plan. He said part of that plan includes a thorough cleaning of the church, as well as hand sanitizer stations and temperature checks.

Fellowship seats 800 in the sanctuary and prior to COVID-19, it hosted three services. Sharpe said, because of health disparities and lack of resources, the African-American community has been greatly affected by COVID-19. For that reason, he said, the church is not ready to open its doors to worshippers.

“It is an unsafe environment to have people sitting in church, that close for that amount of time,” he said.

Sharpe is known for a viral video about not going back into the church during COVID-19, despite elected officials allowing for the opening of houses of worship. “I feel like the church needs to move in wisdom,” he said. “We can’t say that we care, that we’re shepherds and we don’t take care of God’s sheep. If the world is taking precautions to care for people, why would the church be the last on that list for taking care of people.”

He added during the pandemic, the church has had a commitment. “While we can’t have church traditionally, we can be the church consistently” he said. “So, we’ve been working to do that, even while we’re away from each other, so there’s no rush to get back.”

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