Leadership Statement on COVID-19
Monday, October 5, 2020
Wednesday, September 30, the elders and deacons met to consider the prospect of resuming our worship gatherings inside the church building. Other churches in our area have done so for weeks or months. Several of our members have indicated a fairly strong interest in moving back into the building, while others have expressed a desire to continue the drive-in format. To give you the “bottom line” up front, we all agreed it is better to continue the drive-in meetings for now.
In our meeting, Mike reported on the current state of preparations for resuming meeting in the building, and I presented the latest published requirements New Mexico has for “houses of worship.” Everyone present at the meeting had an opportunity to share their own thoughts as well as what they have been hearing from our other members.
The current list of requirements for which we must prepare to return to the auditorium for worship is long, taking up five printed pages. For example, New Mexico still prohibits congregational singing and allows no exceptions for wearing masks. New Mexico’s requirements are complex, and we will have to consider them carefully. Also, the one thing about COVID-19 that has been clear from the beginning of the outbreak early this year is that it is very serious for anyone in their 60s or older. It is still the case that the only way to gain immunity right now is to become infected and recover. Thankfully, this is true for Mike Sickenger. However, others of our number contracted COVID-19, which played a role in their passing.
These factors moved all of us last night to agree to continue the drive-in format for a while longer. At this point, we cannot say for sure when it will be advisable to return inside to the building. Our collective hope is that, somehow, before long, worshiping in our building as we used to will not pose such a terrible risk to the majority of our number who would wish to gather.
Of course, as winter approaches, the drive-in format will become less comfortable. We agreed that the prospect of wet or cold weather may become the decisive factor leading us to implement the necessary policies to return inside the building as safely as possible. So, we will keep an eye on the weather two or three weeks at a time to make sure we can make decisions and communicate as needed. Also, last night we formed an advisory committee (myself, Mike Sickenger, Bob Randol, and Bill Harrell) tasked with thinking through policies and procedures that would be needed if it becomes necessary to worship inside under the current New Mexico requirements.
Finally, we have purchased radio transmission equipment that we hope will help people hear better in our drive-in worship meetings. It also makes it possible to offer both an auditorium meeting and a drive-in style at the same time. That is, whenever we return to gathering in the building, others who might be more comfortable remaining in their cars could do so while listening to our broadcast on their car radios.
Thank you for your patience and support as we work together to negotiate this highly unusual time in our history.
Because Jesus is Lord and Savior,
Nathan G. Wheeler, Preacher
Eastside Church of Christ
Wednesday, September 30, the elders and deacons met to consider the prospect of resuming our worship gatherings inside the church building. Other churches in our area have done so for weeks or months. Several of our members have indicated a fairly strong interest in moving back into the building, while others have expressed a desire to continue the drive-in format. To give you the “bottom line” up front, we all agreed it is better to continue the drive-in meetings for now.
In our meeting, Mike reported on the current state of preparations for resuming meeting in the building, and I presented the latest published requirements New Mexico has for “houses of worship.” Everyone present at the meeting had an opportunity to share their own thoughts as well as what they have been hearing from our other members.
The current list of requirements for which we must prepare to return to the auditorium for worship is long, taking up five printed pages. For example, New Mexico still prohibits congregational singing and allows no exceptions for wearing masks. New Mexico’s requirements are complex, and we will have to consider them carefully. Also, the one thing about COVID-19 that has been clear from the beginning of the outbreak early this year is that it is very serious for anyone in their 60s or older. It is still the case that the only way to gain immunity right now is to become infected and recover. Thankfully, this is true for Mike Sickenger. However, others of our number contracted COVID-19, which played a role in their passing.
These factors moved all of us last night to agree to continue the drive-in format for a while longer. At this point, we cannot say for sure when it will be advisable to return inside to the building. Our collective hope is that, somehow, before long, worshiping in our building as we used to will not pose such a terrible risk to the majority of our number who would wish to gather.
Of course, as winter approaches, the drive-in format will become less comfortable. We agreed that the prospect of wet or cold weather may become the decisive factor leading us to implement the necessary policies to return inside the building as safely as possible. So, we will keep an eye on the weather two or three weeks at a time to make sure we can make decisions and communicate as needed. Also, last night we formed an advisory committee (myself, Mike Sickenger, Bob Randol, and Bill Harrell) tasked with thinking through policies and procedures that would be needed if it becomes necessary to worship inside under the current New Mexico requirements.
Finally, we have purchased radio transmission equipment that we hope will help people hear better in our drive-in worship meetings. It also makes it possible to offer both an auditorium meeting and a drive-in style at the same time. That is, whenever we return to gathering in the building, others who might be more comfortable remaining in their cars could do so while listening to our broadcast on their car radios.
Thank you for your patience and support as we work together to negotiate this highly unusual time in our history.
Because Jesus is Lord and Savior,
Nathan G. Wheeler, Preacher
Eastside Church of Christ