It will take more than faith, hope and prayers to keep churchgoers safe from COVID-19

This Sunday marks Pentecost Sunday, the day the Christian church recognizes as when the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus’ disciples after the Easter resurrection.

And, right on cue, churches throughout California have been given approval to reopen after being shutdown for these past months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They can do so provided they meet stringent conditions imposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom for public safety.

The reopening of houses of worship will likely be one of the thorniest challenges of the pandemic for the governor and public health officers throughout the state. And it is not at all clear that all will go well when it comes to public health. For much of the success, or failure, of the reopening will depend not on the pastors and church staff, but the churchgoers themselves. Will they maintain social distancing and wear masks in a church environment that is all about friendly gathering?

For now, the elderly and those with compromised health would do well to remain at home, watch services online, and see how this all plays out.

Rules for safety

In order to reopen, places of worship must do the following: limit attendance to 25% of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower; have as much physical distancing between those in attendance as possible; use of face masks by staff, volunteers and congregates; health screenings of staff and volunteers; and frequent hand washing, regular cleaning and disinfection.

Kids will not be allowed to go to children’s church, but must stay with their parents or relatives during a service.

Singing and reciting are strongly discouraged because those activities increase chances of the virus being emitted into the air from an infected person.

Differing opinions

One the one hand are church leaders like Jim Franklin of downtown Fresno’s Cornerstone Church. As senior pastor, he fervently believes his congregation has the right under the U.S. Constitution to once again gather. He and the church board feel so strongly about it that they pledge to sue the state and local public health departments if they are denied or restricted beyond what seems reasonable.

Franklin’s main complaint with Newsom is that churches are being held to unfair standards not imposed on businesses. For example, the attendance limit of 25 percent of capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Cornerstone meets in the former Wilson Theater, which can seat 1,400. At 100 people, 7% of the seats could be occupied. “No other business is being placed under these restrictions,” Franklin says. “Why are the churches being treated differently?”

Franklin promises to do his utmost to keep his congregants safe, and believes each person attending will do so as well.

But other faith leaders, like Tim Kutzmark of Fresno’s Unitarian Universalist Church, believe it would be wrong to return to church gatherings due to the risk of infection.

In an op-ed in The Bee, Kutzmark wrote that “One of the most effective ways a congregation can reduce risks to ourselves and others is by not gathering in person for services.”

He said caring for the vulnerable is one of his church’s priorities. And Kutzmark added that having a small group gathering in a reopened church sends a poor message that those in attendance get “real” church while those watching online have a second-rate experience.

Adding seriousness to the debate are examples of churches that have already held group gatherings — and fostered exposure to COVID-19. A church in Northern California held a service on Mother’s Day. A day later, one of those in attendance tested positive for the virus. Butte County health officials then had to notify and test the 180 people who were at the service.

In early May a Baptist church in Frankfurt, Germany held a service in which more than 100 people became infected, despite church efforts at social distancing and hygiene. Germany has done better than America at limiting the coronavirus.

Significant impact

There is no question the pandemic has created a gaping hole in the 2020 plans of churches and the lives of their members. The Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno has conducted its nightly Ramadan lessons online, and Temple Beth Israel has held its weekly Shabbat services and Torah instruction on its website as well. Zoom and YouTube worship services have become standard for many Christian churches on Sunday.

As the faithful begin the first steps back toward their weekly gatherings, one thing remains certain: COVID-19 is a dangerous, highly contagious virus that has no religious views or people preferences. Whether one believes God is in command of the pandemic or not, leaders of faith communities must provide their members with the safest physical environment they can. That means strict adherence to social distancing, ample amounts of hand sanitizer and widespread wearing of facial masks.

In addition, those who attend church services need to be responsible to minimize personal contact. That will be difficult for those for whom going to church is a weekly social event. But the pandemic demands no excess touching — no friendly hugs, caring pats on the back or friendly high fives.

Even as church members come together, they must remain apart physically. And if one is elderly or dealing with health conditions already, it is better to worship in spirit than in body, for now, by going online.