1. Church and staff are in compliance with state/local orders regarding distancing, gathering & sanitation including the ability to sanitize common areas before, during, and after worship.
2. The church is properly staffed with the trained volunteers/lay people necessary to regulate and enforce state/local orders regarding distancing, gathering & sanitation including: seating, mask wearing, bathroom occupancy, opening/closing doors, parking.
3. The church can provide reasonable accommodation to allow for comfortable worship while still complying to social distancing requirements.
4. The church has a clear, proactive communication strategy to ensure congregants are aware of current practices and safety/wellness protocols using email, website, social media and signage at the church.
5. The church has a dedicated team which reviews the church’s compliance to state/local protocols and agrees upon any necessary exceptions.
6. The church will have multiple services to reduce the number congregants in each service.  We will also offer online services for those that do not feel safe to come inside the church.

• People who are well (no recent contact with infected persons, not exhibiting flu-like symptoms).
• Clergy, worship team (technical and performing), ushers/lay leaders.
• People who cannot attend online.
• People who feel it is the right time for their family and feel comfortable inside the church.

Attendance Register

Goal: Prevent sharing germs via physical items passed from person to person

• No physical attendance pads will be used.
• Have usher/greeter fill out attendance register as people enter through verbal conversation.

Pew Paraphernalia

Goal: Prevent germ sharing and germs that stay on surfaces for longer

• We will remove all individual items in pews (Bibles, hymnal, pens/pencils, offering envelopes, attendance registers)
• All liturgy, announcements and lyrics will be on our existing video screens.
• We will encourage the congregation to bringing personal bibles/hymnals.
• We will discontinue bulletins at this time.

A/V Equipment

Goal: Prevent germ sharing and germs that stay on surfaces for longer

• Sanitize all microphones and musical instruments/stands before and after each service
• Identify microphones to be used by single individuals, no shared microphones, music stands, etc.
• Keep all musicians/liturgists/clergy 6 feet apart during all moments of the service.

Ceremonies

Goal: Honor traditions while keeping everyone safe

Communion

Goal: Prevent spread of germs through food, passed elements, etc.

• We will use individual pre-packaged elements handed out as people enter worship venue passed out by individual who are wearing gloves and using tongs.
• We will offer a blessing/prayer for those who do not choose to receive communion during this time.

Entry & Exit

Goal: Control pathways, prevent traffic jams, ensure everyone entering worship space has used precautions

• We will have entry to the church organized by 6 ft line up ques with the doors open.
• We will then sit family units together every other pew 6 feet apart.
• We will have hand sanitizer at entries and exits.
• Single entry point, with clearly marked exits: The Narthex will be the entry point at the beginning of worship with no exit.  The side doors at the front of the Sanctuary will be the only exits until the end of worship.

Food & Beverage

Goal: Prevent germ sharing and germs that stay on surfaces for longer

Interpersonal Interaction

Goal: Prevent airborne droplets of potential germs

• We will discontinue any hand holding, passing of the peace, hand shaking, etc. Instead, encourage another way to greet each other at a distance through waving and saying hello.

Offering

Goal: Prevent sharing germs via physical items passed from person to person

• We will have centrally-located collection units at exits.
• We will offer prayers and announcements that specifically mentions online offering to honor & encourage online giving

Singing/Spoken Liturgy

Goal: Prevent airborne droplets of potential germs that linger in the air

• Masks will be optional for everyone.

Surfaces

Goal: Prevent germ sharing and germs that stay on surfaces for longer

• All surfaces people come into contact with -seating, doors, etc. will be sanitized and wiped down before and after each service.

Bathrooms

Goal: Prevent germ sharing and germs that stay on surfaces for longer

• All surfaces people come into contact with such as toilets, sinks, doors, etc. will be sanitized and wiped down between each person.

Nursery

Goal: Prevent germ sharing and germs that stay on surfaces for longer

• All surfaces people come into contact with such as toilets, sinks, doors, etc. will be sanitized and wiped down before and after each service.

Volunteer Roles

Goal: Show volunteers they are valued while you are keeping them safe

• We will create new roles and change roles for those ushers and greeters who may be in higher-risk category.
• There will be a sanitation team to keep things clean.

Contact List

Goal: Keep a list of all attendees so that if someone infected after the service we can notify everyone else

• Ask all attendees to notify us if they get infected after the event