Whatever the ‘new normal’ turns out to be for most churches, it is going to be around for many months to come, according to the Government's scientific advisers.1
The Anglican Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, said churches might not return to normal services before the end of the year and things will not be the same as they were: “We'll have some churches doing things differently. And of course, this approach will depend on the part of the country you are in. Being in Devon is very different to being in the centre of London. So we need to approach this based on our local circumstances.”2
Riding Out the Storm
Many are saying church will never be the same again. The question is, will it be better? What needs changing and what must never change? One church leader says that through the closure of churches for the first time since Christianity came to these shores, “God is shouting to get our attention, but are we listening?” He thinks most ministers are simply riding out the storm, waiting for it to be over.
Back to Basics
The simple “repent and believe” message of the Gospel must be our starting point. To get that message out, we need strong discipleship, as one minister has realised, otherwise, “There is a danger that we are simply replicating online what we were doing in our churches, but I don’t believe this is God’s purpose.”
His Baptist village church on the outskirts of a university town has been using Zoom for Sunday services and home groups. They take CDs of services to those without internet and are making sure to keep in touch with those unable to go out. Like other churches, the number of services has reduced. However, the lifting of lockdown may mean more services to cater for, both online and more frequent physical services to allow for social distancing.
There Will Be No Peace
This Baptist church is also holding communion online, something Anglicans are not officially allowed to do. One minister said he got into trouble in the runup to lockdown for introducing individual cups. So, in Anglican churches at least, it seems communion will remain ‘in one kind’ (just bread) if the communal cup cannot be shared.3 Offering one another the traditional ‘sign of peace’ will certainly be off the menu.
Many are saying church will never be the same again. The question is, will it be better?
New Demographic
During lockdown, the demographic of Sunday morning congregations has changed: new people are joining who would never have attended a service pre-lockdown or might not have attended regularly. However, they are proving difficult to pin down, despite pleas to get in touch with church offices. They are technologically proficient and usually under 75. There has also been plenty of positive feedback about online services from the disabled, single parents and families with young children.
The over 75s, who were previously among the most faithful attendees, are generally not coping with, or are choosing not to engage with, technology. Although phone numbers are provided for Zoom meetings, so you can listen on speaker-phone, they do not have a big take-up.
One minister reports that during lockdown, despite encouraging online attendance, “we have ‘lost’ some people”. He says, “My greatest concern is that the congregation will become more disintegrated, as we split into smaller groups, some meeting physically, some via Zoom, throughout the likely lengthy transition phase.”
Given that older and vulnerable members of churches and those who are shielding will be the last to return after lockdown, there is still much discussion as to how best to serve them meanwhile. One idea is to get local church online services onto a TV channel.
Cancel Christmas?
Some churches will not be returning to services in their buildings until next year. One minister said, “I am longing not to be standing in a church building staring at a camera, but it will be harder for us as a larger church trying to fit into one building.” He said that previous thinking was to change service times to allow a greater gap between morning services, or to find time in the week for a small liturgical service, or else to hold four services (rather than three) on a Sunday.
The simplest option is proving to be to continue with online services until next year with live dial-in options for those without the internet. But as one carol service visitor put it, “Does this mean Christmas is cancelled?!”
The Great Reset
‘The Great Reset’ was the title of a World Economic Forum initiative launched on 3 June, at which the Prince of Wales spoke.4 The hope is to reassess everything in the wake of Covid-19 and look to green technologies for solutions. Wherever this leads, and many Christians will be watching and praying as these developments unfold, is the Lord calling believers to a great reset – back to the drawing board for how we do church? We know we do not model Acts 2:42, but can we reset towards it?
Some ministers are recognising that God has stopped us in our tracks. We should not want to go on with business as usual without pausing, praying and asking the Lord, ‘What would you have us do? What changes should we make at this time?’
In one London church, there will be a full review. The minister says that they will be asking “What are we doing and why are we doing it? Do we have the right number and timing of Sunday services? Is it easy for people to join us and do all our many activities fit the central vision of church? We are going to wait to hear from the Lord before we start up again.” In the meantime, they are going to leaflet the whole parish to invite them to join a special service via livestream.
This church, along with others, reports that YouTube views of services are far higher than their normal congregation size, implying that many are appreciating the opportunity to peek behind the church door and perhaps to explore faith. So, they are seizing the opportunity to invite people to join in.
Is the Lord calling believers to a great reset – back to the drawing board for how we do church?
Care and Control
How do you pastor under the new normal? Ministers are faced with the daunting prospect of opening churches to members who, in the case of many older people, have been completely isolated from other believers and who are understandably fearful. Others are desperate to get back to some kind of normality. Ministers have to offer care for this diverse Body and control exposure to a new invisible enemy. Ministry is no longer simply about spiritual wellbeing. There is now a basic and compulsory healthcare aspect to the minister’s role, a new type of safeguarding that applies to everyone.
As one minister put it, “What is to come will be more difficult to manage than what we have at present. There will be a need for online services for some time to come alongside up to three physical services each Sunday…my forward thinking and planning will be based on trying to ascertain how many people would meet in church, who would stay at home, which timings would work best.”
The 2m social distancing regulation is hugely restrictive. A minister who can normally fit 450 in his building calculated that this will have to reduce to 20-50 people in future. Some are exploring the possibility of open air services (another Wesleyan revival anyone?). Those with a church hall or scout hut or access to other buildings or school halls could have a ‘multi-site church’. However, logistical, stewarding and hygiene implications may make that option unfeasible.
No doubt some will expect to see strict measures and will be happy to comply. Others will not mind so much but will be willing to adapt for the greater good. Some will struggle to adapt and may not return to church until it resembles more closely the place they used to know.
One minister said, “The biggest challenge for us is going to be encouraging people to make the transition from ‘online viewers’ to ‘church attenders’. We know lots in the local community who are tuning in every Sunday so we will want to work hard to encourage them along. A socially distanced welcome is going to be hard to navigate (we can’t just invite them all around to the Vicarage for Sunday lunch).”
When I Survey
To help ministers navigate these unprecedented decisions, a Christian survey company has come up with a survey tool for churches to use in advance of the return from lockdown, because otherwise ministers are using educated guesswork.5 No one really knows how this will play out. As one Methodist Bishop says, “We’re not in control. We have wanted to control the church. We have wanted to control God. We have wanted to control each other. And controlling is a pre-coronavirus perspective.”6
As one Methodist Bishop says, “...controlling is a pre-coronavirus perspective.”
Tickets Please!
An Anglican minister says that their Deanery has proposed opening just a few churches in their area, but that this was not viewed favourably by most. Some have considered limiting numbers or asking people to book into services in an online ticketed system. “The thought of inviting A-Ds one week and E-Hs the next week seems very contrary to the gospel.”
Differently Abled
For disabled people, the lockdown has had difficulties (increased isolation and loneliness in some cases) and benefits (increased virtual opportunities to ‘travel’, watch performances and work online opening up).7
42-year-old Karin Turner, who has a brain injury and broken ankle, has really appreciated online church: “I had been missing the feeling of community. Being able to listen to my pastor preach, hear stories about what is happening in the wider community and have some leadership has made the difference”, she said. “Of course, you can pray and have faith at home, but a big part of Christianity is community and it is difficult to feel cut off from that.”8
Blind and partially sighted worshippers can dial into online video-conferencing services. Deaf participants can use the live captioning facility in Zoom. There is also the chat facility to ask questions if you have missed something.9
And Now for Something Completely Different
Finally, for a little light relief in the midst of so much uncertainty, this video is one Baptist church’s10 amusing take on how they will welcome worshippers: Post-Lockdown Church.
In Part 3 next week, we will continue to examine the ‘new normal’, taking a look at churches in some other countries and what other faith groups are planning post-lockdown.
Useful Resources Covid Churches Handbook ‘Dial-a-sermon’ line The Church of England: Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for churches Lifeway Congregational Survey Zoom Accessibility features |
References
1 Coronavirus: What is the future of religious worship in the UK? BBC News, 1 June 2020.
2 Coronavirus: Churches may not be back to normal by end of year. BBC News, 10 May 2020.
3 John Baycroft, retired Anglican Bishop of Ottawa, explains the symbolism of the Common cup: “Jesus took one cup and gave it to all of his disciples to drink. Perhaps it was the cup of Elijah from the Passover ritual as some people say, but it was certainly a single cup. He did not merely pour wine into the disciples’ individual cups and tell them to take a drink. There is a powerful challenge in this one. We are reminded of the agonizing decision that faced Jesus when he was praying before the crucifixion: ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)…We are also reminded by the one cup that we cannot drink it alone. We drink from a common cup as a strong symbol of unity and our willingness to accept each other. We share our love and lives as we share the cup. The implications for this for fellowship and support in the local church, for relationships between rich and poor in communities and nations, and for justice between North and South and first world and world countries are enormous. The cup of love and unity is unavoidably a cup of sacrifice”. Taken from this article, referencing The Eucharistic Way (1981), Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, pp33-34.
4 The Great Reset. World Economic Forum, 3 June 2020.
5 Earls, A. LifeWay Research develops free tool for churches to help plan for reopening. LifeWay blog, 23 April 2020.
6 Bishop Sally Dyck (United Methodist Church), resident bishop of the Chicago area. Quoted in Patterson, J. COVID-19 could push the church toward change. UM News, 20 April 2020.
7 Disabled people most likely to be alone during coronavirus lockdown, ONS report finds. Church Times, 1 May 2020.
8 Covid lockdown opening up world for people with disabilities. The Guardian, 20 April 2020.
9 Jo Wootten: Tips for working remotely when you’re deaf (with BSL videos). The Limping Chicken blog, 23 March 2020.
10 Bethany Baptist Church, near Pontypridd.
