Regather, Restart, and Refocus: 

Trinity’s Roadmap during the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

Update:  Every two weeks, your Vestry continues to review the guidelines and discuss regathering.  As of July 1, 2020; No date has been set. 

All of us miss our beautiful church, our Spirit-filled services, and our warm fellowship.  It is a painful sacrifice amid a terrible pandemic where the comfort of our Church community is sorely needed, but it is necessary for us to take care of each other.

Episcopal churches in the Diocese of West Virginia are under restrictions for the foreseeable future, with the nature and scope of the restrictions changing at the direction of the Bishop.  Each parish must submit a re-gathering plan to the Bishop who is the final authority in approving plans and dates for re-gathering.  Trinity has already drafted a re-gathering plan which meets the Diocesan guidelines, but is waiting until the benchmarks have been met.  

 

Benchmarks:

  • A Fourteen day decrease in new cases in the County in which the Parish is located
    • (As of July 1, this benchmark has not yet been achieved.)
  • Regular cleaning of the interior of the church, using professional grade cleaning supplies and protocols
    • (Trinity has hired a cleaning company which has begun coming once a week.)
  • Submitting a written plan to the Bishop, including protocols for use of PPE, cleaning, physical distancing and distribution of Holy Communion.
    • (Trinity has submitted a plan which has conditional approval from the Bishop.)
  • A unanimous vote of the Vestry to re-gather

 

To help all of us understand when Trinity can move to a new phase, here is a summary of each stage, and its associated restrictions and precautions:

Phase 1 is where we are now:

  • No live in-person worship or gatherings
  • Continued use of digital and online media for liturgies, services, and meetings
  • Limited opening of Church offices
  • Use of Church buildings restricted to groups that are licensed and follow Health Department protocols (Norborne Pre-School may reopen.)

Phase 2 begins after these criteria are met:

  • Continued decline in new cases
  • Widespread testing is available
  • Personal Protective Equipment is available

During Phase 2, significantly reduced gatherings may occur as outlined below.

  • Church Offices may be open for regular hours, with enough space for physical distancing
  • Celebrations of Eucharist, with severely restricted protocols:
    • Buildings are to be sanitized after each service
    • All Prayer Books, Hymnals and Bibles are to be removed from pews
    • No physical passing of the Peace
    • No in-person Coffee Hours, or other social gatherings
    • No Sunday School or Nursery care
    • No choir or congregational singing
    • Social distancing is mandatory (masks, physical separation in the church, no more than 15 domiciled units at any service)
    • Virtual services continue

 

Phase 3 begins after these criteria are met:

  • Hospitalizations are near 0
  • Treatment is readily available
  • Widespread testing and tracking are available
  • Vaccine is possible

Services will continue under these restrictions:

  • Continued physical distancing, with masks and sanitizing
  • Virtual liturgies continue

Careful attention to the spread of the virus will help determine the resumption of church gatherings.

 

Phase 4 begins when the virus is no longer a threat:

  • Resumption of Eucharists and Church functions
  • Virtual liturgies continue