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Introduction

Assembling together as members of a church to have communion with our creator is a commandment sanctioned by God. (Hebrews 10:25).

There is every divine reason for God authorising this. Not only does this physical assembly create a cohesive force of people of diverse ethnicity, professions, brains et cetera but also a physical pool of human resources in Christ poised for community development.

Religion, when used properly, combats evil and despair in the world by providing morally upright leaders and teachers. Religion in its pure form provides many additional benefits such as community collaborations, shared values, encouraging positivity, and longevity of life.

But in the ecosystem of contagious diseases, how can religious activities and public worship be practised without posing risks to individuals and public health? These risks, although imposing and threatening are not in the least hurdles which cannot be managed and mitigated let alone be surmounted. In these times of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become necessary for me to share with the community of the faithful, the ways of mitigating the risks posed by COVID-19 so as to allay the fears of the authorities in respect of allowing churches to resume their normal physical meetings. I am positive that the government will lift up the ban on public gatherings soon.

In anticipation of churches having regular meetings, I suggest all Christians strictly adhere to the instructions below.

Managing And Mitigating The Risk

The most effective tool to managing and mitigating is applying common sense health precautions in all circumstances.

I believe that a spirit-filled knowledgeable Christian is more profitable to the body of Christ than the spirit-filled ignorant Christian. It is against this background I make the following suggestions for churches to seriously consider, especially the numerous ones which are not under any umbrella organisations. I hope this little contribution helps.

Suggested Measures

These measures apply to both adults and children. When we resume church services:

Busing overcrowded People To Church

People should not be bussed to church without observing the social distancing that applies to transport people.

Worshipping on church compounds outside

As much as possible, if there are spaces outside our temples, services could be held outside in the open. These outdoor services will help with air circulation and if possible (considering the weather, etc.), it should take precedence over indoor meetings while still observing all the protocols of distancing with seating, etc. Churches with smaller meeting rooms should seriously consider this option of meeting outdoors.

Inside The Temple 

If services cannot be held outside in the open, air-conditions in the temples should not be used, rather all windows and doors must be opened to allow proper ventilation and free flow of air circulation.

Before anyone enters the meeting place 

All entrances of the church, must have paper tissues and Veronica buckets or more appropriately Sabta KING drums and soap for members to wash and clean their hands before they enter the meeting place.

Every church member must have a hand sanitizer for personal use during and after service. The church must provide for those who do not have before they enter the church.

If possible the church must provide automatic hand sanitizers at the entrance of the church.
The church must provide hand sanitizers in the washrooms as well.

Reading of body temperatures

The temperature of all members entering the church must be taken with a non-contact digital infrared thermometer gun and a log kept.

Any person with a temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius must be made to visit a health facility immediately and not join the service that day.

Wearing Of Face Masks

All church members must be made to put on a face/ nose mask throughout the service. This must compulsively be enforced. Members caught flouting this directive must be reprimanded and cautioned.

Duration of church service

Every service should last 1hour 30 minutes or at most 1 hour 45 minutes.

Sitting Arrangements

Sitting arrangement in churches should be at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) away from the seats in front and behind and on both the left and right. The same applies to the aisle.

People aged 60 years and above should not be seated at the same place as the youth.

Running A Shift Service 

Depending on the size of the meeting place, a number of members could congregate at a time while observing the social distancing. All those who exceed the minimum number must be made to join the next service section.

Exiting After Close Of Service

Exiting the church after the close of service must be done in rows. Seat rows must be numbered. After the benediction is shared, everyone must remain seated, for an assigned officer from the ushering department to call your seat row before you exit one after the other.

The 2 meters distancing must be observed by members even after the close of service.
We must educate church members not to engage in any physical contact before, during, and after church services.

Giving Of Offerings

With numbered rows, offerings could also be given properly. Offerings given in cash must be in an envelope.
Where possible, people should be encouraged to give monies using momo, Vodafone cash, Tigo cash, bank transfers, G-cash etc.

Cash donations may have to be limited as much as possible. Before each person gives money, they should remember to apply the hand sanitizer again before doing so. Wide "mouth" offering bowls should be used so people don’t touch the top part of the bowl.

Song Ministration

During the time of Praise and worship (adoration) Song leaders and choristers must strictly observe social distancing. This applies to have choir rehearsals as well as any form of church meetings.

Dancing

During praises that goes with dancing, members should be reminded to observe social distancing in dancing. If possible an usher should stand at the platform area to remind people not to get close and where needed limit the number of people coming.

Sanitation 

The meeting places must be fumigated from time to time including the compounds when the church is not in session.

This exercise should be done by a professional or someone with basic health knowledge.
Church floors, toilets, and bathrooms must be mobbed with antiseptics such as Dettol or any recommended disinfectant.

Leadership must make sure the right chemicals are used.

Handling and Treatment of Microphones

Alcohol-based disinfectants must be used to clean all surfaces i.e chairs, tables, door handles, pulpits, tambourines, etc, before every service.

All microphone sponge must be cleaned and sanitized regularly.

There should be no sharing or exchanging of microphones during service. Microphone foam covers should be individualized, each minister assigned to a microphone should remove their used microphone foam carefully after service and washed. Microphones should be disinfected after each service.

The church should consider using lapel microphones for each speaker or cordless microphones assigned to each person on duty to minister.

Ushers/Protocol And Finance Department

Ushers and Cashiers must wear hand gloves throughout the service which must be sanitised from time to time.

Members could also wear hand gloves as well. They must be educated on when to remove it or sanitize the gloves.

People who are allergic to rubber products should not be asked to use gloves made from latex since that could result in hypersensitivity reaction manifesting as hives, rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose), asthma wheezing, difficulty in breathing etcetera.

What About If A Member Is Coughing?

Anyone coughing or sneezing must be ushered out gently from the meeting place. Such people should be counselled not to attend service if they have a cough.

Children's Department 

The children's department could pose a bit of challenge if we don't have qualified teachers and childminders to handle this department due to the unpredictability of children.

With the children we may apply a cut off like those aged 8 – 12 can be put in a group and all measures relating to safety applied.