As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease around the country, you may be working toward reopening your church for in-person services, if you have not already done so. As your church navigates this process, we are here to offer you some resources that may help you along the way.
Adhere to State and Local Guidelines
Most state and local governments have issued guidelines regarding COVID-19 procedures that can provide a road map for when and how your church may reopen. These guidelines will help dictate the appropriate worship experience you can consider offering based on the COVID-19 infection levels in your area. Additionally, review guidelines that may have been issued by your district or annual conference to ensure they reflect local restrictions.
Mask Up
A mask mandate may be a part of the state and local guidelines mentioned above. Be sure to follow all guidelines related to the use of masks indoors and consider providing masks to any staff and visitors to your church and its properties to help encourage safe practices.
Keep It Clean
While it is always important to keep your church buildings clean, the importance of proper, thorough cleaning and sanitation during this time cannot be understated. You may need to review and possibly revise your cleaning plans to help ensure a safe environment.
Social Distance
Be sure to encourage social distancing as long as it is recommended or required. This can include utilizing larger rooms, if available, for gatherings and limiting the number of people who may congregate together while adhering to local or state guidelines.
Inspect Outdoor Spaces
If you’ve been away from your church for a while, there is a chance that there may be some deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed. Take a walk around your property and note any areas that may need maintenance or repair. Pay close attention to walkways, parking lots, entryways, and stairs that could have been damaged over harsh winters. You can help prevent dangerous slips, trips, and falls by fixing issues that are identified. Prioritize those things that need immediate attention and have a plan in place to take care of other issues.
Review Your Insurance Coverage to Help Ensure Appropriate Protection
Every church has been impacted differently by the COVID-19 pandemic, and your operations may have changed as a result. Your coverage should reflect how your church operates today. You can review your current policy with a church insurance expert today and get a free quote by calling 484-654-3380.
This content has been prepared by United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) for informational purposes only. No article or document may accurately contemplate all possible scenarios or church resources. As such, this information is meant to foster discussion by the individual church and its members to develop a plan tailored to its own circumstances. UMI is providing this information with no warranties or guarantees of any kind and it should not be viewed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. All liability is expressly disclaimed. Any claim examples described herein are general in nature, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for informational purposes only. Any coverage available for a claim is determined from the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of any applicable policy, including any exclusions or deductibles. In the event of a conflict with the content herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.
The commercial insurance coverages for United Methodist Insurance are sold and serviced directly or indirectly by Sovereign Insurance Agency (CA Lic. No. 0B01380) ("Sovereign") and underwritten by various available insurance markets. Sovereign pays United Methodist Insurance a royalty for the use of its intellectual property.