Church restarting

We would like to restart our Church worship services. We would maintain social distancing, also using gloves and face masks. We would have hand gel at the doors.
All Muslims, and Jewish congregations feel the same way.

Surely if pubs can be opened so can Churches ?

Why the contribution is important

Our people meet together to worship God and to fellowship with one other. Studies say that people that have a faith tend to live longer and have a happier lives. If Churches can use the same safe guards that grocery stores employ, they should be allowed to open.

by Livingstonian on May 06, 2020 at 03:18PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.3
Based on: 37 votes

Comments

  • Posted by AnnLang1 May 06, 2020 at 15:21

    They are important to people maybe they could open with smaller amounts of people but continue with social distancing

  • Posted by Beachdweller May 06, 2020 at 15:23

    How would churches keep people 2m apart?

  • Posted by Villager1 May 06, 2020 at 15:26

    No. Un necessary social contact. Wait until infection eliminated.

  • Posted by Preacherjim May 06, 2020 at 15:28

    Amen

  • Posted by KimmyClaus May 06, 2020 at 15:30

    I think smaller churches should be allowed to meet, especially if they can maintain the required social distancing and group numbers allowed. They could keep records of those attending and disinfect after each service. This should not be any more risky than the public shopping that’s allowed now.

  • Posted by JeannieM May 06, 2020 at 15:37

    While I agree pubs should not open before churches, I do think there are much more important services to be opened up before churches, e.g therapeutic support for the mentally ill, such as men’s sheds, etc.

  • Posted by JeannieM May 06, 2020 at 15:38

    It is not necessary to attend church to have faith!

  • Posted by FNunn May 06, 2020 at 15:48

    just unnecessary.

  • Posted by Amf May 06, 2020 at 15:48

    I don’t think this is a good idea because of the average age of church goers . This is a group who find it difficult to social distance

  • Posted by sbecker May 06, 2020 at 15:49

    Pubs should not be open and neither should churches

  • Posted by CCorbett May 06, 2020 at 15:59

    Ridiculous that this is even suggested

  • Posted by grace May 06, 2020 at 17:04

    This is a very important issue for the Churches and The Government to discuss . The Roman Catholic Church is coming up with some suggestions for safety but they may need to think a little more and perhaps consult with their congregations, who are keen to return to Mass but recognise that the health of everybody, including our many elderly priests, must be considered . All Faiths must come up with a plan for safe distancing, arranging more service times so that fewer people are gathered together, and reducing contact as much as possible during the services . It is not impossible. We just have to have Faith!

  • Posted by lmg1612 May 06, 2020 at 17:45

    We have several churches locally, and I'm told the congregations are vastly made up of older people. Many need assistance to get to church. My head says keep them closed, however, I know faith is important to many.

  • Posted by GeoC May 06, 2020 at 17:53

    Although missing church sevices I am very aware that a large proportion of members are elderly and may be invulnerable helath, many needing brought to services, increasing difficulties social distancing. Many chruches have online services a substitute for some of us who have connectivity

  • Posted by Julie May 06, 2020 at 17:55

    Churches / other places of worship should be opened when it is safe to do so.

    It does seem strange that there has been very little discussion about this subject but lots of air time given to football and sport in general, pubs etc. This thread at least highlights the fact that the issue is important as well.

  • Posted by ChristianBeliever May 06, 2020 at 18:42

    Can and should be done with appropriate precautions. Very important to many people who don't have good connectivity or Internet capabilities, don't have a voice here, and can't join online services.

    Obviously caution is needed but there are ways to be careful, just as shops can maintain social distancing and put measures in place.

  • Posted by djcozzer May 06, 2020 at 18:57

    I agree. Face masks in shops can work in churches and other places. Maybe not football stadiums just yet😀

  • Posted by Lstewart May 06, 2020 at 19:56

    Honestly, if god existed this virus wouldn't be here.

    Killing thousands of innocent people is the work of pure evil. To think that a god with the power to literally squash this virus continues to let people die in agony, letting families be torn apart in grief is worthy of worship is frankly unthinkable

  • Posted by Elena May 07, 2020 at 00:52

    Please make this a priority, we need access to our places of worship. For believers, the POINT of life is to worship God. To me, going to Church is just as necessary as having food to eat and a roof over my head.

  • Posted by randomchaos May 07, 2020 at 15:13

    It's amazing that people who don't go to church are so opposed to others going. If you don't want to go or don't feel safe going, that is your right. But there are many in Scotland who want to get together with other Christians and worship the Lord with them. Online services are well and good, but they don't replace face-to-face interactions.

  • Posted by ChristianBeliever May 07, 2020 at 17:32

    "Online services are well and good" but they also don't work for everyone. Not everyone is tech-savvy. And some people are getting seriously depressed, with possible long-term problems.

  • Posted by Purple23 May 08, 2020 at 00:27

    Randomchaos, those that choose to attend places of worship run the risk of becoming infected. Once infected they will spread their infection to others and to the very folk you say have a choice in whether they attend worship. Not all members of the same household have a faith.

  • Posted by MRCockburn May 08, 2020 at 18:03

    Churches should open when cafes and pubs open. All gatherings should be treated the same as the risks to public health are the same.

  • Posted by kpm321 May 10, 2020 at 17:06

    I agree. Churches differ from pubs because social distancing would be easy to implement in most church buildings.

  • Posted by Hannah May 11, 2020 at 21:22

    Yes, I think this is very important. Church is a place where people can connect and find a refuge, there are people at home alone who don’t have anyone to talk to and need somewhere to feel at peace and safe. Many people are struggling with mental health right now, and church is a place where they would see people and be supported. I’m thirteen years old and I know people who have been struggling with mental health in the past and have found friends and support in church groups. Church is important to many people and it wouldn’t be too difficult to have social distancing in churches and keep safe.
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