NASHVILLE (BP) — As churches prepare to transition worship services back to in-person gatherings, leaders are beginning to think about how to guide and care for those in their congregation who are most vulnerable in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senior adults age 65 and older are at high risk for severe illness from the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They also are a large portion of the membership and volunteer base of Southern Baptist churches and crucial to many churches’ outreach and financial stability.
Aaron Meraz works closely with older Southern Baptists as director of GuideStone Financial Resources’ Mission:Dignity program, which provides financial support to retired Southern Baptist ministers and their widows.
“Almost one-third of SBC church attendees are senior adults above the age of 65,” Meraz said. “So many of the teachers and other volunteers are senior adults as well.”
Guidance issued Monday (April 27) by the office of the Texas attorney general notes that according to an executive order issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, “houses of worship provide ‘essential services.'” But even as it provides guidelines for resuming in-person gatherings in the state, it suggests churches should “strongly encourage” the at-risk population — defined as people 65 or older, especially if they have underlying health conditions — “to watch or participate in the service remotely,” and that churches should “designate an area inside the facility reserved for the at-risk population, or offer a service for at-risk population attendees only.”
Leading with love and not just logistics should be the goal of pastors, said Gregg Matte, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Houston.
Matte’s team has a three-fold decision-making process, taking into consideration the leadership of the Lord, the counsel of officials and the comfort level of the people.
Click here to read more.
Source: Baptist Press
BCNN1 WP 