5 reasons why your church members disagree on when to reopen

Christian Post ^ | 05/27/2020 | Thom S. Rainer

[SeekAndFind]

It has become a common theme at Church Answers. We are hearing from pastors and other church leaders about members who have divergent opinions on the timing for regathering the in-person services.

No surprise here.

It might be helpful, however, to understand the reasons behind the disagreements. We see five major themes.

1. Strong extroverts and strong introverts will have major disagreements on timing. The reason is obvious. The extrovert is dying to resume interaction with fellow church members. He or she thrives on in-person gatherings and conversations. The strong introvert, however, has done well seeing few people and interacting with few people during the quarantine. I fit the latter category.

1. Different church members have different sources of authority on the coronavirus. Some of it could be related to political leanings. For others, it could be connected to the type of news that comes through social media. For some, they listen to certain friends and family members. In case you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of different opinions out there.

1. Age and health can be factors of divergent opinions. Two of the common themes about COVID-19 have been the vulnerability of the older population and those with underlying conditions. It would not be unexpected for those two groups to be more likely to prefer a later opening than an earlier opening. One of my sons has chronic asthma. I worry about him returning to in-person services too soon.

1. Parents with children may decide to wait. Most churches will not segregate the children from the adult worship services at the onset of the regathering. Some parents will be hesitant to bring the kids to the worship services for health reasons and for fear of disruption.

1. Attitudes toward change affect opinions about regathering. For example, if a change resistant church member learns that the church must have additional services for social distancing, he or she may prefer to wait until the church can return to “normal.” Change-receptive church members, however, are often eager to try new services and new ideas. They will be ready to return and experiment with the new approaches.

It’s cliché for you pastors and church leaders to hear, but you can’t please everyone all the time. Take the path you deem is best for the church and for the health of those who will attend. Listen to voices of wisdom. And pray that God will honor your decision and protect everyone involved.

This piece was first published at Church Answers

Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, an online community and resource for church leaders. Prior to founding Church Answers, Rainer served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources.

[cuban leaf]

The extrovert is dying to resume interaction with fellow church members.

---

Well, I’m the extrovert and that is, technically, my position (without the “dying to” part). But I see it this way. Church is kinda like going to a prostitute. It’s personal. I’ll do neither via zoom.

Actually, I won’t do one of them at all. ;)

This is the message I gave them at my church. I told them to let me know when it is “business as usual” and I’ll be back. But not until then.

And business as usual means no mask requirement and no social distancing requirement, etc.

[pgyanke]

Wow... all five are number 1.

That aside, he missed the fundamental reason... lack of faith. We have allowed our faith in God to erode in this country to the point that freedom of religion is all but meaningless. When the Church and Her members are all looking to the State and secular authority for wisdom and permission, we have lost our way.

[Texas Eagle]

Fine. Let them disagree. But let them decide for themselves.

[Drango]

How hard is it to follow civil authorities? The church isn’t a building... it’s the people.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Easy solution. People afraid of the virus can stay home. Problem solved! ...and it didn’t require a CEO or PHD

[exnavy]

The bottom line is: americans are dumbed down on viriul infections, how to protect themselves and family, and news media and democrat demogogery is rampant. A fearful people are easy to control.

[olivia3boys]

I’m a committed Christian and I’ve attended church weekly (or more often) for over 35 years. I live in a very blue county of a very blue state, and during the lockdown my Sunday morning worship now looks like this: a recorded sermon from my pastor (or another pastor I like from RightNowMedia) on youtube, some Bible reading, and then I play Christian music for a few hours. We’ve kept our financial contributions up to our home church. It hasn’t been a huge deal, this break from “church.” The church is its members, after all, not a building.

For church reopening, I’d prefer first home gatherings in backyards or parks and outdoor services for the rest of the summer. I’m a huge believer in fresh air/sunshine. The virus just doesn’t seem to get transmitted much in that environment this summer. I went on a trip to Israel last fall with a group of 50 with my church and the pastor would preach to us outdoors, at every holy site we visited. It was great.

[Jan_Sobieski]

There is no precedent for Civil Authorities having the right to shut private law abiding businesses and churches. This level of totalitarianism requires a nationwide reset via the courts

[cloudmountain]

Shouldn’t it up to the local bishop(s)??

[Fido969]

Too complicated.

Here:

Liberals want to stay closed. Conservatives want to open.

I’ve found that rule tends to work fairly well.

[ClearCase_guy]

Fine. Let them disagree. But let them decide for themselves.

I think that gets to the heart of it and I think the article misses the mark.

There may be 5 (or whatever) ways that people react to the virus. That's a broad, general statement.

New topic: Should your church be open?

Answer: Yes. Always. People can decide to go or not. You might get 20% of the usual congregation. Or 40%. Or 60%. Or 80%. Or 100% There are 5 ways people might react, right? But the church should be open and allow people to make their own decision.

[cloudmountain]

The church is its members, after all, not a building.

Matthew 18:20
20For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

[The Toddler]

They left out ignorance/ lack of faith as the number one reason people don’t want to re-open.

[cgbg]

Great post—we need more constructive proposals here.

The finger pointing and name calling I am seeing on this thread (and so many others) is missing the opportunity to create win win scenarios.

FR can do better. We must do better.

[rockrr]

I’m more of an introvert but my stance has been consistent - the response to Controlla-Virus has been needlessly heavy-handed and overblown. The libertarian in me recognizes the necessity of determining and following what’s best for oneself and family - but don’t dictate to me how I must behave!

I also noticed some idiotic knee-jerk by a few clergy in response to Trumps recommendation (NOT edict!). Don’t NOT do something because someone you dislike tells the truth!

[Texas Eagle]

Exactly. I’ll bet most churches didn’t operate at 25% capacity before the lockdown. And they practiced Social Distancing long before Social Distancing became mandatory.

[MayflowerMadam]

EVERYONE in our congregation wanted to open ASAP — didn’t even want to close.

[cyclotic]

I reject number 1. I'm an extrovert and my wife is an introvert. We both believe our church should reopen.

I had a long conversation with one of our elders yesterday.

I shared my opinion that the Church bears a greater responsibility during a Constitution crisis as our state is embroiled in.

Joe's dry cleaner isn't specifically enumerated in the Constitution but the Church is in the First Amendment.

I told him that I believe this is our hill to die on.

To show that I didn't say it was his hill to doe on, I told him that I was an organizer for a ReOpen rally last weekend and was fully prepared if the State Police showed up to be handcuffed. It's my hill to die on too.

Churches make hero's of Rahab, Corrie Ten Boom and Dietrich Bonhoffer for their civil disobedience yet when they have the opportunity to step out, they fall back on obeying the authorities, kind of forgetting the Constitution and the whole We the People, consent of the governed, of the people, by the people and for the people part. Lives fortunes and sacred honor actually means something

[cyclotic]

Your “civil Authorities” are actually just elected employees. Free exercise of religion means what it says, Free, unfettered by any interference by the government.

Should a church choose to shut down, more power to them, it’s voluntary. Should they choose modified meetings or full meetings, that is up to the leadership and the members.

I suggested full open with continued livestreaming so members may choose themselves their level of comfort and risk.