Update on Churches, COVID-19 reopening and risk assessments

Here’s a further update from my post earlier this week as you seek to prepare for post 19th July worship.  The first crucial piece of information is that the Government have now published updated guidance for churches.  You can read it here. The key things to  note are that As expected, churches are encouraged to… Continue reading Update on Churches, COVID-19 reopening and risk assessments

Risk Management decisions and in person worship post July 19th re-opening

Sunday 25th July will be a crunch date in the calendar. This is the first Sunday after the formal relaxation of all COVID restrictions in England. It means that there will no longer be regulations and fines relating to failure to wear masks or socially distance at a church gathering. Singing will also be allowed… Continue reading Risk Management decisions and in person worship post July 19th re-opening

The risks for churches post 19th July

After the 19th July, the Government will remove all remaining COVID-19 measures. This means that there will not be legal restrictions such as social distancing or wearing face masks. But the Government and the national health/science advisors have been clear that COVID hasn’t gone away. It’s not that those measures don’t matter anymore, it’s that… Continue reading The risks for churches post 19th July

The long haul pastoral job of bringing your church out of COVID

Church returns to normal on the 25th July. What this means is that  all the legal restrictions we have faced will have been removed.  For various reasons, I think we can still expect it to actually take longer for things to return fully to normal.  I will keep repeating this but don’t expect everyone to… Continue reading The long haul pastoral job of bringing your church out of COVID

COVID and church re-opening

I’m continuing to try and provide little updates regarding what we are seeing in terms of COVID-19 data. My aim in these posts is particularly to help church leaders have visibility of the type of information that will be informing the Government’s decision making on whether to re-open fully on the 19th July. This week,… Continue reading COVID and church re-opening

Returning well – lean into your blindspots

The Government are expected to confirm on Monday 12th July the ending of all remaining COVID-`9 measures.  There has been a lot of speculation over the past few weeks about what that will exactly look like.  On the one hand, there have been briefings from some ministers, scientists and even the PM suggesting that some… Continue reading Returning well – lean into your blindspots

Songs for a COVID Generation

I thought I’d share with you some of the songs on my playlist that have kept us going through the pandemic. This is the stuff I’ve been sticking on YouTube and singing along to.  I’m looking forward to singing them, and other songs again together with others when we finally get free from all restrictions… Continue reading Songs for a COVID Generation

Is it time to stop publishing the COVID case data daily?

There are increasing calls, not just from politicians but from scientists too for the daily update on COVID cases to end. Some countries have already moved to weekly reporting. The argument is that reading about exponentially growing cases serves to increase anxiety among the public. It also means we don’t look at COVID in perspective.… Continue reading Is it time to stop publishing the COVID case data daily?

Why It’s time to return to in person church

Since the delay to the completion of England’s roadmap out of lockdown, I’ve been including regular updates on Faithroots to help church leaders stay up to date with the data and plan ahead. Today I want to write to church members generally and explain why I would encourage you, if you haven’t already, to begin… Continue reading Why It’s time to return to in person church

Out of lockdown – a further update and more thoughts on masks and contact tracing

I’m trying to include a regular update on Faithroots regarding the COVID-19 situation and the move towards ending all restrictions here in England and the wider UK. My aim is to try and help church leaders stay abreast of what might be happening and plan accordingly.  Obviously, I’m not an epidemiologist or an immunologist, just… Continue reading Out of lockdown – a further update and more thoughts on masks and contact tracing