Folks are considering what the rest of 2020 and beyond might look like for churches. Only the virus knows what is in store, but church leaders are planning for the change. ♦ Indicates Latest Update
www.pcusa.org/covid19/
PCUSA’s Complete and Frequently Updated COVID-19 page
Too Much on PCUSA? Here is our Synod’s List of Links
Our government hesitates to tell churches what to do. At times, we may have to infer from guidelines for events and social gatherings. Always check the websites of your state and county for up to date information.
Nevada – Updated June 25
So, please, I cannot emphasize this enough, wear your face covering anytime you leave your house. When you go to restaurant, when you stop at a pharmacy, when you enter a casino, wear your face covering.
I strongly urge places of worship continue to provide online or virtual service …places of worship may reopen their doors for gatherings with a maximum of 50 people attending a service at a time and strict social distancing of at least six feet.
California – Updated May 25
The California Department of Public Health today announced the statewide reopening of places of worship for religious services and in-store retail shopping. Please check your county information.
From Pastors:
- ♦ PDF Letter from Rev. Sue Taylor about Returning to Public Worship at Virginia City
- ♦ PDF Letter from Rev. Scott Trevithick about Race
- ♦ PDF Rev. Bob Kelley (and others) has a Press Release about Reopening
From the Synod and PCUSA (see main page above!)
- PDF Returning to Public Worship May 2020 (20 pages!)
- PDF Beginning Conversations for Re-Entry (1 page!)
- PDF Online Faith Formation and Re-Entry
- PDF Give Your Pastor a Break! Ryan J. Landino, Great Rivers Presbytery
- PDF Public Singing and Worship Lisa Allgood, an epidemiologist & Cincinnati Transitional Presbyter.
- PDF CapinCrouse Impact of COVID-2019 on Church Giving
- PDF San Jose Presbytery letter about California (and other) Churches
- PDF 10 Stewardship “DO’s” and one “Do NOT”
- Live streaming Glory to God and Book of Common Worship
- PDF List of Public Domain Hymns in Glory to God
- ONE LICENSE and CCLI licensing for streaming / podcast music and videos
- Building Resilience webinar from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
- PDF Special Rules of Order for ZOOM! from Professional Registered Parliamentarian Greg Goodwiller
- PDF Session checklist of Denominational resources
Videos:
- Zoom tips for PCUSA Leaders from Synod of Mid-America
- Zoom tips for PCUSA Commissioners from Synod of Mid-America
- PDF Zoom Tips from Synod of Mid-America
- Choral Directors Association and Medical Specialists on Singing in Public.
Presbyterian Outlook Links:
- High Attendance with Low Giving
- PCUSA resources on returning to public worship (documents below)
- COVID-19 coverage by Presbyterian Outlook
- Staycation Bible School
Fuller Seminary Articles:
- Doing Youth Ministry during a Pandemic
- Faith in an Anxious World Parenting Podcast
- Helping Adolescents Work Through the Rising Tide of Anxiety
Articles in Other Publications / Organizations
- ♦ Thoughtful Christian Resources (on Race)
- Pandemic Confusing Uncertainty – The Atlantic
- Church Themes (our website creator) has online giving and streaming worship providers
- Church Mutual Insurance COVID-19 Response Toolkit
- Zoom Security from Church Tax & Law Report (reprinted from Ministry Tech)
- Reopening Air Force Chapels
- The Risks – Know Them – Avoid Them – Case Studies in Group Gatherings
- PDF Singing…public worship, Presbyterian Ass’n of Musicians – May 21, 2020
Insurance Board Guides 5/15/2020
Repeats from our website:
- Ken Braddy of Lifeway has 24 questions to answer before people return
- Thom S. Rainer has 5 ways pastors will be different
- Bill Wison with Center for Healthy Churches considers What’s Next
- Christy Ramsey highlights the plight of the paperbound
- Returning to Church – Resetting Expectations (Wisconsin Council of Churches)
The above outlines a phased approach to reopening - Christy Ramsey blogs about reopening early. Click at end for comment by Carl Dahlen
Email the articles you are considering to clerk@nevadapresbytery.org and we’ll update this page.
- Updated 4/25 to correct links and add Returning to Church
- Updated 5/5 to add links to Christy Ramsey’s blog
- Updated 5/18 with more links.
- Updated 5/19 with Insurance Board PDF guides, Choral video links, and Synod mid-council Zoom chat recommendations
