Diocesan update: reopening our church buildings and in person ministry

June 9, 2021

Reopening our Church Buildings & In Person Ministry

Dear Friends,

The Province of Ontario government has announced a three step plan across the whole province to cautiously and gradually reopen Ontario. With similar caution, the Diocese of Ontario will gradually reopen its church buildings and resume in person ministry. The diocese will achieve this reopening by aligning our COVID-19 protocols in step with the province’s plan. The province has established specific metrics for entering each step, based on vaccination coverage and other factors, such as the rate of new cases.

As we have throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Diocese of Ontario carefully ensures our guidelines are built on the directives of the Government of Ontario and local health authorities. This will continue as we move into the plan with a continued focus on fundamental pandemic hygiene practices including:

• hand sanitizing
• self assessment before entering buildings
• staying home if feeling sick
• practicing physical distancing
• wearing of masks
• taking all steps to maximize ventilation in buildings
• avoiding any physical contact between people

 
As always, if there is a discrepancy between diocesan protocols and government/local health unit protocols then the directives that provide the most protection must be followed.

The Province of Ontario has announced that Step 1 of the re-opening plan will now begin on Friday June 11. They have advanced from the previous date and have moved limited religious rites held in buildings to the first phase. Each step of the reopening plan will remain in place for a minimum of 21 days, gated by the province achieving specific metrics. 

In the Diocese of Ontario, church buildings will remain closed to in-person worship until Wednesday June 16. This will allow sufficient time for churches to prepare their buildings, revisit their protocols and practices, communicate with parishioners and ensure that everything is in place for a safe return. As always, incumbents and wardens who do not feel comfortable making the decision to move into the reopening plan due to local circumstances can wait until comfort and preparation levels in their congregation are in place. Their decision will be supported by the bishop and the diocese. 

Churches may offer outdoor services beginning Sunday June 13. Thrift Stores that are not inside a church building may re-open on Friday June 11, subject to the capacity limits for non-essential retail and with all required protocols in place. 

Step 1 of Reopening our Church Buildings & In Person Ministry
Effective date: Sunday June 13th  

• Outdoor worship services are permitted. Masks must be worn and a minimum of 2m (6ft) of physical distancing must be maintained between all in attendance, to a maximum of 50 people. Only people within the same social bubble may be closer than the required distance.
• Gatherings for outdoor worship services must have a minimum of two (2) sides-people designated to ensure the maintenance of the required physical distance between worshipers.
• All protocols from the “Amber Stage” apply to liturgy (Communion in one kind only with no contact).
• Church buildings continue to be closed to the public, except in circumstances where tenants or licenses are permitted to operate according to provincial, local, and diocesan guidelines.
• Recording or livestreaming of worship indoors continue with the same restrictions currently in place.
• The Bereavement Authority of Ontario has placed the following restrictions on Funeral Services:
  • Indoors at a funeral home – maximum of 15 per cent capacity of a particular room to a maximum of 50 attendees in the entire facility
  • Outdoors – Two metres physical distancing to a maximum of 50 attendees.

 Effective date: Wednesday June 16th

• Church buildings will be able to open to in-person worship services and other activities. The total number of people permitted to be present in the building at any one time may not exceed the LESSER of 15% of the building’s pre-pandemic capacity OR the capacity of the building with physical distancing. This includes the presider, musicians, servers, sidespeople, etc. The Amber guidelines contained a tool to assist in calculating the capacity with physical distancing.
• Outdoor worship services are permitted. Masks must be worn and a minimum of 2m (6ft) of physical distancing must be maintained between all in attendance to a maximum of 50 people. Only people within the same social bubble may be closer than the required distance.
• Gatherings for outdoor worship services must have a minimum of two (2) sides-people designated to ensure the maintenance of the required physical distance between worshipers.
• Corporate worship (regular weekly worship services) should continue to be live-streamed or pre-recorded and made available online. The previous guidelines apply to recorded worship sessions.
• Parish meetings should take place online or via teleconference.
• Offices may reopen for staff and lay leaders where physical distancing is possible. Masks are to be worn at all times in shared spaces.
• 12 Step Programs may resume with a maximum of 10 people with protocols in place.
• Small weddings, funerals, and emergency baptisms are permitted. Capacity limited to 15% for Indoor services. Outdoor services are limited by ability to physically distance 2 metres up to a maximum of 50 people.
• Vital food security, community and other outreach ministries to vulnerable populations are permitted to operate, with appropriate local public health approval.
• Essential one-on-one, in person pastoral care by clergy and pastoral visitors is permitted. Each area hospital, nursing home and hospice has its own guidelines. These are to be followed at all times. The previous Amber Guidelines for pastoral visitation apply for visitations outside of facilities.
• Food and beverages are not to be served or shared.
• Social mingling in person should be discouraged. Any gathering of people outdoors (other than worship) is restricted to 10 people socially distanced.
• Celebration of the Holy Eucharist continues to be distributing the bread only.
• Restrictions concerning singing/congregational song in the Amber protocols remain in place.
• After the ritual dialogue for the greeting of peace, worshipers are not to shake hands or hug. Ritual gestures such as bowing, smiling, a bow of the head with hand over the heart or similar gesture from the place they are seated are appropriate and to be encouraged.
• Collection plates and baskets are not to be passed person-to-person. Worshipers may deposit their offering into plates or baskets prominently placed out to receive them.
• If the offering plate is presented at the altar, the presenter should hold it during the prayer over the gifts. It should not be handed to a server or presider and then handed back. *Note: this protocol of not passing items between persons throughout the liturgy applies to all aspects of the liturgy (ex. microphones, communion vessels, incense bowls, books, etc.).
• An attendance logbook must be maintained, with contact information of all individuals entering the building or participating in allowed events on church property. Log sheets will be kept for the 30 days following the occasion. Same form as previously used.
• Please note that yard sales, any similar event (indoor or outdoor) are not permitted.
• It is highly recommended that online and outdoor options remain the primary mode of accomplishing church activities whenever possible.

Key Changes in Guidelines from Previous

• Capacity of churches (see specifics).
• Delivery of worship materials, Christian education materials, parish newsletters, etc. is permitted if done in a non-contact manner. For example, sides-people cannot hand out worship service bulletins or books to people arriving. These sorts of materials may be placed on individual chairs, by a person who has sanitized his/her/their hands, prior to the arrival of any worship service participants.
• Sanitation remains an important factor. Evidence has shown that the risk of infection from surfaces that may have the virus is much lower than airborne spreading. Guidance from experts now indicates that in most situations, regular cleaning(once a day) is enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on surfaces. However, for high touch areas (light switches, handrails, etc) more frequent is appropriate. With the rest of the protocols in place and with low community infection rates, churches can reduce the frequency and breadth of cleaning. If multiple services are held in a day, cleaning may be focused on high touch areas rather than all surfaces.
• Ventilation must be maximized. Doors and windows open, with fans blowing (exhausting) air from the inside of the building to the outside should be a major focus. Fans should not be pointed at people or circulating air within the building.

Step 2 of Reopening our Church Buildings & In Person Ministry

Effective date: The Sunday immediately following the province’s implementation of Step 2 of Reopening Ontario; a minimum of 21 days after the implementation of Step 1. Current forecast is July 4.

The guidelines laid out in Step 1 of Reopening our Churches remain in effect with the following planned changes:

• The total number of people permitted to be present in the building at any one time may not exceed the LESSER of 25% of the building’s pre-pandemic capacity OR the capacity of the building with physical distancing. This includes the presider, musicians, servers, sidespeople, etc. The Amber guidelines contained a tool to assist in calculating the capacity with physical distancing.

At this time, the intention is that all other protocols will continue to apply.

Step 3 of Reopening our Church Buildings & In Person Ministry

Effective date: The Sunday immediately following the province’s implementation of Step 3 of Reopening Ontario; a minimum of 21 days after the implementation of Step 2. Current Forecast is July 25.

• The total number of people permitted to be present in the building is expected to increase to a higher level, but at this time the province has not communicated what it will be or is forecasted to be. Further guidance will be provided once available.

At this time, the intention is that all other protocols will continue to apply.

Yours in Christ,