COVID & Worship Seating Updates
This past week the Center for Disease Control released new guidelines for vaccinated people that greatly reduced the number of places in which vaccinated people are instructed to wear masks. The State of California also released a statement on Monday stating that California’s mask mandate will continue in effect until June 15.
With this scientific and legal information, Faith’s council met last night to discuss what the implications are for our spiritual community. We entered our conversation mindful that the past 14 months have been incredibly stressful and challenging for our whole community. There are those among us for whom masks have been physically uncomfortable and socially stifling, and they cannot wait to remove them. There are also those among us for whom wearing masks has given them some semblance of control over the safety of their loved ones in a year of turmoil, and they are not yet ready to remove their masks. While most of our congregation has been vaccinated, children under 12 still cannot receive the vaccine, forcing parents to be particularly cautious as masks come down. And there are some adults who cannot or will not take the vaccine.
With all these considerations in mind, Faith has adopted the following new Covid-19 policies:
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Following California state law, we will continue to require masks for worship until June 15th, at which point, they will become optional. Continuing the mask mandate until June 15 gives those of us who are anxious about removing masks time to come to terms with the transition. It also gives hope to those of us who are anxious to be rid of masks that the end is in sight. Waiting to remove masks gives us another month to improve community immunity. Importantly, this timeline abides by the law.
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Effective immediately, we will stop taking RSVPs, stop assigned seating, and stop temperature checks. Seating will now be first come, first served. Based on the CDC guidelines, ceasing assigned seating and temperature checks will have minimal impact on the safety of worshippers, and it will be a tangible step towards making worship feel less restrictive and more welcoming. Each week we consistently have an abundance of available seats, even limiting our capacity to 50%. Additional seats will be added over the next several weeks as restrictions relax.
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Small groups (15 or less) meeting on Faith’s campus may meet without masks when vaccinated and with the consent of the people gathered. Both CDC guidelines and the State of California permit a group of fully vaccinated people to gather indoors without masks. If you are meeting with a small group at Faith, please ask those you are with if they are vaccinated and comfortable removing masks.
This past year has been one of constant change and learning new ways to care for ourselves and for our neighbors. I am grateful for the love, generosity, and courtesy that our congregation has shown each other throughout these challenges.
Your Brother in Christ,
Pastor Ben Colahan