The Clinton County Ministerial Association (CCMA) issued a response to the letter written by Clinton County Health Officer Dr. Steve Tharp regarding Easter gatherings. The following is that response.
Pastors and church staff are in the middle of what is usually a busy time of the church year. A lot of resources go into planning for Easter Sunday, one of the most festive and sacred days of the Christian year. With Easter just 11 days away amidst a worldwide pandemic and state-mandated stay-at-home- orders, pastors are scurrying to find alternatives to celebrating Resurrection Sunday.
On Monday, CCMA President Dr. David Fry sent a request to the Clinton County Department of Health soliciting input regarding guidelines that may effect Easter gatherings. Dr. Stephen Tharp, Clinton County Health Officer, responded on Wednesday afternoon. “Based upon inquiries about an alternative Easter Sunday church service for our community, I have spent time considering the acceptability of a service where participants would remain in their private vehicles, with less than 10 individuals in each car.” Tharp went on to express “grave concerns” for any sort of gathering including the popular drive-in church services that many churches have practiced over the past few weeks. He notes that the Methodist Council of Bishops as well as the Pope have endorsed canceling in-person religious services. Tharp concludes his response by requesting that pastors in Clinton County limit gatherings to online service and to avoid any in-person assemblies.
As President Trump and state governors continue to extend and expand social distancing orders, churches are responding in creative ways to maintain connection with their local congregants. Many are livestreaming worship services, some are hosting drive-in worship experiences, others have offered drive-through service for the Eucharist, while a few outliers are refusing all recommendations and meeting as usual, citing constitutional protection.
The DOH letter was made public through Central Dispatch’s Nixle messaging and reactions have been mixed. One pastor voiced concern with those who do not have the capacity to host an online service. Another local resident cited the number of people who are still shopping in local stores without following the social distancing guidelines. “I see us going to the grocery store because of necessity and being a lot closer than a car apart,” she said in comparing the prospect of a drive-in service. Some pastors have also expressed support for online-only worship.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Executive Committee of the CCMA met to discuss the DOH recommendation as well as input from other health professionals. Gene Davis, associate pastor at the Frankfort Bible Holiness Church and Infection Control Director at Witham Health Services, concurs with the Tharp that Easter Sunday falls within the time frame the CDC has identified as the peak period for the pandemic although different locales will “peak” at different times. Discussion at the CCMA Executive meeting included recognition that Christian pastors are being called upon to make difficult decisions. A primary role of church leaders is to shepherd the flock of God by fostering love for neighbor and caring for the vulnerable. The committee also discussed how pastors are pressured from both sides of the issue, some urging some form of social gathering and others warning that social distancing must be extended. From this meeting, the CCMA offers the following recommendations to the ministers of Clinton County:
- Love for neighbor and care for the vulnerable is a primary role of the Church. Therefore, we recommend following the social distancing guidelines described by federal, state, and local health officials.
- Ministry to the dying is a critical role of the pastor and we recommend that pastors wear appropriate personal protection equipment when fulfilling this role in person. This includes wearing gloves, masking, and, if possible, donning full medical covering of clothes and shoes.
- Promoting a county-wide Thanksgiving celebration once the World Health Organization has declared an end to the pandemic. We recommend that pastors begin planning for an Easter-like celebration in their churches for a date yet to be determined.
The Executive Committee of the CCMA is composed of Dr. David Fry, Rev. Pamela Ditson-McCall, and Rev. Kelly Kurth.