Church Attendance

“In a more in-depth examination of those groups released Wednesday, researchers found significant generational divides, noting that half of practicing Christian millennials had not attended church in the past four weeks.

“A church in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, will be closed for 14 days after a reported 28 people connected with the church tested positive for COVID-19.

“Evangelical Christian Baptist Church “leaders said they followed safety guidelines and disinfected the entire building before the service. They also provided hand sanitizer to attendees and required that people stay 1.5 meters (five feet) apart, per regulations.” - CL

“Group 1 contains those who don’t feel vulnerable, haven’t lost anyone they love, don’t know anyone who has suffered from Covid-19, and don’t live in a region strongly impacted. Group 1 feels oppressed by government overreach. Group 2 contains those who are vulnerable, who have lost a close relationship, who know someone who has suffered from Covid-19, and who live near regions that have been seriously impacted.

“The reasons someone might not want to attend church gatherings vary greatly and our pastoral response will be directed to such reasons.

“… this study suggests that religious service attendance was associated with lower risk of deaths from despair among both men and women, accounting for a wide range of potential confounders (including other aspects of social integration)” - CPost

Pastor Nic Burleson “says his church is also putting all food service on hold.

“Don’t let the excitement of finally coming back together cloud your judgement or cause you to ignore the ‘new normal.’” - F&T

One church “said it will only allow 10 people at a time for Sunday worship, and will start a new service every hour.” - CPost

“Older churchgoers are bound to be among the most eager to return to services. The elderly were particularly prone to social isolation and loneliness before the pandemic, and during the intervening weeks of social distancing, they were less likely to have participated in the digital options offered as an alternative to in-person fellowship.