How to organise church activities in the 1

How to organise church activities in the 1, 5 meter society

Since June, churches can host meetings/services of max. 30 visitors. From July 1 st 2020, max. 100 are allowed to be present at church meetings/services. Personnel (such as pastor, worship team and technicians) is included in this amount. Churches are advised not to push the boundaries of what can and should be done. For example it is not allowed to meet with multiple groups of 30 of 100 in different halls in the same church building at the same time, if they are all part of the same church.

Churches that share the same building, are expected to leave enough time between their services to clean and ventilate all rooms thouroughly (ca. 2 hours minimum). If churches worship in the same building at the same time, they need to use completely separate areas. They need to have separate entrances/exits, seperate halls, seperate kitchen and toilets, so that both congregations do not at any time meet each other.

Online services are still a good and safe alternative. Singing is not recommended, because it seems to be a source of infection. People have to be seated at 1, 5 meter distance, only families that live together in one home can stay together. Moving around is not recommended, because it becomes very difficult to maintain the 1, 5 meter distance. So please dance on your own spot! Please note that these prescriptions can be changed by the government any time.

Outside the church building: Religious activities can be limited by the government for health reasons outside the church building too (as are other group gatherings in the public space). The regulations can be different depending on different local situations. Outside, the same regulations are valid: max. 30 visitors (from July 100) and at 1, 5 meter distance.

Protocol (1) • Churches are obliged to make a protocol or a plan of operation, stating how they plan to operate in their building respecting government regulations. This protocol describes the practical measures a church takes to ensure all rules are respected and enforced. It is valid for all activities within the building. • The starting point is that the protocol is clear and manageable for all churches, pastors, workers in the church, volunteers and visitors. The protocol is required to respect RIVM regulations. • All churches must have their own protocol. If you are using another church’s building, both owner and tenant should have a protocol. The tenant’s protocol will have to respect the owner’s protocol and adapt it to their own mode of operation. • A printed version of the protocol should be available in the building, and all present should be informed of the rules. Inspections can take place, and a fine can be imposed for organisations that do not follow government regulations!

Protocol (2) When your church reopens, you are obliged have a protocol or plan of operations for all activities in and around the building you use, and act accordingly. This protocol should state, among other things: how you ensure that people can keep a 1. 5 m distance in the church building how the walking routes are how you ensure that no more than the maximum amount of people are allowed in, and how you register them at every activity how you keep the hygiene which officials belong to 'the staff' who is exempted from the 1. 5 m distance in the case of baptism, laying on of hands, or other ritual acts (i. e. the pastor) who is responsible for the execution of the protocol (the leadership) how you communicate the usage plan to your visitors. You must be able to show the protocol whenever so requested (inspection may take place).

Check the amount of people present • • • First, you must calculate the capacity of your church building: how many people can be safely seated at 1, 5 meter distance? Small churches with less than 100 members and enough space will not have a problem. All others have to think how to deal with the situation in which more people come to church than can be safely seated. Church leadership must monitor the amount of people present and will be held responsible in case of inspection. What if more visitors come than the amount that can be allowed in? • Count at the entrance • Invite per group or per area • More than allowed visitors? Sorry, you have to send people home. . . The names and phone numbers of all visitors must be registered each Sunday. This information will only used if infection is discovered in a visitor afterwards, and the GGD wants to find out who else could be infected.

Elderly and sick people Visiting church: The government has clear prescriptions when somebody should or should not visit an activity. Check the most recent regulations here: the website of the national government. Generally speaking, vulnerable people are recommended to be extra careful and sick people are recommended to stay at home. It is compulsary to state in your protocol how you plan to take care of vulnerable and elderly people. You are recommended to follow the regulations of RIVM in this.

Points of interest • • Avoid crowding when entering and exiting the building. Clean toilets before and after the service Use microphones on a standard, give everybody their own microphone, don’t share mics, keep enough distance. Hygiene is more important than sound quality! If possible, take microphone covers home and wash for re-use. Put the offering in a bowl, not in a bag, which is put in a place where everybody can walk past (don’t hand on the bowl from one person to another). Stimulate people to give digitally as much as possible. People can use desinfectant when entering and leaving the building. Mouth masks can also be used for extra safety. Baptism, blessing, congratulations Keep 1, 5 meter distance too. Pastors are a socalled ‘vital profession’ and are allowed within the 1, 5 meter. But please note, you must put this rule in writing in your protocol!

Example ICU Gouda Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda June 2020 guidelines Usage of building according to RIVM

Example ICU Gouda Protocol Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda June 2020 Usage of building according to RIVM guidelines Church services in times of corona • • The leadership team is responsible and gives instruction to the congregation before the services start again. The leadership team makes a plan for each room, and determines how many people the building can contain maximally, within RIVM guidelines. The instruction is communicated beforehand to the congregation and is visible in the building by putting up instructions in each room and at the entrance. The leadership team of the ICU Gouda determines which people can come early to help with preparations. Services are streamed so people who want to stay home, can do so. At the entrance, there is a leaflet with instructions, all visitors are registered (name and phone number) and checked that they are not ill. The leadership team makes special instructions how to clean the building according to RIVM guidelines.

Example ICU Gouda Protocol Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda June 2020 Usage of building according to RIVM guidelines Church services in times of corona • • • Music is made on stage, musicians stand 1. 5 meters apart. No microphones are shared. Sacraments, baptize, Eucharist: also keep 1. 5 meters away. Pastors Harm van Schie, Esther van Schie, Marien Kollenstaart are allowed to lay hands on people in case of baptism or blessing. The pastor is the only one who comes within 1. 5 meters during the sacrament. At that moment he will wear a mouth cap. After the (short) act he will disinfect his hands. No hands or other physical touch is imposed by anyone else. Moving around, dancing, singing is not allowed. Eating and drinking after services is not recommended Coffee and fellowship only when strictly invited. Max 30 p. • The same rules apply • Tables are arranged beforehand • Coffee is brought by personnel, not fetched by everybody themselves.

Example ICU Gouda: door instructions Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda June 2020 Usage of building according to RIVM guidelines: • • • Keep 1, 5 meter distance • Max. 30 (from July 100 people) in our building Name and phone number of visitors are registered Follow the marked walking routes The chairs and tables are arranged so to leave 1, 5 meter distance between them. Don’t move chairs and tables around. • Read the instruction for each room Toilets/bathroom: • desinfect before and after usage. • use the tissues Parents: keep an extra eye on the children, don’t let them run around Guest: welcome but please let us know you’re here. . 70+ or sick? Please follow the service online at home Questions? Ask the leadership team: (Harm) 06 – 571 981 82

Example ICU Gouda: door instruction Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda June 2020 Usage of building according to RIVM guidelines A very warm welcome! erg Not like this : -( But like this

Church hall Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda 2020 WELCOME, this hall can contain: 95 people • Please leave chairs and table in the prepared arrangement • Don’t eat or drink per table, follow instructions of the leaders • Open 4 windows, close them afterwards • Desinfect hands at entrance and when leaving Follow the marked walking routes and do not let the children run around. Have a good and blessed service

Children’s room Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda 2020 This room can contain: 10 children and 2 leaders • Please leave chairs and table in the prepared arrangement • Don’t eat or drink in this room • Open 2 windows, close them afterwards NB playing outdoors is always nice and safer Have fun

ICU Gouda welcoming instruction 1, 5 meter distance Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda 2020 Arrange walking paths Table layout Close kitchen (too small) Enough distance between chairs!

ICU Gouda welcoming instruction 1, 5 meter distance Harm van Schie ICU-Gouda 2020

Further input from churches • • • Pay attention to the size of your church space, if it's small it will soon no longer fit. Overall you can say that only 20 -25% of the full capacity of your hall can be used. Air conditioning can stay on. Opinion now is that it's not a source of contamination. Best is to keep windows and doors open. Leaders be alert on how people react to the Spirit. Workers can preventively put on gloves and possibly other protective equipment. Singing as a congregation is really not recommended. When on stage, keep enough distance (min. 3 -5 meters) and don’t sing towards each other. Be creative in dancing, clapping, . . Idea: Sing-in ZOOM meeting. Eucharist: preferred is to provide each with his own personal set. Fellowship cups can be bought at Christian shops. Communication: informing people beforehand is good, take pastoral responsibility. Take people by the hand step by step. Make an instructional video in advance and share it with the congregation. Give people a feeling of what it will look like. Also think about communicating with the youth. Talk to them about their responsibilities but also about their possibilities. Some of them are great teachers in technical online stuff. We believe in God and God takes care of us, but the samen God also tells us to live by the rules. Fellowhip cups for sale at Christian shops

More information? There are some resources available with formats and examples from other churches (in Dutch). Recommendations CIO (national platform for consultation between churches and government) https: //www. skinrotterdam. nl/wpcontent/uploads/2020/03/raamwerkcio. pdf Recommendations PKN (Protestant Church of the Netherlands) https: //www. protestantsekerk. nl/verdieping/protocolkerkdiensten-en-andere-kerkelijke-bijeenkomsten/ Recommendations Catholic Church https: //www. bisdomhaarlemamsterdam. nl/? p=news&id=4203&t=Protocollen+voor+publieke+ vieringen+vanaf+1+juni

Questions? Contact one of the organisations below. Deze presentatie is gemaakt door Harm van Schie, t. b. v. webinars SKIN-Rotterdam en Hub Den Haag, met input van PCC Amsterdam en SKIN.