Welcome!
An Important Message from Our District Superintendent
Dear Pastors and Congregations of the West Virginia South District,
Warm Christian greetings to you in the name of our Lord! I’d like to talk to you about “OUR NEXT STEPS” in our state’s “reopening” process. West Virginia South District Churches have found new and creative ways to worship, minister, and build fellowship during the most challenging times the church has faced in decades. I am grateful for the ministry of pastors, lay leaders, and congregations that have moved beyond their comfort zones to reach people for Jesus in these days.
Following the Governor's recent press conference presenting “West Virginia Strong -The Comeback”, I am glad to see that the possibility of public worship is coming closer. Should the infection numbers continue to be stable or decline, we will be free to consider public worship as early as May 10th.
West Virginia will reach “Week 2” of the governor's guidelines by Monday, May 4.
Let me outline several things that should be thought through as we consider re-opening our churches for public worship. Certain populations are still at greater risk of danger from this virus than others. Let’s do all we can to protect our people from both the virus and the fear that can accompany this pandemic.
Items to Consider Before Reopening:
Churches should further consider implementing the following best practices:
These guidelines, from our Governor, are recommendations to give religious entities and institutions the best tools available to keep clergy and the citizens of the State of West Virginia safe.
Here are some additional resources that might be helpful:
Finally, let’s not worry about counting and numbers. The church is greater than the figure on a pastor’s report. As we’ve noted before, the months of March, April, May, and June will not be counted in your yearly average. Let’s focus on ministry to those inside the sanctuary and those at home watching via video, live streaming, or YouTube. This is the time for the church to stay calm, reflect Christ, and care for those around us.
Let’s continue to respond out of love and without fear. Let’s always use proper precautions and encourage our people to care for one another.
Thank you for the ways you are both protecting and serving your communities. The people of God have always been asked to reflect God’s heart for the vulnerable and the marginalized. Our history as Nazarenes has exemplified this…from our view on alcohol consumption to our support for unwed mothers to our compassion for the homeless and the hungry.
This crisis has given us opportunity to put the needs of others ahead of our own desires by denying ourselves and continuing to faithfully take up our cross and follow the Lord in protecting the most vulnerable.
I want you to know that I am filled with hope and feel privileged to partner with you in kingdom ministry!
Go WVSNaz!
Your Friend and Pastor,
Dear Pastors and Congregations of the West Virginia South District,
Warm Christian greetings to you in the name of our Lord! I’d like to talk to you about “OUR NEXT STEPS” in our state’s “reopening” process. West Virginia South District Churches have found new and creative ways to worship, minister, and build fellowship during the most challenging times the church has faced in decades. I am grateful for the ministry of pastors, lay leaders, and congregations that have moved beyond their comfort zones to reach people for Jesus in these days.
Following the Governor's recent press conference presenting “West Virginia Strong -The Comeback”, I am glad to see that the possibility of public worship is coming closer. Should the infection numbers continue to be stable or decline, we will be free to consider public worship as early as May 10th.
West Virginia will reach “Week 2” of the governor's guidelines by Monday, May 4.
- "Small businesses with less than 10 employees can reopen.”
- “Churches and funerals with limited gathering size” may also open.
Let me outline several things that should be thought through as we consider re-opening our churches for public worship. Certain populations are still at greater risk of danger from this virus than others. Let’s do all we can to protect our people from both the virus and the fear that can accompany this pandemic.
Items to Consider Before Reopening:
- The state guidelines are clear that we are permitted to meet.
- It does not mean that you are required to open public services at this point, only that you are permitted to open with limited gathering size.
- According to our Governor, churches and places of worship are specifically vulnerable locations for quick and potentially deadly transmission of COVID-19, and therefore are vital in this effort to continue West Virginia’s positive trendlines.
Churches should further consider implementing the following best practices:
- Adding additional service times to facilitate proper distancing.
- Ensuring all attendees sanitize their hands and put on a mask or face covering before entering the building.
- Equipping ushers and greeters with gloves and masks.
- Encouraging all attendees who are 65 and older to stay home and watch the services online or provide a “senior service” exclusively for attendees 65 and older to attend in person.
- Ask all attendees who have an underlying at-risk health condition to stay home and watch the services online.
- Restricting seating to every other pew.
- Ensuring attendees sit with their immediate family unit, use physical distancing between each unit.
- Clergy should dismiss attendees by family unit in order to maintain physical distancing.
- Staff should sanitize seats and frequently used surfaces between services.
- Consider keeping childcare closed unless the place of worship can comply with CDC guidelines for childcare facilities.
- Consider refraining from passing collection plates and instead provide a central collection box or encourage online giving.
- Consider how the sacraments can be administered without attendees having to touch the same surfaces and objects.
These guidelines, from our Governor, are recommendations to give religious entities and institutions the best tools available to keep clergy and the citizens of the State of West Virginia safe.
Here are some additional resources that might be helpful:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/index.html
- https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/3-17-20-faith-and-community-based-covid-19-faq.pdf
- https://nazarene.org/covid-19
Finally, let’s not worry about counting and numbers. The church is greater than the figure on a pastor’s report. As we’ve noted before, the months of March, April, May, and June will not be counted in your yearly average. Let’s focus on ministry to those inside the sanctuary and those at home watching via video, live streaming, or YouTube. This is the time for the church to stay calm, reflect Christ, and care for those around us.
Let’s continue to respond out of love and without fear. Let’s always use proper precautions and encourage our people to care for one another.
Thank you for the ways you are both protecting and serving your communities. The people of God have always been asked to reflect God’s heart for the vulnerable and the marginalized. Our history as Nazarenes has exemplified this…from our view on alcohol consumption to our support for unwed mothers to our compassion for the homeless and the hungry.
This crisis has given us opportunity to put the needs of others ahead of our own desires by denying ourselves and continuing to faithfully take up our cross and follow the Lord in protecting the most vulnerable.
I want you to know that I am filled with hope and feel privileged to partner with you in kingdom ministry!
Go WVSNaz!
Your Friend and Pastor,
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Welcome to the West Virginia South District Church of the Nazarene! We're an eclectic collection of churches in the southern half of West Virginia. We are made up of churches with all styles of buildings and worship, but each one is home to a congregation of people who will welcome you with open arms.
The West Virginia South District has one primary mission: To advance the ministry of Jesus Christ through the local church. The West Virginia South District has one vision: To join God in his redemptive work of bringing His kingdom in all of its fullness. The West Virginia South District holds a set of core values: Leadership Development, Healthy Churches, Missional Expansion, Creative Experimentation, and Generosity We hope you'll take a few minutes to explore our website and find out more about who we are. And if you're looking for a place to experience the love of God and of His people, you can't go wrong with one of our churches! |