Question

We are now in the red zone for COVID-19. I am a minister for a small congregation in the Nebraska Panhandle. I am OK with canceling services and going online, but several church members don't own a computer and others don't know the difference between Facebook, Zoom and YouTube.

Help! We wear facemasks and social distance in the sanctuary right now, but then they go to the fellowship hall and eat cookies and coffee. I told them that is bad, and they canceled Thanksgiving dinner, but not fellowship. I guess cookies are ok, but not turkey. Help!

I need some facts and regulations that I can use to keep these people safe.

All but about three people in the congregation are at a vulnerable age.

Answer from infectious diseases expert Sharon Medcalf, PhD

My advice is to stand firm on this one and cancel the fellowship. It is a very high-risk activity! People are so hungry for companionship, conversation and fellowship that they stand way too close to one another, regardless of warnings or reminders to separate. I am sure that you don’t want your church to be the cause of a community outbreak and, God forbid fatalities.

Would you consider a Zoom fellowship gathering? Although Zoom precludes those you mentioned above, you can use a phone tree to connect with the people who can’t join virtually.

Your local public health department would likely be delighted to provide fact sheets and general guidelines. Many of them have taken CDC guidance documents and made them more friendly to the laypersons in a community. You can also go to the CDC site for posters and infographics.

Finally, check out COVID-19 information from Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.