{"id":2177,"date":"2021-05-19T10:37:53","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T10:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/the-end-of-lockdown-is-near-opening-houses-of-worship-in-a-time-of-uncertainty\/"},"modified":"2024-10-14T22:55:04","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T22:55:04","slug":"the-end-of-lockdown-is-near-opening-houses-of-worship-in-a-time-of-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/the-end-of-lockdown-is-near-opening-houses-of-worship-in-a-time-of-uncertainty\/","title":{"rendered":"The End (of Lockdown) is Near: Opening Houses of Worship in a Time of Uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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The End (of Lockdown) is Near: Opening Houses of Worship in a Time of Uncertainty<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
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\n\n \n Commentary\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n By<\/span>Najuma Smith<\/a><\/strong>\n \n May 19, 2021<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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I had just announced our church’s plans to resume in-person worship when someone called and told me they had contracted COVID-19. Immediately, I second-guessed the decision to reopen our worship building for services on Pentecost Sunday, May 23.<\/p>\n

With nearly 50 percent of Californians vaccinated<\/a> and less than 2 cases<\/a> per 100,000 in Los Angeles County, the end of this phase of the pandemic is in sight. Restrictions are being lifted and guidelines on masking are changing. At the same time, the decision to resume in-person indoor worship is a challenging one—fraught with both complex logistical issues in a stew of anxiety and hope.<\/p>\n

For more than a year, most congregations—from megachurches to small prayer groups—pivoted with the pandemic and utilized social media, Zoom (and other platforms like it), conference calling and outdoor spaces to maintain the collective forms of worship and spiritual practice that anchor their communities. Pastors, lay leaders and participants learned together how to continue congregational life in a pandemic. Social media sharing reinforced the spirit of people’s personal faith, despite limited access to actual brick-and-mortar spaces.<\/p>\n

To be clear, the people who make up congregations were never on lockdown. They kept their faith going. It’s the buildings that are re-opening.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the re-opening of prayer and worship spaces is not without its challenges. I asked a few faith leaders about their pressing concerns. Here is what they shared:\n<\/p>\n