Churches somehow protect from COVID?

[Notthemessiah]

Why am I only allowed to meet one person outdoors when my churchgoing nextdoor neighbours can still meet up with all of their religious friends and family indoors?

Fed up with the irrational exemptions given to religion. Why do people's non-provable beliefs give them special treatment and so put everyone else at increased risk?

The rules in our church include "no mingling", you're shown to your seat and that's where you stay until you're escorted out.

@PurBal

The rules in our church include "no mingling", you're shown to your seat and that's where you stay until you're escorted out.

Same as a theatre then, or a restaurant (though admittedly some were better at policing this than others, but i have seen people told off in pubs for stopping to talk to another table).

The Good Lord will protect His flock.
🙄

My synagogue (liberal) is closed and we have Zoom Services. Its the same for all reform and liberal synagogues, i think, its sad that I can't see people but cool in another way that I can join in services with other congregations- just joined in with a congregation based in edinburgh on friday.

My MIL is orthodox and her synagogue are holding services (and would continue to even in tier 4 london). They can't use electricity on Shabbat so I don't really see any other alternative.

I think if you can use electricity like churches and mosques, the services should just move online.

Churches and schools are built with magic bricks.

You could always go to church op, you might like it.

I went two weeks ago for the first time since Feb, we usually attend weekly. It was absolutley not a social event I didn't speak to anyone and it was a bit miserable social distancing, masks, directed movement, no singing. I just wanted communion. Much less interaction than at work orcthe school gates.

@MeringueCloud

Well, in early summer pubs, shops and reataurants were allowed to open but not places of worship. Did any of you who think churches should be forced to close now protest against this "unfairness" at the time?

Exactly.

@Notthemessiah were you fed up that pubs, shops and restaurants were given those irrational exemptions you consider places of worship are getting now?

U18’s organised sport is also somehow protected. Y7, London based, DS is still allowed to play rugby tomorrow and go to rugby camp Mon & Tues with kids from all the other local secondary schools

But non-essential shops and restaurants also have those same COVID-secure measures - how come they aren't able to open and yet Churches are? Why do you deserve special treatment simply because you believe in something I don't?

Not their fault you didn't but believe! It's a fath, it's not a jolly up!

The church and shops aren't comparable. I really wish I had taken a picture of church when I was in on Thursday and the set up inside. It is very very well socially distanced

Lots of churches are closed anyway - I'm in a high risk area and we opened with incredibly strict measures ( booking in, masks, contact tracing, 30 people in a space for 150) before the second lockdown (and we only reopened in September) but are now closed for safety. Tier 3.

My dad is a pastor in tier 4. He's cancelling everything he's worked to set up for the next week. Hours and hours of planning, time and resources (carols, nativity, Xmas morning) aren't happening.

Being open also only applies to services. Home groups, lunch clubs, toddler groups, the arts project we ran for the vulnerable, digital skills, all ran and facilitated by church for both church and the wider community have been cancelled. I know OP is frustrated but the situation is wider.

@bettxmascake

Churches and schools are built with magic bricks.

You could always go to church op, you might like it.

I used to go to church when I was much younger and I did quite like it (the singing anyway but also the theatre of the thing and the stories). I can certainly see the appeal and would never have a go at people who want to go, but that's not the point here - it's the special treatment religion still gets in so many ways within our society.

@hopingforonlychild

My synagogue (liberal) is closed and we have Zoom Services. Its the same for all reform and liberal synagogues, i think, its sad that I can't see people but cool in another way that I can join in services with other congregations- just joined in with a congregation based in edinburgh on friday.

My MIL is orthodox and her synagogue are holding services (and would continue to even in tier 4 london). They can't use electricity on Shabbat so I don't really see any other alternative.

I think if you can use electricity like churches and mosques, the services should just move online.

Our church has been doing online services since March. However, there are many elderly people who don’t or can’t access online services and the physical church services are a lifeline to them. Those who can watch online are encouraged to do so, to give room for others to come into the church building.

The leaders and teams have worked incredibly hard to follow and indeed exceed regulations

@MeringueCloud - Easter is the most important time of year for Christians and churches were not allowed to be open then.

True. But back at easter, there wasn't much haggling about which places should be exempt from restrictions, most people were too scared. Back then the only eggs in the shops were made of chocolate and people weren't quite sure whether it was legal to buy them. Those were the days when we were told we could only go out for one hour's exercise a day and that we must not stop and rest at any point, especially if it involved sitting on a bench. Most people have come down off the ceiling a bit since then.

If easter was happening now the churches would be open.

Our Church at the moment courtesy of Facebook. It is filled from the front back and then on leaving its back first. Household bubbles

@Notthemessiah were you fed up that pubs, shops and restaurants were given those irrational exemptions you consider places of worship are getting now?

I wasn't aware of it, so wasn't able to feel anything at the time, but if true, then that does sound unfair to me too.

@Bellaphant

Lots of churches are closed anyway - I'm in a high risk area and we opened with incredibly strict measures ( booking in, masks, contact tracing, 30 people in a space for 150) before the second lockdown (and we only reopened in September) but are now closed for safety. Tier 3.

My dad is a pastor in tier 4. He's cancelling everything he's worked to set up for the next week. Hours and hours of planning, time and resources (carols, nativity, Xmas morning) aren't happening.

Being open also only applies to services. Home groups, lunch clubs, toddler groups, the arts project we ran for the vulnerable, digital skills, all ran and facilitated by church for both church and the wider community have been cancelled. I know OP is frustrated but the situation is wider.

What have I missed? Why is your pastor father cancelling those things if places of worship can stay open within the rigid restrictions that have been described?

My heart goes out to those who led and attended the very many wider groups you’re talking about here. I hate how the elderly have been affected. We make sure we have a network of regular callers but their very popular social group which was run by volunteers had to close. So much has closed- - Zoom isn’t the same....

Support groups for the vulnerable are allowed to remain open

I'm not a believer but I recognise that churches, mosques etc. do a tremendous amount of good in communities, especially for the most isolated and vulnerable people within their congregations and also the wider community.

I just don't think communal worship / prayers etc. is a good idea at the moment.

DMum's church is big on the idea of 'fellowship' as the reason to attend church but what does that mean if nobody's allowed to mingle? Most of the people at DM's church are elderly and lots are in the shielding group. The true fellowship happens in the phone calls, emails and occasional end-of-the-front-drive visits between church members, and the minister busting a gut to make sure everyone in his congregation is OK, has everything they need and has someone to talk to.

There's also a potential problem looming with christmas eve midnight services. In normal years lots of people go to these even though they are generally not interested in church or religion, just because the services are lovely and christmassy. If nothing else is open over christmas these services will hold even greater appeal.

@LangClegsInSpace

I'm not a believer but I recognise that churches, mosques etc. do a tremendous amount of good in communities, especially for the most isolated and vulnerable people within their congregations and also the wider community.

I just don't think communal worship / prayers etc. is a good idea at the moment.

DMum's church is big on the idea of 'fellowship' as the reason to attend church but what does that mean if nobody's allowed to mingle? Most of the people at DM's church are elderly and lots are in the shielding group. The true fellowship happens in the phone calls, emails and occasional end-of-the-front-drive visits between church members, and the minister busting a gut to make sure everyone in his congregation is OK, has everything they need and has someone to talk to.

There's also a potential problem looming with christmas eve midnight services. In normal years lots of people go to these even though they are generally not interested in church or religion, just because the services are lovely and christmassy. If nothing else is open over christmas these services will hold even greater appeal.

The communal worship/prayers isn't the same anymore. Read through the previous posts.

Also, midnight mass services won't be like usual, all lovely and Christmassy. See the previous posts again. Barely anyone allowed in, tickets only, in my church it's only every 3rd pew allowed, masks worn, no singing/carols etc etc. And we're not even having midnight mass. Just a short service on Christmas morning.
Not that appealing I think you'll agree.

All our services have been online since March.

A risk assessment is still needed and in some places it is not safe whilst others may have more space and can mitigate risk.

Our church has grown since March #no stopping this church.

We were already a big evangelical Anglican fellowship, so in a position to put in the digital infrastructure. Right from day 1 we had services from the vicarage, and as soon as we were allowed back in church, blended services, in person and on YouTube. We have more services than before, and have a daily service on YouTube.

We are so ‘on it’ to make sure we are serving our community. This means facilitating the food bank and delivering meals, as well as making other connections. Our council is good and we work with them.

I don’t think there are any secular organisations that are as effective or as committed.

@Sophiesdog2020 only took masks off when they were speaking or singing
Is it any wonder we are where we are?

It's been quite difficult for us as my synagogue is Orthodox and Zoom is not an option.

There have been massive restrictions on services. It's not possible for everyone to go as usual. Even with in person services, fewer people can attend. I have barely gone since March and in normal times I go every week. In the United Synagogue there are systems for signing up in advance to go to keep the numbers to a minimum. In the summer outdoor services were an option, but obviously not now.

To be quite honest I would not be surprised if there were Orthodox synagogues in the UK that were not obeying the rules given what has happened in America and Israel.

It really isn't safe to have regular services and as lonely as it is to pray at home (the holidays were miserable) I think it's the best option for most of us.

@knitnerd90 Is it that hard to get a place? My MIL has somehow managed to get a seat every week (this is a United Shul in Hendon but a quite a small congregation and premises). I am quite envious and wish I could tag along! my synagogue is liberal and we are doing Zoom but its not the same.