As Trump Pushes for Reopenings, Congregations Choose Safety Over Haste
ATLANTA For the first time in weeks, Jason Dees looked out as he preached on Sunday and saw faces, instead of just a camera lens. The group of Christ Covenant Church worshipers was considerably smaller than before the coronavirus pandemic 40 people this week, wearing masks as they sang and prayed, a small fraction of the congregations 500 members but they were there.
This is good for our souls, Dr. Dees, the churchs senior pastor, said. This is right. This is good.
Still, he told the gathering that it would be several weeks more, and maybe longer, before the entire congregation could be back together again. Most would have to continue watching online.
He and other pastors at Christ Covenant in Atlanta had drawn elaborate plans for reopening, talking to health professionals and other religious leaders. This was just the first phase.
The deliberations reflected the broader tension in religious congregations between the desire to worship together and fear of the consequences if they did not do so safely.
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