More congregants are asking when we will be able to return to in-person worship. It is far from a flood of questions, at least yet, but the number of questions has increased. 

The questions are natural. For the first time in over a year, there is positive news about the pandemic. There are now three vaccines approved and being distributed. “Have you gotten your shot?” is a question I hear a lot. Check-ins at church meetings often lead with reports of vaccinations. Personally, I got my second shot last Friday.  

Thankfully, though the absolute numbers remain high, the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths have declined sharply. 

And the new CDC regulations suggest that an easing of the public health measures (mask wearing, distancing and hand washing) may be possible, especially for fully vaccinated persons. 

Schools are re-opening, on a hybrid basis, with the option for families to continue on-line only education. Restaurants and other businesses are slowly beginning to re-open as well. 

Finally, the new administration ‘s commitment to science and fact-based approaches is a reassuring change. 

There are good reasons for optimism. 

However, concerns continue. We are not yet near safety for all of us. The new variants are concerning. So is the impulse to “re-open” too quickly and to reduce the vigilance about mask-wearing and distancing. The lack of vaccines for children is a special concern for religious communities. Singing is one of the most dangerous activities in terms of virus spread, and we love to sing when we gather. The inequalities revealed so starkly in this pandemic are clear in re-opening as well. 

We are not out of the woods yet. 

The staff began to think through what our approach to “re-opening” 

will be several weeks ago and that investigation continues. The Board will begin to engage this conversation next week at their April meeting.  

We are actively gathering information. We are consulting with medical professionals to make sure that we do not misinterpret the CDC or Oregon guidelines within which we need to operate. The staffs of large UU congregations gathered (virtually) today to begin sharing initial thoughts and approaches to re-opening. At this point, we all have more questions than answers. 

Our plans are very much a work in process. But let me share with you a few things that seem clear at this point. 

First, we are taking the question of returning to our buildings with the seriousness that question deserves. Health and safety are involved, and we will not rush our decision making. 

Second, while many older adult members of the congregation will complete vaccinations soon, vaccinations will probably not be available to all our adult members until May. Vaccinations for children are many months away. 

Oregon continues to operate under county-specific risk categories. Multnomah County was just moved (March 12) from High to Moderate Risk. Even when the county reaches the Lower Risk category, there will be size limitations on gatherings for religious communities. Mask wearing and distancing requirements will also remain. 

The new CDC guidelines that suggest that vaccinated individuals can gather without masks or distancing, apply only to small, family-type gatherings, we believe. 

The Oregon Risk Assessment is re-evaluated every two weeks. The CDC Guidelines can also change, as they just did. 

We expect it will be several months before a return to the sanctuary can be considered “safe enough.” How much distancing and whether mask-wearing will be required when we do return remain open questions. But it is unlikely that we will sit shoulder-to-shoulder or unmasked for some time. The questions for families with younger children and our religious education program are even more complex. 

When we begin to return to our buildings, we will not return to church exactly as we knew it. Vaccinations for most of us will not end our concerns for safety, even by the fall. Our large on-line attendance will grow smaller, no doubt, but may well remain a bigger part of our worship experience. More of our programs will probably continue to be offered on-line, or in hybrid forms. In fact, hybrid may be a good description of the church we will return to. 

September seems the earliest that safety will allow us to gather in our buildings once again. The staff is currently developing an imagination for what that may involve across all of our ministry areas. 

All of us are anxious to gather once again. But we must gather safely. 

Think September for us to BEGIN to gather in person. 

Think of beginning to re-gather with some limits on numbers and with public health measures required. 

We will not rush this process. 

We will keep you informed. 

We ask for your patience.  

Blessings, 

Bill