Only God knows what the “new normal” is going to look like in churches when we regather over the next several months. Nevertheless, here are some things I hope will continue:
- Online meetings. We’ll still need to meet in person at times, but we can accomplish a lot of meetings without requiring people to leave their homes. This approach will likely help laity who work at least eight hours and then must drive to the church for a meeting.
- Focused services. We’re learning how to do a service well without distractions and added components that may not be necessary for strong, God-centered worship. Our in-person services can thus be stronger, too.
- Online small group meetings. I’m not arguing that every small group should remain online, but it won’t hurt us to meet occasionally via this means. For example, scheduling a time of prayer when a small group member is hurting is often easier to do online.
- Local church cooperation. Our church is currently without a worship pastor, but a brother from a sister church has stepped in to record the worship set for us. All of us need to think about how we can assist sister congregations in the future.
- Student involvement. In many cases, churches have figured out the digital world because a high school or college student came to their rescue. Our churches will be stronger if we learn to involve this generation more often.
- Visionary leadership. By this phrase, I mean leadership who can wisely consider the future and help prepare our churches to move in the right direction. What we were forced to do in a few days—consider how we were going to do church in the present and near future—should be something we do on an ongoing basis.
- Family time. Many folks I know have spent more time with their families over the past few months than they had in a long time—and their children have loved having them around. I don’t want our churches to get so busy again that we unintentionally pull families in multiple directions.
- Congregational care. Perhaps your church is like many others who have intentionally reached out to all their members to check on them during this crisis. Somehow, we need to keep up this pattern in the days to come.
- Creative thinking. This crisis has pushed us to think quickly about how to respond to the issues—and many of the ideas have been unique, innovative, and effective. Perhaps the “new normal” will include church leaders who think more purposefully and creatively.
What do you want to see continue in the future?
Digital fasting or getting outside for prolonged Bible study, prayer and meditation
Clearer perception of how we appear to non-attenders
Understanding the fears and worries of non attenders. (I received several calls or notes about theodicy and end-times questions)
“Old Guard” trusting changes recommended by innovators (not completely of course, but changes were forced on us so quickly that adaptation was not optional.)
Staff meetings that use nearly all of these to build unity, teamwork, sense of purpose, and leadership.
Mobilization of congregation for ministry projects.
Organized office, desk, and library. (yeah right, that didn’t happen.)
A number of Christians have begun living missionally in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic . I would like to see that continue after churches reopen and congregations are tempted to become Sunday-focused again. A number of churches have been observing the ordinances or celebrating the sacraments (depending upon their ecclesiastical tradition) online. It has has prompted some traditions to begin rethinking their theology of the ordinances/sacraments, including who is the proper minister of the ordinances/sacraments. I would like to see further progress toward lay administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper in denominations where their administration has been traditionally seen as the province of ordained ministers. A number of Christians have also been engaging in spiritual conversations with non-Christians due to a greater openness to such conversations in the general population. I would also like to see that continue.
‘New Normal’ is part of the New World Order. Not falling for it as a Christian and believer in Christ.
Chuck, I want to express my appreciation for the Regather Webinar which SEBTS helped to sponsor and which you helped to co-host. It took a credible and realist approach to the challenges facing churches during the COVID-19 pandemic. It did not cater to the pandemic of denial, which has accompanied the outbreak of COVID-19 here in the United States. It recognized that COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll in human lives in the United States and the rest of the world and urged churches to make protecting lives their number one priority. It did not indulge in the conspiracy theories and cognitive distortion which has been the response of one segment of the US population to the outbreak. It treated the pandemic with the seriousness that it warrants.
Thanks, Robin, for your thoughtful analysis.