Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Leading through a time of Division with John Stevens and Ray Evans.

1. It is not unusual to feel heightened levels of anxiety (for self, family, health, congregation, ministry, long-term future of church) at the moment.  This is compounded by the uncertainty we are living in.  In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul recognises the problem of anxiety, and his prescription is to pray.  This is what he urges the church to do, and the promise is not that God will remove the source of anxiety but give peace.  A peace that is a settled confidence that God is in control and working out His purposes which enables us to live in this world as God intends us to.  For us as leaders, as those who rejoice in the Lord and whose gentleness is evident to all.

2.  The overriding restrictions of the National Lockdown in England are that from Thursday you cannot leave the place you live without a reasonable excuse (stay at home order), and cannot participate in indoor or outdoor gatherings (two or more people are gathering) unless there is an exemption.

3. Main excuses/exemptions are:
– Gathering with your household, linked household, linked childcare household.
– Take outdoor exercise with household or one other person (excludes child under 5).
– Work and provide voluntary/charitable services where not reasonably possible from home.
– Education or training.
– Provide care assistance to vulnerable person (over 70 or underlying health condition).
– Visit person in hospital/hospice/care home (and is member of household, close family member, friend).
– Support group of max 15 people (not in private homes).
– Visit dying person (and is member of household, close family member, friend).
– Provide emergency assistance or enable a person to avoid injury, illness or escape risk of harm.
– Attend funeral, wedding, place of worship (only if permitted gathering).
– Outdoor gathering to commemorate Remembrance Day.

4. Note the personal liability of officers of ‘body corporate’ who have consented/connived to break these rules e.g. by continuing to hold services.

5. Implications of the lockdown for churches and ministry:
– Church buildings only open for private prayer (no gathering in church = two or more people).
– Can use church building to broadcast/record service. Unclear how many people allowed in the church building for broadcast or recording of service (waiting for guidance to be released).
– No outdoor worship. This includes Drive-In services.
– Funerals for maximum 30 mourners.
– Weddings with maximum 6 attenders if one person is seriously ill and not expected to recover.
– No gatherings for multi-household Bible Study/Prayer Meetings in church premises/homes.
– Churches can continue to provide services to community (e.g. food banks/blood donations).
– Support groups for max 15 people. Parents and toddler groups count as long as they are providing support!
– Education/training can continue.
– Staff meetings/trustee meetings/volunteer meetings if not reasonably possible from home.
– Care for vulnerable individuals (over 70s, medical conditions, at risk injury, illness harm). Doesn’t have to be only done by pastor and church leaders.
– Is ‘ordinary’ pastoral visiting work? Debatable, as leaving the house for work is only where it is not reasonably possible from home. Catching up with people can be done on the phone or online via Zoom, email etc. Burden is for us to prove it has to be done in a physical way.
– Youth and Children’s work, Sunday School not possible (unless it is a support group e.g. young people struggling with an addiction).

6. Response from church leaders to lockdown.
– There has been an overwhelming protect from all constituencies (letters from CofE, Catholic bishops, Churches Together, EA, church leaders) because of the lack of justification for closing churches that have worked so hard to be COVID-secure. There is no evidence that churches are cause of risk or rise of infections.
– Judicial review has been launched by Christian Concern. Every right to assert legal case as there is protection for freedom of religion.
– Threat of civil disobedience – some leaders have indicated that they will continue to meet inc. couple of FIEC churches. But expect restrictions to be enforced.

7. Advice to churches and leaders:
– This is a political decision by PM – don’t blame the scientists or the DHCLG. Minister of Faith was not expecting for churches to be closed for public worship.
– Expect the restrictions to be introduced – there is a majority of MPs in favour. Lockdown will be imposed.
– Pray for and await outcome of judicial review challenges.
– Understand the consequences of civil disobedience (penalties, insurance, reputation of the gospel).
– Minister to your frustrated people and community. There is not the same universal support as in March. Be careful about what you say publicly.
– Make the most of online opportunities. We are more set up for it this time. Consider boosting facebook posts, using local media – newspapers, radio.
– Maximise personal ministry/discipleship within the law (e.g. walks outside, visits to vulnerable, linked households).
– Don’t distort exceptions to justify ordinary activities (e.g. claim they are education/training/support group).
– Don’t lose sight of fact thousands are ill/dying/bereaved and the heroic efforts of health care professionals and others serving the common good.

8. Three questions to ask based on Acts 15:1-16:5 (with help from John Stott) during a time when Christians are divided. 1) Is the truth of the gospel under threat? 2) Is Christian fellowship under threat? 3) Is the spread of the gospel under threat?

9. Assessing whether the truth of the gospel is being threatened is not easy. Christians are capable of teaching wrong stuff because they get the truth muddled. In Acts 15:1-18 the truth of the gospel was under threat from confused Christians. The response of the leaders is to defend the truth of the gospel vigorously.

10. When Christian fellowship is under threat as it was in Acts 15:19-35, things can be done to help Christian fellowship. When it is not a salvation issue, it is a wisdom call about how to make fellowship possible.

11. Whether something threatens the spread of the gospel is usually not a moral issue (right/wrong) but a wisdom issue (wise/foolish). In Acts 15:36-16:5 Paul decided that it wasn’t wise to take John Mark, but was wise for Timothy to be circumcised. Our understanding of what threatens the spread of the gospel is in a different category to what threatens the truth of the gospel. Wisdom calls not always easy.

12. At present the government is not threatening the truth of the gospel – they have acted to save lives.

13. Christian fellowship may be under threat in the church at the moment because some are keen to/able to meet whereas others are not. We should all be looking to help one another as much as possible and to be willing to flex as much as possible to keep unity. It is important to be patient with those with sensitive consciences who are trying to work things through.

14. Are we in a situation when it is better to forgo our rights and share in suffering with others. This is an individual judgment call. There is a time to assert our rights and a time to forgo our rights. The apostle Paul does both. Because of the way churches have made so much effort and because the government did not consult church leaders it is not wrong to do so under these circumstances. Remember if we don’t ever defend our rights, they’ll be treated as not important.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Pastoring People in a Mental Health Crisis with John Stevens and Professor Alan Thomas.

1. Jesus’ miracles are signs of eschatological salvation. They are a huge encouragement of how Jesus saves, His power to save, and His ability to put things right in the end. In Luke 8:26-39 we see how Jesus redeems from bondage to Satan, rescues from death, and restores us to our right mind.

2. Every single human being is in bondage to Satan, belonging to his kingdom, and blinded by his lies. The enemy we all face is death and we need to be rescued from the second death. The result of the fall is that our thinking is distorted. In the gospel, Jesus redeems us from this bondage to bring us into His own kingdom. He rescues us from death, and He renews our minds. Be confident in the power of the gospel. We have the hope of the eschatological salvation that is to come.

3. COVID-19 Update for Churches:
– Be realistic. We are facing the prospect of greater restrictions because the virus is increasing. The government does not want to close churches but will if required (as in Wales). Some kind of lockdown is the only policy option the government is pursuing at the moment.
– Be prepared. With great restrictions likely, we should invest in our online presence in case our churches have to close again. We also should invest in our online presence to reach people who will not come to church.
– Be pastoral. We are now more likely to be ministering into frustration more than fear. Acknowledge this frustration but don’t exacerbate it as there is little we can do about it. Encourage people to accept it rather than be angry about it. Maximise the opportunities to give pastoral support to individuals.
– Be evangelistic. Be outwardly looking not inwardly distracted. Getting annoyed with the situation takes away our evangelistic energy. Look at how your church might meet the needs of the community. Equip church members to speak to others. Engage unbelievers with the gospel online as gathering in the church building will not be the main place to engage in evangelism at present.

4. Check out Peter Saunders ‘A Medical Perspective’ at the Affinity Conference – Coronavirus and the Church.

5. Check out the Baptist Union Guidance on Pastoral Visits.

6. We are psychosomatic wholes (created body and soul/spirit/minds). Some people are stronger physically and mentally than others. Those who are stronger are more robust in their ability to handle physical and mental strain.

7. There are lots of issues related to COVID that put those in ministry under pressure: Information overload; Daily rule changes; Feeling out of my depth; Fearful of the future; Watching world; Lack of personal contact; Dissension in congregation or among elders; Rapid major decisions to make; Libertarians; Risk averse worriers; Destruction of worship; Will it ever end?; Does our church have a future?; Reduced pastoral contact.

8. Burnout and Pastors (with help from Elijah in 1 Kings 19).
– Burnout: physical and mental exhaustion associated with despair and negativism.
– Elijah’s burnout was caused by personal isolation and loneliness as he hid from King Ahab, the lonely work of one man ministry; emotionally draining work and physically exhausting work as he is summoned to face King Ahab and takes on the prophets of Baal; plus threats from Jezebel.
– The pressures Elijah faced, are all pressures we face in busy pastoral ministry. When they come together they can grind pastors down.
– The COVID situation adds additional pressures and puts pastors in a vulnerable position.
– We see the solution to this in how the Lord dealt with Elijah. There is both short-term relief and long-term change.
– Short-term relief as angel of the Lord (pre-incarnate Christ) ministers to him; food and drink; rest and sleep; words of encouragement that you are not alone and your diagnosis of situation is correct. Elijah is reassured
– If you are burning out, you need to take a step back and get some rest, some encouragement from others (elders, men in ministry) to support you in the short term.
– Long-term change for Elijah was a change to his ministry with Elisha and other prophets to support him. He was not a loner anymore.
– If you don’t change pattern of ministry you will burnout again. Look at how you can get a right balance to your work.

9. Stress/Anxiety and Pastors.
– There are lots of common physical symptoms of stress and some mental symptoms as well.
– There is a sinful and a non-sinful anxiety.
– Non-sinful anxiety includes empathy and concern for others and stress that occurs for natural reasons – feeling symptoms under stress is how the Lord has built us.
– Sinful anxiety is responding to stress with lack of trust in the LORD or fretting about coping.
– You need to work out how you respond to anxiety. Each of us have our own pattern of anxiety symptoms. You won’t necessarily feel anxious (at least to start with). You won’t necessarily worry. Aim to identify early warning signs that you are feeling under pressure.
– There are some steps you can put in place yourself to help you handle things e.g. supportive relationships, meaningful work, diet and exercise, sleep hygiene, substance avoidance.

10. Reducing COVID-anxiety.
– Not difficult in theory, but harder in practice.
– Stop watching the news. Take yourself away from being sucked into the negativism.
– Abandon social media (or limit your use of it).
– Don’t always talk about COVID.
– Replace with taking it to the Lord in prayer, with praise (get the hymnbook out), good books.
– Actively socially engage with others as you can.

11. Professor Alan Thomas has a book Tackling Mental Illness Together, which is meant to be worth a read.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Christmas isn’t Cancelled with John Stevens, Kathryn Jackson, Mike Kendall, Neil Tallamy, and Jonathan Carswell.

1. The Christmas Story in Luke 2:8-18 is a paradigm for evangelism. The shepherds were people who heard the gospel, believed the gospel, confirmed the gospel (went to Bethlehem to confirm the truth of the angel’s message), and spread the gospel. That is the basic pattern for evangelism. These things are what we as individuals and as churches are called to do, not just at Christmas, but all the time.

2. Guidance Update – Implication for Churches of Three-Tier Coronavirus Alert System:
– Medium Risk Alert: same restrictions as present; public worship allowed but no mingling between qualifying groups (rule of 6); meetings in homes allowed with maximum of 6 people; small groups in churches but no mingling between groups of 6.
– High Risk Alert: Attend services only as individual/household group (inc. linked); may not become member of any other groups participating in the gathering; may not otherwise mingle with any person participating in the gathering; meetings in private homes up to 6 outdoors; for small groups in church qualifying groups made up of only members household.
– Very High Risk Alert: Attend services only as individual/household groups (inc. linked); may not become member of any other group participating in the gathering; may not otherwise mingle with any person participating in the gathering; no meetings in private homes (household only); for small groups in church building the qualifying group must be members household.
See this blogpost by John Stevens for more detailed analysis.

3. Ideas for Christmas this Year.
– Getting Advent Ready – sending an advent book to every family/household in the church at the end of the November. For families – A better than anything Christmas; Unexpected Gift; For adults – Fixated.
– Invitations to events – instead of postcard, produce a booklet including short testimonies of church members, explanation of the good news of Christmas.
– Home for Christmas – videos of carols for online and in person services.
– Livestream all the services.
– Pre-recording Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services to give AV people a break.
– Christmas Chat & Christmas Jumpers – Zoom chat on Christmas Day after the service.
– The Narnia Experience (contact CS Lewis estate for permission) – installation and exhibition based on the books which explain the gospel with goodie bags with activities for children.
– Drive-In Carol Service if you have access to a large car park. More information on doing this HERE.
– Focus on Carol Services as presentation rather than participation this year. Consider using one of the many Christmas Videos that are produced each year.
– Nativity trail between houses of people in the church. [Alternative would be asking shops to put up a picture for a community advent calendar.]
– Drive round the neighbourhood playing carols.
– ZOOM nativity – drop around a bag of props for children at their homes and get them to put them on at different points in the story.

4. Suggestions of ways to use resources from 10ofthose.com.
– Advent books as a way to unite the church family.
– Door to door distribution of evangelistic literature.
– Carol service at Home CDs as a way of taking carol services to people’s homes.
– Giveaway children’s books to toddler group, to children in local school.
– Evangelistic posters to put up on door or window.
– Put Christmas tracts in with your Christmas cards.

5. Christmas for many is going to feel bleak this year so we want to use this time to encourage people with good news about the light that shines into the darkness.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Sung Worship When You Can’t Sing with John Stevens, Adrian Reynolds, Andrew McKenna, Aaron Johnson and Phil Moore.

1. There is much frustration that we are not able to sing when our congregations meet in person. Though not law, it is strongly advised guidance and 99% of British evangelical churches are observing that guidance as a way of loving others and being a good witness to their communities.

2. We want to be able to sing because the Lord has taken away our punishment. Singing flows from God dealing with our sins through the Lord Jesus Christ. This still remains true, God has taken away our punishment and so we should be glad and rejoice with all our hearts. We can take great comfort that though we can’t sing, the Lord is singing over us.

3. Guidance Update:
– Churches are not under a duty to display a QR code for Test and Trace.
– Local restrictions are affecting 25% of the population, preventing people to meeting in households.
– The penalty for breaking legal restrictions are increasing.
– Statistics show that infection, hospitalisation, and death rates are rising.
– Some SAGE advisors have called for churches to be closed but this is not a current policy for the government.
– More local lockdowns or national circuit breakers remain a possibility.

4. This is a difficult time to lead churches. Kevin DeYoung has written a great blog called ‘It’s a okay to be a pastor’ which is worth a read. Four encouragements to pastors: i) remember you are a pastor – love, care, preach, pray for flock under your care; ii) recognise the limits of your knowledge, influence and responsibility; iii) respect the authorities who rule – even if you disagree with their judgments; iv) resist the 24 hour news cycle.

5. Take care with the language you use. Using phrases such as ‘Government has banned singing’ is not helpful. Not true and prescribes motive.

6. Singing operates in different spheres. We sing to the Lord, to one another, and to ourselves. We haven’t lost everything, though it has been diminished. One-anothering is the big thing we’ve lost. Remember we are not just to offer up our praise and worship with our voices, but with our whole lives.

7. All singing is imperfect, and was before we were strongly advised not to do this. We are waiting a day when singing will be perfect, and this time is an opportunity to build that expectation.

8. We don’t want to lose the biblical place of singing. We don’t want to go back to the priesthood of some believers who sing on our behalf or to a consumer mindset where we passively engage in it.

9. Teach about congregational singing from God’s Word. Why do we sing as God’s people today? Why is it abnormal to only have some people singing? Phil Moore has done a 3 part sermon series on the topic of singing at Cornerstone Church in Nottingham.

10. Encourage the congregation to discuss the songs as well as the sermon. Give to congregation sheets with the song words on it so they can talk about the songs. [I’ve started to try and emphasise this with the ‘Hymn of the Month’ at Banstead Community Church which includes a kids talk on the hymn].

11. Promote family and household singing – see Getty Family Hymn Sing Live.

12. Current experience of sung worship in gathered churches isn’t great. Like having supermarket cola when you want the real thing.

13. Think carefully about how you introduce a song or hymn. What can you say to encourage the church? e.g. “Let us use this song to…”

14. It is probably best to have fewer song that normal when you meet.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Student Ministry in Lockdown with John Stevens, Peter Dray, and church student workers.

1. It feels like there is a loss of hope presently. The optimism of the summer has been met now with frustration and disappointment as we face new guidance and restrictions. All our hopes for ministry, church, personal lives have been dashed. How then do we minister into this situation? We remember that we have a hope that is sure and certain, a hope not for this age and that won’t be realised in this age. Our hope is that we will be glorified with the Lord Jesus and be with Him together in glory. Our present suffering drives us to find hope by looking to the future and Jesus’ return, and this enables us to wait patiently.

2. The only major change the latest government guidance brings that affects church life in England is a reduction of guests at weddings to maximum of 15. With fans not able to watch live sport anytime soon, we shouldn’t expect any restrictions on singing to change in the near future.

3. Pastoral concerns to be aware of include a) people facing restrictions on social contact; b) people facing pressure working from home (especially feeling more isolated); c) that Christmas will be affected; d) people who work in severely affected industries like hospitality, aviation, tourism and transport.

4. Whilst universities are communicating that it is business as usual, that is far from the case. Socially distanced uni context is more reminiscent of the Fyre Festival with universities over-promising.

5. The path for Christian students into local churches is more difficult and places a high onus on individual students. The big concern is for the ‘non-resilients’. It is reckoned that 25% of Christian students are resilient enough to find their way into local churches, 75% are not and will need someone to physically taken them – these need help. Also many students will have fallen out of the habit of going to church.

6. CU’s cannot gather in groups greater than 6. Evangelistic engagement is more difficult. But students are looking for hope and anywhere for it and will give Christianity a hearing if they know a Christian. Everyday Christian acts of welcome, kindness, community count more than ever. CU’s are at the moment the most active group on campus.

7. What can churches that are sending students do? Pray for their students. Model prayer and empathy for UCCF, CU’s, and churches in uni cities. Give new student welcome packs (available from 10ofthose.com) as a gift. Encourage students to engage with CU and make contact with local church.

8. Big challenges churches in uni cities face include isolation and mental health cases among students rapidly increasing, greater difficulties in connecting and welcoming students as trying a new church is not able to take place in usual way, and changes to how and what ministries should be done caused by COVID guidelines.

9. A good reason for students to commit to a church at uni rather than continue with online home church, is that uni church is present on the ground to give support when challenges arises while at uni.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Staying Online while Meeting in Person with John Stevens and Phill Brown.

1. With the additional pressure upon pastors and church leaders caused by the implications to church life of constantly changing government guidance and rules, it is easy for their attention to be taken off God. We need to remember to praise God. Psalm 103:1-5 reminds us that we stop praising God when we forget His benefits. We need to remember that God forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies and renews. These spiritual benefits and blessings are comprehensive and so our praise in response should be wholehearted.

2. As much as we want to do what is as close to normal church pre-lockdown, the measures that government has put in place, does not make that possible.

3. Understanding and Applying the ‘Rule of Six’. *
– It is still not clear about what is and is not allowed.
– Gatherings of more than 6 (except in case of larger/extended households) are unlawful.
– ‘Qualifying groups’ of up to 6 people can be in the same premise/place e.g. you have multiple groups of six in a church building.
– Mingling (socially interacting in some way) between qualifying groups is not allowed.
– Social distancing guidance has not changed. It is required between members of different households in qualifying groups and between qualifying groups.
– Exemptions from the ‘Rule of 6’ (but still with social distancing) include weddings, funerals, special life events (max 30), work, education, support groups, provision of voluntary or charitable services.

4. ‘Rule of Six’ and Church Life. *
– Ordinary Bible Studies or Prayer Meetings are unlikely to qualify for either the support group or education exemption, but a Bible Study for new mothers or those struggling with addictions might.
– Church staff team meetings qualify for work exemption (although not relevant in my situation as there are only 2 members of staff).
– Elders Meetings and Church Business Meetings might come under the exemption for the provision of charitable service.
– Member of staff leading a group might be considered as doing work or providing a charitable service.
– A pastors fraternal meeting or preaching group might be classed as work.
– The reason for might is because the guidance for how the legislation is to be worked out has not been published yet.
– If an organised church activity is taking place in a private dwelling, a risk assessment should be undertaken, and everyone who attends needs to understand how social distancing will be observed.
– A big question is whether the ‘Rule of Six’ means 6 people in a dwelling (house/garden) at the same time or means 6 people in each gathering taking place in a dwelling (i.e. the kids in bed loophole).
– More than 6 people can be present at a church worship service, but qualifying groups rule must be observed. The government is keen to stop mingling which means no chatting or moving between groups. Practically this means a group comes to church together, socially distance between households and other groups while they receive the service, and then leaves as a group together.
– If there are lots of groups of 6 on church premise for Bible Study and Prayer Meeting, interaction (discussion, prayers) must be contained within the group of 6 unless it is a contribution from the front to the whole group like in a worship service.

5. A good way to think about how we apply guidance and rules to the church worship service is to think in terms of organisers (staff, stewards) and attendees (those who come). Stewards and pastors do not need to limit their interaction to the qualifying group they are part of because they have a particular function linked to running the meeting.

6. Church leaders must not encourage ‘mingling’ implicitly or explicitly, otherwise they could be accused of organising an unlawful gathering.

7. Children who go off to Sunday school are still counted as being part of the qualifying group of those in the main service they came with.

8. Does a brief greeting in passing count as mingling? Probably not. But stopping to have a brief conversation does.

9. It seems to me that where the ‘Rule of 6’ really impacts church life is home groups that want to gather in person. We don’t have home groups at Banstead Community Church, so this new rule has not impacted church life significantly more than the previous guidance had. We have a weekly church prayer meeting which we moved online to Zoom and that still seems to be working well and is accessible to more of the church.

10. We live in a visual aid. Many prefer to watch over read. Recording sermons on video and uploading them on YouTube can be beneficial for those who want to catch up on a missed service, unable to gather, or who want to watch again.

11. Learn to look down the camera lens. Powerpoint slides with sermon notes on positioned just underneath the camera might be a helpful aid to doing this and work better than a teleprompter.

12. Hybrid services (online and in person) are essential while the whole church is unable to attend due to size of space or health concerns.

13. Remember to speak to both those in the room and at home. Saturday Night Takeaway with Ant and Dec may help with learning how to do this well as they are masters of speaking to those at home watching on TV as well as to the live audience. Practice speaking to the room and camera.

14. Be cautious about using in-house language because if it is online it will inevitably be a shop window to those outside the church.

15. Start online services on time. See viewers as guests, and be ready to receive them at start time. [We have a countdown on our livestream to aid with this].

16. Watch other churches. See what they are doing. Do they have ideas you can borrow, use, adapt?

17. Do the best you can. Remember you are serving your congregation primarily – any from outside the church is a bonus.

* This is my understanding what John Stevens said.  He wrote a long blog on this HERE.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Leading in the ‘New’ Normal with John Stevens and 6 FIEC pastors.

1. James 4:13-17 are pertinent verses for us. We long for certainty and control, but COVID-19 has brought an immense amount of uncertainty that affects our ability to plan. James reminds us of the need to accept uncertainty and our impotence. We must, with humility, recognise that we don’t know what will happen and that things might change so we need to be flexible with our plans. Yet we can have faith that the will of God will be done and be certain that God’s purposes will be accomplished.

2. Key highlights regarding the current guidance.
– Churches need to have done a risk assessment and ensure that the premises are COVID-secure.
– Good hygiene observed and attendees recorded and kept for 21 days for Track and Trace.
– No limits on number of attendees at services as long as social distancing is maintained. [Max of 30 for weddings and funerals].
– Wearing a face covering is law, although there are exemptions for those leading services and those with medical reasons.
– No congregational singing. Small groups (=5 people max) permitted with social distancing followed.
– Limit social interaction and conversation outside the household group attending.
– Baptism by full immersion permitted if following specific dunking technique.
– Bible studies and prayer meetings are allowed at places of worship. Interaction as part of a formal event acceptable – discussion in Bible study, sharing prayers – but social distancing and face covering is necessary.
– Creche and toddler groups now possible providing there is social distancing between household groups and no sharing of toys.
– Children under 5 there is no limit on group size as long parents not present.
– Children over 5 have a maximum group limit of 15 including leaders and these groups to be consistent. Singing is permitted in children’s groups as long as voices are not raised. But no live performances of drama, comedy, music, or overnight/residential activities.

3. One point mentioned that I am not clear on what this means in practice (even after follow up question) is: “Attend as group max 2 households indoors (max 6 people or single household/bubble if >6).”

4. The best source of guidance is the Baptist Union fact sheets.

5. Church worship services exempt from new restrictions of gatherings of 6 people indoors and outdoors. Unclear whether this will impact Bible studies and prayer meetings. Awaiting more detailed guidance.

6. This framework of guidance is the new normal. We have to accept this and work according to it.

7. For those churches that have begun in-person meetings, the majority are using a hybrid model (i.e. in-person plus livestream).

8. Livestream capability from the church building needs to be good (esp. upload speed) if hybrid model is going to work well.

9. Amount of government guidance and its changing nature is exhausting for pastors.

10. Being together with other Christians, even with restrictions, is wonderful.

11. The danger in-person gatherings pose to the church is that it may divide the church into the ‘Can’s’ and ‘Cannots’. Leaders needs to be aware of this and take suitable action to ensure that there are no members who feel like they are second class.

12. Concern is those who are comfortable not attending but who should be able to, but choose sofa church at home. A helpful resource on this and other reasons why people are not returning to church in-person is this video from Antony Barraclough with the title ‘Heart, Head, or Health? Why aren’t they coming?’.

13. Families with young children are those who have missed out a lot during these last 6 months. Lots of parents are relying on the Bible teaching at church for their children.

14. How do you make the livestream as good as possible? It was good to hear another pastor describe what we are doing – a mix of live (leading, sermon, singing group) and video content (kids talk, readings, songs, prayers). Our practice at Banstead Community Church is to have the leading, prayers, sermon live and the kids talk, reading, songs as pre-recorded videos. Why use pre-recorded videos? They work better for those watching at home and means you can involve those who are unable to attend in the service.

15. A challenge as we increasingly resume in person gatherings is recruiting people to serve who are out of the habit.

16. Elders’ meetings can take place in church buildings as long as face coverings worn and social distancing maintained.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Lessons from Lockdown with John Stevens and Ray Evans.

1. Lockdown has been a trial. Not of suffering and persecution but of difficulty and challenge. It has tested our leadership and faith. How are we to face this trial? In James 1:2-8 we see that we are to approach it a) with joy because God is working His purposes out; b) with humility as we recognise how lacking we are and cry out to God for the wisdom that we need for the challenges; c) with faith trusting that God will supply what we need.

2. Life is (more) full of decisions than ever. So much is happening that takes up our brain space. We are suffering from decision fatigue with lots of little decisions wearing us down. We are having to make decisions at a time when uncertainty, confusion and change abound plus we also can’t easily get together with others at the moment to make corporate decisions.

3. Our culture makes corporate decisions more difficult. The “What’s in it for me?” attitude can filter into the church making it harder to make decisions with a sense of how we can help one another.

4. Don’t confuse God’s secret will (what God knows) and revealed will (what God has told us in His Word). Respect this important Biblical distinction. Our primary role as leaders is to teach and model and live out the revealed will of God in His Word. But we are also to guide them in the secret will but pastoring and comforting them as they look back of what secret will is and by helping them to submit their hopes and dreams to the secret will,.

5. The story of change: Dream – Leap – Fight – Climb – Arrive (see Illuminate by Nancy Duarte & Patti Sanchez).

6. Understand whether the decision you are making is i) right or wrong; ii) wise or unwise (good, better, best); iii) like or dislike (preference). Problems come when life or dislike are turned into right or wrong.

7. Trust God for His kind providence. “If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” And be very prayerful.

8. You will have to make difficult decisions.

9. At times when we are really uncertain we need high quality team based decision making (HQTBDM).

10. Buckle up because the ’new normal’ or ‘return to normality’ doesn’t look like it is coming any time soon. The guidance for places of worship is unlikely to change in the short or medium term. The probablity is that it will be the “middle of next year” rather than “over by Christmas”.

11. Lockdown has made it clear that we are living in post-Christian and secular context with the church being marginalised more than we would like. Church just isn’t important to national life.

12. A time for humility ecclesiologically. Ways of doing church (online preaching, video preaching, multisite model) that we might have been critical of, we have or will have to use as an emergency measure. At the very least, this should cause those of us with strong views to show humility towards those who have different ones to us.

13. We have seen that Word-centred churches have been more likely to continue to thrive, as opposed to sacramental or social action churches.

14. The last four months have given leaders a new opportunity to understand the lives of others – the barriers people have to coming to church or engaging and participating in church programmes; the pressure on parents; the loneliness faced by elderly people.

15. Church has become more accessible for unbelievers. It is easy for them to join by clicking, leave by disconnecting, and overcome the embarrassment off feeling uncomfortable. But we don’t just want to get church to unbelievers – we want to get the gospel to them.

16. It is the churches that already were making an effort to engage with the community that have been able to capitalise on new opportunities.

17. There is an entropy of enthusiasm. People get excited and involved when new but once they get used to the online format enthusiasm has waned. We can expect that to happen with physical gatherings after they restart too.

18. The “Culture War” over identity, history, liberal progressive agenda vs nationalistic agenda, young v old will continue and get fiercer.

19. Initial spiritual openness has waned. We continue to minister in times of spiritual hardness.

20. Lockdown will produce social and cultural change. Working from home and the decline of the office; Smaller = more flexible/efficient; people not commuting into city centre but more residential based; woke authoritarianism or conservative authoritarianism?. These will have implication for churches.

21. The importance of deep relationships between members and a strong online presence (especially for those who can’t attend services) have been revealed by this period of lockdown.

22. Great idea from Ray Evans. Get members to complete sentence: “Even though… I am thankful for…”

23. A good Senior Leader gets other voices heard so have more insight.

24. Resilience and adaptability means in practice the capacity to cope with a crisis and to grasp the opportunities which a crisis presents. If you don’t have structures, systems, and people in place before the crisis you won’t be able to do it in a crisis.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Mental Health in Lockdown with Steve Midgley and Dan Steel.

1. We are living in a time of heightened anxiety. Anxiety for ourselves, our family, our loved ones, church and its future, our ministry, job security. The root of anxiety is that we are in a situation in which we are not in control and where there is a lack of certainty about the future.

2. Bible recognises that anxiety is part of life as a Christian in a fallen world. The answer to anxiety is faith. How do we deal with anxiety? Two comforting truth about God are that 1) His mighty hand and great power which raised Jesus from the dead can lift you up, maybe in this life but ultimately in eternity; 2) He cares for you and will carry your anxiety – we don’t need to take on burdens that are not ours to carry. Therefore, on a daily basis, we are to humble ourselves recognising our weakness and lack of power, and to cast our anxieties on Him.

3. It is not easy to know where the dividing line between mental health struggles and spiritual struggles is.

4. Why do we feel exhausted at the moment?  It is not just screen fatigue. It is decision fatigue. We are having to make decisions in territory where we don’t have expertise and from an unstable foundation.

5. On Zoom we are more likely to make ‘declarations’ rather than ‘conversation’. We make statements but don’t do much asking. We need to ask and listen harder to people’s answers. Everyone’s experience of lockdown will be different.

6. One disadvantage of church meetings being online is that we’ve lost the conversations that would have happened with people who arrived early for or hang around after the physical gatherings. We need to find ways to do this.

7. Be alert to trouble. If there were issues or struggles in relationships between lockdown, they have probably got worse.

8. Some antidotes for anxiety from Luke 12:1-34: a) Don’t be functional orphans (v30); b) Recognise your inability (v26); c) Worry about some bigger problems (v20-21); d) Fear God first (v5). Put our concerns into different frames of reference.

9. Not everyone will thrive doing spiritual life without the structure of the church’s communal life.

10. Move towards those who have mental health diagnosis and ask how you can help and support them, like you would with others who have medical diagnosis.

11. “Heroism, servanthood and wisdom get muddled sometimes.”

12. Questions to ask yourself: “Where is your anxiety?” “Where is your trouble?” “What’s written between your lines?” “Who are you talking to?”

13. Survey of how we are doing as a pastoral community reveals that most people want to give up on ministry some of the time. This is a recognition that ministry is hard. The main reasons for this are the overbearing nature of the workload, criticism (sheep bite), family impact, issues with other leaders, difficult pastoral situations (or a combination of them).

14. Whilst a lot are coping with pressure of ministry in lockdown by opening up to others, through healthy habits (running, walking), increased prayer and seeking the Lord, there are some who are self-medicating (alcohol) or who are just keeping going!

15. Lots of people in ministry do not have sufficient support.

16. One thing to come out the survey was a recognised need for a change in culture among those in ministry. For more gracious, vulnerable, honest (mostly) local gatherings where we ‘support’ rather than ‘compete’.

17. Do something fun every day.

Notes from FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on Lockdown leadership that cares for women in church and ministry with Elinor Magowan and Elizabeth Smyth plus Q&A with two leaders of churches that reopened last Sunday and two that did not.

1. The apostle Paul instructs church leaders to care for the whole church (1 Timothy 5:1-2) by building up everyone in the faith through the gospel; to equip the whole church for ministry (Titus 2:1-9) so that the body is built up to be a holy and evangelistic community with members using their gifts to serve in varied ways; to teach and apply the whole Scriptures to the whole church (2 Timothy 3:15-16).

2. Clarifications on government guidance issued: a) Risk assessment changed to assess risk emphasising obligation under Health and Safety regulations; b) Children’s and youth work churches run needs to follow government guidance for children’s activities taking place outside formal education context; c) When gathering as a church participants are not to engage in conversation with others who come to worship (no social interaction with those from a different household).

3. Lockdown has presented a variety of challenges for ministry wives: 1) Loss – of community, of structure to the day, of meeting people, of identity; 2) Insecurity – watching husbands struggle being videoed on camera, how to serve; 3) False guilt – not being busy in way they usually would be, feeling inhospitable because not able to do hospitality as usually would; 4) Personal struggles – if shielding, caring for children with special needs, caring for elderly parents; 5) Complexities in church life – conflict, difficult pastoral issues, complaints of members.

4. The challenges facing ministry wives can be blessings with trials becoming opportunities to draw closer to Jesus, greater family time with husbands not being out at meetings, more relaxed Sundays (if pre-recorded), opportunity to refocus on family responsibilities like support husband or caring for children, join in with ministries online.

5. The journey out of lockdown provides an opportunity to re-evaluate and re-structure ministries.

6. Four key pressures women’s workers have faced during lockdown: 1) Isolation – from normal ministry life, from other church staff, from usual contacts; 2) Invisibility – invisible to church (unlike the pastor who is seen in online services) and invisibility of the church (pastoral care more difficult); 3) Interaction – lack of interaction and the buzz of seeing God’s Word doing its work in the lives of other women; 4) Intensity – outside of comfort zone, lockdown makes pastoral needs more complicated, social needs in community, a whole day on Zoom is exhausting, stress of using technology, those single feel singleness more.

7. Ways to support women’s worker include make sure regular communication, praying for and with them, giving them confirmation that their ministry is valued, involving them in church’s online meeting, commending their ministry to the church (like Paul does in Romans 16), and encouraging ministry friendships outside the church.

8. Women’s workers of FIEC churches have testified to unexpected opportunities that have come to them and to God’s faithfulness to them during this time of lockdown.

9. During the summer months where some people in the church will be able to get away on holiday, don’t forget to support those in the church who are shielding.

10. Summer holidays have come at the wrong time with churches coming out of lockdown. Recognising people in church are exhausted and need a break/holiday is a good reason not to rush to hold services or to do all that was done before lockdown.

11. A challenge of the hybrid model (live and livestreaming) is that it difficult to do the service to camera if there is a congregation attending. It might mean having to decide whether to direct the service to camera or people present. One option is to do the service for the live congregation but to acknowledge those streaming in.

12. One option now available is for two households to watch the livestream service together.

13. No social interaction and not raising voices above conversational level effectively advices churches against holding prayer meetings and home groups in church buildings.

14. To be able to pray, hear Scripture read publicly and a sermon preached, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper with other brothers and sisters is significant.

15. Each church will have to work out whether benefits of restricted gatherings outweigh the benefits of online gatherings.

Notes from an FIEC Leadership in Lockdown webinar on The Journey out of Lockdown with John Stevens and a panel discussion with Spencer Shaw, Mark Lawrence, and Paul Gamston.

1. On the issue of churches reopening after lockdown different church leaders will come to different conclusions. We need to adopt a Christlike attitude in how we relate to one another.

2. Coming out of lockdown will be more difficult than going into lockdown.

3. A Christlike mindset is an others-centred mindset. Some churches will return to meeting quickly because members are feeling the loss of community. Other may delay because the members are afraid. A Christlike attitude in how we relate to one another will mean forgoing our rights for the sake of serving others like Philippians 2 tells us Christ Jesus did.

4. A big concern should be our witness to the watching world and the community we are in.

5. Government guidance update:
– Need to undertake a formal risk assessment to ensure the building is COVID-secure.
– No limits on numbers at services but for weddings the maximum attendance is 30.
– Strict adherence to social distancing is required (2m unless impossible).
– No congregational singing. A soloist is allowed if essential to the act of worship, but that is not generally the case in FIEC churches.
– Services should be as short as possible with the assumption that everyone leaves immediately the service is finished.
– Avoid baptism by immersion because of the quantity of water involved.
– For creche and Sunday School, guidance for schools and childcare settings needs to be adhered to.
– For Lord’s Supper – no common cup; no speaking directly over bread and wine.
– Advice is for congregation to bring their own books or if not to quarantine books for 48 hours.
– Avoid cash collections or single receptacle and quarantine.
– The Baptist Union has advice and risk assessment template that is helpful for FIEC churches.

6. Behind the guidance given by the government for places of worship is a) public health concern – rules applied are not intrinsically different to other sectors of the community and other service providers; b) places of worship are ‘particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19’ based on evidence from UK and around the world; c) particular concern for over 70s and those shielding; d) track and trace to prevent localised spikes.

7. In the guidance given there is little in terms of mandatory legal requirements. There are mandatory legal requirements of risk assessment and for handling food (Lord’s Supper). Everything else is ‘advice’ or ‘strongly advised’ and put in language of ‘should do’ not ‘must do’. Government is trusting that churches act in a way that is wise and safe. But government does expect churches to fully implement all of the guidance meaning that advised or strongly advised is not optional or voluntary.

8. How will government guidance be enforced? I) Criminal or civil liability of trustees if they ignore the mandatory or strong advice; ii) It is a criminal offence to fail to manage health and safety ‘so far as is reasonably practical’; iii) Is it COVID-secure to defy government advice or strong advice? Iv) Risk of being uninsured if advice is ignored; v) Local authority enforcement action for breaches of health and safety and there will be spot checks.

9. FIEC’s position is that all churches ought to implement government advice.

10. The ban on singing might change in due course in light of subsequent evidence.

11. There is the possibility of restrictions being further loosened or tightened depending on what happens with the infection rate.

12. Just because churches are allowed to meet together from July 4 doesn’t mean they should.

13. Publish the risk assessment on the church website.

14. There will be a diversity of approaches to holding services. One church is running multiple services with those for adults and children over 11 only and those for families with children under 14 (children must remain with their parents). For another church, the first step might be to have the church as a ‘Zoom’ screen for their online service.

15. Adhering to 2m social distancing is crucial. Rows of chair 2m apart. One way system into building. If handwashing not easily possible, have antibacterial gel at entrance. After service, stagger leaving and encourage people to leave building and premises. Churches will need to decide how heavily this will need to be policed – by a steward, signage, or announcements to congregation.

16. Keep list of everyone who attends services for 21 days.

17. Varied picture on how soon those who rent premises will be able to meet. Demands made by owners of the building might be narrower and tighter than government requires.

18. General consensus is that running creche or Sunday School at the moment is too much. Have pods available for parents to take children to might be an option if space.

19. Over 70s are discouraged from coming to church at the moment by the government. We need to respect that. Yet we also want to treat them as adults by making this clear to them and then letting them take responsibility for the decision they make. Another reason why it is important to have in place proper social distancing rules.

20. People need to be told if they are on camera if live-streaming the service from the church.

21. Have members of the church who are ready to go home if guests turn up for the service so that you don’t need to turn them away.

22. Ensure the front row of the church is not too close to the lectern to reduce the danger cause by voice projection. Congregational corporate prayer poses a risk.

23. Likelihood is that guidance will be in place for as long as guidance is in place for pubs and restaurants.