In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, many churches have wrestled with measures to keep parishioners safe.  That churches provide no immunity from the virus is well illustrated by the case of a Georgian churchgoer named Clay Bentley, who sang in a 100 member choir at his church on March 1 and soon afterward developed symptoms of coughing and fever.  He was hospitalized with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus.  Bentley told the Daily Mail that he’s heard that seven other people who were also in the choir are now in hospitals.

As the case load of infected people in the U.S. rises, state governors are calling for restrictions on all public gatherings.  Churches are heeding the call.  Unprecedented photos of empty pews and barren meeting houses have floated through the ether.  

Most churches have canceled all services, and moved to online formats such as live-streaming, Zoom, and webcasts.  Members have stayed in touch by connecting on Facebook, or by meeting only in small groups. Some churches have persisted in holding services, with modifications such as forgoing a communion cup. 

Borrowing from restaurants, some churches have offered “drive through” sacraments.  One example is the St. Andrew Apostle School in Silver Spring, Maryland, as reported by Catholic Philly. Father Leary is quoted:

“There’s a very beautiful paradox taking place. There’s a contradiction in people’s lives in the fact that they’re starting to realize what they don’t have. The absence is creating a longing for presence. What God is allowing is this divine encounter of love. He’s turning the hearts and eyes of the people back to Him.”

Others are similarly optimistic. Roxie Floyd of the Wilson Temple in Raleigh, NC, is quoted by Elizabeth Dias of the New York Times: “Jim Crow didn’t stop our church, the 60s didn’t stop our church, race riots didn’t stop our church, lynching didn’t stop our church,” she said. “It gives you a strength and hardening of character to weather storms, that we will persevere through the worst times and come out on the other side stronger.”