As the lockdown measures in the UK are slowly being eased, United Reformed Church (URC) has released “Ready for the new ‘normal’: A discussion paper for a pandemic recovery and resumption plan”, a booklet that aims to help carry the URC past the lockdown and into a healthy future.
The resource, prepared after discussions held with local churches and officers serving the church, consists of three sections, beginning with a road map to reflect on how to move ahead. The next section deals with practical questions to help with planning how church can safely resume during the lockdown, such as alternative worship provisions, space planning, dealing with grief and trauma, and risk assessments.
The last part of the booklet provides wider questions of principle to mull over, such as whether a physical building is necessary for the church to function, and what worship will look like in the new normal.