What Pastors Need to Consider for Post-Pandemic Church
Where I live, things are finally getting better after about a year and half of pandemic. We have just started meeting in-person again, although at 25% capacity. Most of our programs are still on hold and we still wear masks on Sunday mornings.
Wherever pastors and churches are at in this process, I know that many are looking to what post-pandemic church is going to look like. There are certain areas that are calling for attention as we seek to get back to “normal.”
Many will want to get worship back to congregational singing. Others will want to regather volunteers to help out in various areas. Programs and formal ministries will be scheduled for return.
But in all of this there is something else that pastors need to be thinking about.
We have just gone through a year and a half of high intensity stress. Here are some of the things some people might have gone through.
- Getting sick or having someone close get sick (or die) from COVID-19.
- Fear of getting COVID-19 themselves or their loved ones.
- Isolation.
- Continual stream of negative news in the media.
- Conflict between people with different views of how to respond to COVID-19.
- Losing a job or having hours cut.
- Trouble with childcare.
- Trying to get children to do online schooling.
- Missing the encouragement that comes with corporate worship.
- Getting tired of online meetings.
- Trying to decide whether or not to get the vaccine.
- Trying to get an appointment for the vaccine.
- Frustration that health professionals have been too conservative or liberal in guidelines.
- Not being able to see loved ones for special occasions.
- Not being able to have real closure when friends die because of funeral limitations.
Those are just some of the experiences. There are definitely more. People will have gone through some, most or even all of these things.
Humans are good at dealing with intense stress for shot periods of time. But this has been a prolonged time of stress and there is a price to pay.
I believe that we will see a significant increase in needs concerning mental health in our congregations in the months and years to come. We cannot wait to react, we need to be proactive. Begin addressing these issues now.
I’m trying to include some resources on mental health at my website Disability Comes to Church. Please check it out.
