“Some church leaders explain that while they are allowed to gather in some capacity, the health and safety of their congregation and community outweigh their ability and desire to gather (…) Others have commented that restrictions on congregational singing, hesitation from ministry volunteers, and the inability to linger before and after services for conversation, greatly reduce the value of their in-person gatherings,” the study said.

Eighty per cent of large churches, who boasted an attendance higher than 1,000 before the nationwide quarantines, declared they are not yet ready to open for in-person ceremonies.

In another key finding, half of churches surveyed will most likely return to in-person gathering later this month; about one third, however, said they are still undecided.

Source and image: christianheadlines.com