The Healthy at Church Task Force is beginning to consider when a resumption of in-person worship at South Elkhorn should be recommended to the Cabinet. In making recommendations to the Cabinet, the Task Force considers legal mandates, legal risk, medical data, recommended best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and the Kentucky Department for Public Health, inclusivity for all our members/guests, and how worship could be conducted in various formats.

The Task Force is considering a return to limited, in-person worship at some point in the future, though no target date has been firmly established. The Task Force is also considering certain benchmarks/metrics that would need to be met to ensure indoor worship is safe and inclusive. In completing this work, the Task Force has decided to request our members complete this survey so that we can better understand the opinions and concerns of the congregation.

The following terms will be used in the survey, and understanding these definitions will be helpful in completing the survey:

“Outdoor Worship” is the model we have been using for the last several months. This involves wholly outdoor services, with the congregation attending by “driving in” or by sitting outdoors.

“Modified Indoor Worship” is a return to indoor worship with certain restrictions. Capacity would be limited, so RSVPs to attend worship would be required, and it is possible not everyone who wants to attend could. Services would be shorter and physical distance would need to be maintained between family groups. Mask usage would be required at all times. Congregational singing would not be permitted. (These are only examples of restrictions and the list is not exhaustive. A complete list of restrictions would be recommended by the Task Force to the Cabinet for adoption).

“Regular Indoor Worship” is what we were doing before the pandemic. This would include regular, full-length indoor worship with no restrictions on capacity.

Congregational Survey

Jacob Walbourn served faithfully and well as the Healthy at Church task force leader in 2020. He remains a vital and involved member of the task force going forward. His role as 2021 Moderator of the Cabinet will now be his primary leadership role. I look forward to continuing the important work of the task force as we recommend policy and guidelines to the Ministry Cabinet. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

HEALTHY AT CHURCH TASK FORCE

Morganne Brackney – Medical professional
Jacob Walbourn – Moderator, Elder, Legal professional
Aden Randles – Elder, Personnel Team Chair
Diana McKenzie – Elder, University professional
Phyl Wigglesworth – Elder, Worship Team member
Michael Swartzentruber – Senior Minister
Holly Fuqua – Associate Minister

Healthy at Church FAQ's

Healthy at Church – Updated Guidelines August 6, 2021

The Healthy at Church Task Force is beginning to consider when a resumption of in-person worship at South Elkhorn should be recommended to the Cabinet, and would love your feedback through a congregational survey.

Healthy at Church – Updated Guidelines

Indoor Worship

Return to indoor worship starting May 23. Two services on May 23. Learn more and register.

COVID-19 SURGE IN LEXINGTON

Outdoor Worship remains a safe way to worship, even as COVID-19 surges in Lexington and across the globe. A few changes, including the requirements to wear a mask outside, are included in this update.

Healthy at Church Children and Youth Update

While the reality of COVID-19 continues to spread, impacting South Elkhorn families, we continue to remain confident in the safety of outdoor worship. We ask your continued prayers for all those impacted by COVID-19. We also ask your help with the following Healthy at Church protocols.

Healthy at Church Update & Reminders

Healthy at Church Recommendations

The Ministry Cabinet (governing board) of South Elkhorn launched a Healthy at Church Task Force to recommend requirements for healthy worship and safely reopening the church building. Learn more about the team here. On Tuesday, June 16, the Ministry Cabinet approved the following "Regulations for Building Reopening" recommendations from the Healthy at Church Task Force, including the following highlights: Worshipping outdoors in-person, in-car, and online as a safer alternative to indoor, in-person worship. Learn more [...]

Drive In Worship

Two services June 7, 2020in the South Elkhorn Christian Church parking lot at 9:30 AM & 10:30 AM. Services will be brief (~20 minutes) and center on communion. Bring your own communion from home. Be sure to use the restroom before you arrive as there will be no building (or bathroom) access.

Healthy at Church Recommendations through June 16

The Ministry Cabinet (governing board) of South Elkhorn has launched a Healthy at Church Task Force. Learn more about the team here. Healthy at Church Task Force recommended extending the general church closure through June 16th. That means no church or community groups or office visitors are to enter the church building. Only select individuals will enter the building for essential functioning of the church. Church staff will continue to work remotely as much as [...]

Healthy at Church Task Force

The Ministry Cabinet (governing board) of South Elkhorn has launched a Healthy at Church Task Force to create a plan to meaningfully, safely, and feasibly reopen South Elkhorn for worship and building use. Since March 15, 2020, and due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the South Elkhorn building has been closed to visitors and members. Staff is working remotely and only entering the building for essential purposes, worship is online, and groups are meeting with video [...]