Reopening of Churches to public worship – COVID-19

Yesterday, the 8th of May, 2020, a document suggesting a proposal from the various christian councils in Ghana leaked into social media. This comes after days of wide spread speculations, that churches re open for public worship. The content of that document suggested some guidelines for the reopening. I find it troubling that the majority of these reactions tend towards the view that the church is insensitive to the current situation and does not deserve consideration to reopening.

As an ambassador of the Gospel of Christ and member of the Church I feel obliged to present an objective view of the current happenings in the country for your judgment and conclusion.

On the 19th of March, 2020, following an imposition of restrictions on social gatherings in Ghana, church institutions were officially closed to public worship. Many other institutions suffered similar fate and the effect on such institutions has been very negative. This not withstanding the public has never stopped calling on the church to contribute to the alleviation of the suffering brought on society by this pandemic. In response to this cry for help, the church as part of its missions to the world, has supported many homes and families. In this regard the church has contributed over one million Ghana Cedis ( a verifiable fact) from its reserves to the fight of the pandemic in Ghana alone. Yet a significant part of society does not see why the church should be appealing for funds in this period.

The church as an institution is a source of employment for a good number of the nation’s population. Contrary to common perception those on the church’s payroll include non-clergy who serve as office clerks, cleaners, security personnel, secretaries, administrative officers, accountants among many others. While many institutions badly hit by the effects of this pandemic continue to find justification to lay off their workers the church strives to keep the majority of its employees on payroll. Yet a significant part of society does not see why the church should appeal for funds.

The three week partial lock down imposed on parts of the country was lifted amid directives for institutions that wish to open for business. Through out these restrictions institutions like banks, telecommunication offices and market places remained opened for business though with regulations. The latter is the most crowded in the country. The ministry of health has never stopped drawing up directives to ensure safety in these places and society has little complaint about that. Yet when there were suggestions to implement similar directives for the reopening of churches significant part of society began to cry foul.

Perhaps those complaining do not know the significance of church service, so permit me to help. Apart from the economic hardships brought on by this pandemic mental health deterioration is bigger issue of this time. Many who have lost jobs and sources of financial support suffer depression that can aggravate into worse conditions if help is not given in time. There are also those who suffer loneliness and dejection because the only family they have is the church. Records show that in times of calamities many find comfort in the church. Examples exist from the aftermath of 9/11 and hurricane Katrina calamities of the United States of America (USA). Church services in the United States, during this period, were reported to have seen a great increase in patronage primarily because the church helped to ease the psychological stress of many. (May I remind readers that the US, unlike Ghana, is one country with well developed social and psychological counseling sectors.) If in such a country the role of the church in helping people through the crisis could not be overshadowed how much more a country like Ghana where the majority turn to the church for answers to their problems.

In all of these we cannot overlook the vital role the church plays in educating the public on such issues. Most communication from official Government agencies on this pandemic have been in English. We cannot ignore the fact that there are those in society who neither speak nor understand the English hence there is a need to make this information available in the various local languages. It is in this vain that the church does a great service to the nation in educating the various ethnicities in the country. It is clear that the Church is closer to the society than the Municipal, District and Health Directorates. Even in the light of a few ministers of the church that occasionally ill inform the public the benefits occasioned by this role of the church cannot be emphasized enough.

If we are to be fair we must acknowledge the fact that far from the church’s implied desire to restore its main source of financial flow there is the desire to help society in this turbulent times. So I ask “is it fair to keep markets, banks and telecommunication help centers open but too early to consider churches for reopening?”