Preamble:
Since March 2020, the President of the Republic of Senegal, acting recommendations from the relevant agencies of government, and in urgent response the COVID-19 pandemic crisis around the world, and with particular reference to the Senegalese reality, decided, among numerous measure, to ban all mass gatherings, including congregational gathering in churches and mosques in the country. The church leadership responded be terminating immediate Sunday worship service barely three hours before the worship time.
Since then, the Pastor and leadership has labored, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to hold all worship services online. It has been a new experience and a tasking one from that day till now.
However, on the evening of Monday, 11 May, the President of the Republic of Senegal announce the rollback of most of the restrictive measures on economic, agricultural, commerce, and religious gathering for worship in order to return the country to economic and social recovery.
The Church Council of IBC responded in an emergency meeting to hold back or return to corporate worship until two weeks after the Korite, by which time a proper assessment of the situation on the ground could be made and a decision on reopening could be taken. The Council decided to form and Team to quickly put together and document to inform and guide our return to the new normal of things.
The constitution of this Team, Post-Covid-19 Worship Architectural Team, is the result of the Church Council’s decision.
Purpose:
To prepare a draft document – Roadmap & Guidelines for Return to Sanctuary Worship in a Post-COVID-19 Era – to guide the return of IBC to corporate worship.
Aims:
To ensure a smooth transition from virtual services to Sanctuary worship (Sunday, Wednesday, Friday services, and fellowship meetings).
To ensure the appropriate conditions for the return.
To ensure the emotional preparedness of the congregation for the return.
To ensure the safety conditions of the premises.
To ensure a workable worship mix:
Number of services to ensure proper seating and spacing.
Times of worship.
Availability of workers to support the number of services and how to recruit additional ones.
Fellowship culture, i.e. inter-personal posture, masking etc.
Ensure facilities readiness and logistical support and make recommendations as necessary, with priority settings. Particular attention to be given to the children’s ministry.
Commencement of Work:
With immediate effect after commissioning in a short Zoom meeting with the Pastor and the Chairman of Church Council.
Membership:
Deacon Apol SORIANO – Team Leader
Deacon Lui CHITIMA – Secretary
Mrs. Elizabeth NDIAYE – Congregation Welfare Rep.
The team has the liberty to co-opt any member of the church to help in its work.
Tenure:
The team has fourteen (14) days {} to present a proposed Roadmap & Guidelines document to the Church Council for review and adoption.
However, it will be necessary for the Team to remain constituted after submission of the document for these purposes:
To remotely observe and review the integrity of the Roadmap and its adaptation, and adherence to its guidelines.
To make suggestions to Council for necessary changes as observed.
To decide on the timeline for collapsing temporary systems towards a new normal of worship culture for the church.
Accountability:
The Team will be accountable to the Pastor, working with the Church Council, and reports to him as a unit.
Review:
The Team will develop a monthly review of the process and make recommendations to the Pastor for enhancement of the adaptation of the Roadmap and Guidelines.
Working methods:
The Team will decide on the method / approach to its work.
The team will decide on meeting:
Place (mode)
Times
Agenda
Methodology of work
Information sharing
Compilation of Roadmap and Guidelines
Termination of Work:
Based upon recommendation from the Team, the Church Council shall move to terminate the commission of the Team in a proper and honorable manner before the Congregation.