Reopening Strategy-Turning Point Church
Over the past few weeks, our leadership team and our staff have been working through the logistics of reopening Turning Point Church. During this time, counsel has been sought from local authorities, local and associational pastors, as well as researched state and federal guidelines. As followers of Christ, we too have leaned deeply on the wisdom of God’s Word in this decision-making process. Some of the key teachings of scripture that are important in such decision making are as follows:
The responsibility of leadership: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” Acts 20:28
The respect for authority: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1
The purpose of community: “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
After processing through all of this and prayerfully seeking God in this time, our leadership team and staff have developed the following plan regarding reasonably and safely resuming gatherings of Turning Point Church and other designated meeting locations.
Phase 1-The Online Church Campus will continue for the foreseeable future. This season has allowed us the opportunity to develop our online experiences and broaden the reach of our church across SWFL, the state of Florida and our nation. For the vulnerable amongst us, and others desiring to social distance, this platform will continue to offer Worship Experiences, Life Groups, Family Time Online and our Student Group Online. We will continue to create content that draws people to Christ and disciples them more deeply in their faith in Jesus.
Phase 2-As a way to transition back into public gatherings, we will ask and equip people to coordinate Watch Parties in their homes. Watch Parties will function as smaller gatherings who may watch and discuss the Sunday service as well as provide community and care for the group assembled.
Phase 3-Once the leadership of the church deems the risk is bearable, Sunday Worship Experiences will resume. The church, in the past and the present cannot guarantee zero risk of viral transmission, yet we will do our best to provide a clean and sanitized space. We are also working towards method adjustment to attempt to limit exposure. A detailed list will be compiled by the staff of temporary adjustments to be released prior to reopening in our facility.
Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, we all have had an individual responsibility to take care of ourselves and the most vulnerable of the population. We all must embrace our responsibility and potential risk for the decisions we make. Each family will make the decisions they deem best for them and we will do our best to provide alternatives for each position.
As for the timelines for each phase, the leadership team and staff will continue to monitor local and state guidelines as well as state health data. Announcements will happen through our social media platforms, emails, and digital Sunday Worship Experience.
In the days to come, we will share some common questions and answers to further clarify our next steps.
Pastor Steve