COVID-19 Protection Framework and City on Hill
Dear City on a Hill whānau,
We live in nervous and stressful times as the pandemic continues to affect us all in significant ways. Many continue to be worried about COVID-19’s impact on jobs, health, relationships and our church life together.
We are faced with many decisions as a church whānau about how we will gather while still impacted by COVID-19. Our aim is to approach this issue biblically and theologically rather than simply pragmatically. Set out below are our commitments as a church of God’s people that will drive our decision making going forward.
This paper intentionally does not seek to take a pro- or anti-vaccination position as it is outlining how we can love all people who make up our church community and beyond.
Context
The COVID-19 virus has significantly impacted the globe and will continue to have a disrupting influence here in New Zealand. We agree that COVID-19 does present a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of a great number of people in our wider community as well as in our church. In order to address the threat of COVID-19 the New Zealand government is planning on introducing a new COVID-19 Protection Framework (also known as the Traffic Light System) in the next few months.
Under the COVID-19 Protection Framework, there will be different regulations imposed on individuals depending on their vaccination status. In addition to this, there are different rules for groups and gatherings depending on whether they require proof of vaccination for those who participate.
It is clear that under this new framework our life as a church whānau will be significantly impacted regardless of the decisions we make going forward. That said, under the current framework, we already experience significant disruption as our Morning Church is unable to all meet together each week.
Biblical and Theological Foundations
We will rejoice because Christ rules the world!
Even in the face of danger and difficulty, as followers of Jesus we can be certain that Christ rules the world, both now and into eternity. As the Apostle John introduces himself at the beginning of the Book of Revelation he describes Jesus like this,
“Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. […]
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:5-8)
Jesus reigns over all - COVID-19, the government, the church and even all the details of our lives. He rules the future and works all things to ultimately bring about his plans and purposes for the world.
So we must not fear or panic but we can continue to joyfully trust God. And this trust ought to be expressed in prayerful dependence on him, knowing that he hears our and answers the prayers of his people.
We will remain on mission
Even though we might feel like it is difficult enough just to continue to gather as God’s people and to keep going trusting in Jesus, God has not stopped saving people from death to life through the blood of his Son. God is still on mission and so are we as his people.
It is easy to think that COVID-19 is the most significant issue facing New Zealand at the moment. COVID is serious but there is a much greater challenge to the millions of Kiwis who don’t know Jesus. They are cut off from God and stand under his righteous judgement. This reality should be our deepest concern.
As a church, we are still on about multiplying and maturing followers of Jesus for the glory of God because that is what God is still on about!
As we are reading at the moment in 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul is languishing in prison yet he is still clearly striving to see Jesus grow his kingdom. In Philippians 1 Paul writes this,
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” (Philippians 1:12-13)
It’s an exciting idea to think that God is still saving people and that he might even draw people to himself through the way we handle these COVID restrictions. We will make ways to welcome all people, regardless of their vaccination status, to come and hear the good news of Jesus.
We will cherish our fellowship as God’s people
Christ died so that we might be gathered together as the people of God. The church is the group of people who have been chosen by God, saved by the blood of Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit. When it comes to thinking about our church family at a time like this there are two important realities that come to the fore - unity and gathering.
First, the unity we have in Christ trumps anything that may divide us. We may have different backgrounds, ethnicities, ages and stages of life. We may even have different views on vaccination, the seriousness of COVID, or willingness to take risks but overriding all of that is the reality that we are the body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul has this to say about the precious unity of the church,
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6)
Secondly, this precious unity is expressed in our physical gathering together around Christ in his word. When we meet it is a rich blessing and reminder of what God has done for us in Jesus. Gathering with other Christians is not an optional extra for the followers of Jesus but it is an essential expression of who we are as many members of the one body. It is also one of the means of God’s grace to help us to continue following Jesus to the end.
As a church, we remain committed to finding ways to express our unity as the body of Christ as well as regularly meeting together in Christian fellowship. It grieves us that under the COVID Protection Framework there does not appear to be any setting or circumstances where we will be able to physically all gather together.
We are committed to making sure that no one is excluded from fellowship based on their vaccination status or health conditions even if this means that we must run separate gatherings.
Out of obedience to God, we will submit to the Government
The Bible is clear that the followers of Jesus are called to honour, pray for and willingly submit to governing authorities (1 Peter 2:13-17). They are God’s instruments for our good, peace and protection.
However, the government’s authority is not universal because its authority is derived from God. We obey him first and foremost (Romans 13:1-7). So, when it is possible to obey both God and governing authorities, we must do so willingly and respectfully (even if we may disagree or dislike the decisions that are made).
Within the Bible, there are provisions for civil disobedience against the government. These are limited to times when what is required by the governing authorities is in conflict with God and what his word instructs his people (Acts 5). Although restrictions on group sizes are painful for us, the government has not treated churches differently to other groups and they have not banned our gatherings altogether. There is a way we can obey both God and government even if we do not like what it might mean for our church life together.
There are issues coming down the track that may require followers of Jesus to defy the government out of obedience to God (e.g. the Hate Speech and Conversion Therapy Practices legislation). At the moment it appears that the government is acting in a more authoritative and coercive way than we are used to in New Zealand. However, in regards to COVID, it is clear that the governing authorities are seeking to prevent illness and protect the health of the community. Many may dislike or disagree with these decisions but that itself is not sufficient grounds for defying the government’s instructions.
We will seek to love our neighbour as ourselves
Fundamental to being a follower of Jesus is the call to follow him in self-sacrificial love for others. Jesus said,
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
We are to seek the good of others (and certainly do them no harm) over and above our own personal good and preferences. Unlike the culture around us, our primary concern is not ‘my rights’ or personal freedom, but how can I love God and my neighbour.
The highest priority must be love for the weak, vulnerable and those who are powerless. When it comes to COVID and the new Protection Framework there are many different and competing vulnerable groups. There are those who have lost loved ones to the virus, those who have been cut off from family and friends by border closures, as well as those who have lost jobs and livelihoods because of lockdowns and restrictions.
Going forward, the two most vulnerable groups are the medically vulnerable (pre-existing conditions, age, etc.) who are at greater risk of the virus, and those who remain unvaccinated.
The medically vulnerable will be navigating a world of considerably increased danger with the presence of COVID in the community. They may find themselves restricted to only meeting with people who have been vaccinated or cut off from many areas of normal life.
Those who remain unvaccinated will be facing fewer opportunities for work, travel, recreation, and hospitality and restrictions in many other areas of life.
Working out how to love and care for these two particularly vulnerable groups is complex as at a first glance their individual needs seem to be in conflict. We need to face the reality that when such a conflict arises, difficult decisions will need to be made and that there will be grief. This will be grief for both the group who may feel excluded as well pain and loss at their absence for the rest of the community.
On this issue, there can be selfishness (or self-love over love for others) on both sides of the debate. There can be selfishness in those who remain unvaccinated when it comes from an attitude of ‘no one can tell me what to do or make me do what I don’t want to do’, There can be selfishness in those who are vaccinated when it comes from an attitude of ‘this allows me to do what I want with maximum freedom’. It is right that we should call out selfishness wherever we find it beginning with that which lurks in our own hearts.
As a church, we’re committed to caring for one another regardless of the varying circumstances. It will mean that as individuals we will make choices that are costly and inconvenient for us personally but we do it out of a desire to humbly serve others.
In conclusion,
We at City on a Hill will rejoice because Christ rules the world!
We will remain on mission seeking to multiply and mature followers of Jesus.
We will cherish our fellowship as God’s people and are committed to not excluding anyone from Christian fellowship.
Out of obedience to God, we will submit to the Government even though it grieves us that this will impact our ability to gather all together as God’s people.
We will seek to love our neighbour as ourselves, not asserting our rights but seeking to care for and accommodate the vulnerable.
Pragmatic considerations
While we will be driven by Biblical and Theological foundations we cannot ignore the reality of the situation in which we find ourselves. There will essentially be practical and pragmatic factors that influence the decisions we can make.
The first reality is that we are a church that exceeds the gathering limits allowed under all settings if we do not require vaccination certificates. In addition to this, if we do require vaccination certificates there will be people who are excluded from our meeting together. These realities will extend beyond our Sunday gatherings to activities such as church camps, conferences, social events, etc. Even Community Groups may be disrupted at the ‘Red’ setting where groups are limited to 10 if vaccination is required.
The second reality is any conditions our venues place on those who use their space. Te Whaea (our Morning Church venue) has already indicated that they are likely to require vaccine certificates for all groups who use their spaces. We do not think that it will be as simple as just finding another venue as this requirement is likely to be in place at most venues across the city.
Praise God that we have Tory Street where we can decide how we use the space! That said, Tory Street has its own limitations - 50 people max, limited bathroom and kitchen space plus no separate rooms for kids church. We may need to consider alterations to Tory Street or a more appropriate ministry hub in the medium to long-term future.
We also need to carefully consider the impact on staff and volunteers if we were to increase the number of gatherings we run on a Sunday. Our Venue Management, Magnification and Kids Church/Creche Teams already do considerable heavy lifting to make church happen each week. We will need to ensure that the decisions made do not over burden these already hard working teams.
Wrapping up
These are complex issues for us to wrestle with and they drive us to prayer. Please be praying for our church, our city and our country. We would really value your feedback so please be in touch with any thoughts, comments or questions.
Finally, we long for the day where there will be ‘no more death or mourning or crying or pain’. Only then will we be free from the frustration of life in a world corrupted by sin and evil. In the meantime, we trust God, thankful for his goodness and grace to us in Jesus. And we continue to share the life-changing message of salvation to all.
Kia tau te aroha noa ki a koe,
(Grace be with you all),
Andrew Southerton
on behalf of the City on a Hill Staff Team
This paper intentionally does not seek to take a pro- or anti-vaccination position as it is outlining how we can love all people who make up our church community and beyond. You can read my personal reflections on vaccination here.