Minister Nic Cable is shown at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus.
Area houses of worship have begun canceling in-person worship services again and resorting to livestreaming or internet-only services amid record numbers of Bartholomew County COVID-19 cases.
Two congregations — First United Methodist and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus — have made announcements since late last week that governed services that were held Sunday.
The Unitarian church has been among the most conservative decision-maker locally during the health situation, and was among the last to return to in-person services after initial worship service closures.
Minister Nic Cable said back then that until all could worship safely in-person, including the older population that at the time was most susceptible to the novel coronavirus, services would remain exclusively online.
The latest decision over its 10 a.m. Sunday service includes another twist.
“I will even be preaching from home (now),” Cable said.
The clergyman said that livestreaming only would last at least through January and that leaders would reassess soon about February plans.
“The decision comes … in response to the reports that more and more individuals are catching COVID even though vaccinated and boosted; and following reports that the omicron variant is more highly transmissible than delta,” the message on its website reads.
“We understand that this action is disappointing to many of our members but feel it to be the best course of action to react out of an abundance of caution. Please be assured that the Covid-19 Task Force will continue to monitor the situation, and the board of trustees will discuss the next steps at our January 20th meeting,” the website states.
First United Methodist first publicly announced its new online only policy via a brief note on its Facebook page at Columbus First United Methodist. That announcement came with other announcements that the church is improving its streaming technology.
Other local churches are monitoring the situation. First Presbyterian Church’s board is expected to meet today on the matter.
“Already we have been increasing safety measures over the past few weeks — with physical distancing, masking required, shortened worship services, singing only one hymn,” said Pastor Felipe Martinez.
Pastor Mark Teike at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church said it will continue for now with both in-person and livestreaming services.
At Sandy Hook United Methodist, Pastor Paul Dazet said “we aren’t canceling yet. We moved to mandatory masks (yesterday). We have two doctors on our council advising me. Tough decisions.”
