Stay at Home Church Use Policy

Our building is currently closed until further notice.

In response to the spread of COVID-19 in our state, on March 20th, 2020 Governor Pritzker issued executive Order 2020-10 ordering all Illinois residents to Stay at Home and Maintain Social Distance through April 30th 2020.

This order does not specifically mention churches.  However, the governor’s intent is clear, with exceptions only for engaging in essential activities, essential government functions, to operate essential business operations.  Otherwise Illinois residents are required to stay at home.

Closely reading the Executive Order 2020-10 and looking to the CDC for guidance, Redeemer’s Council supports the following policy for building use during the Stay at Home Order.

  1. The church building will be closed to all gatherings until the Stay at Home Order is lifted. This includes church groups and groups that use our building regardless of group size.  This includes gathering for worship.
  2. Only essential business operations will be conducted within the church building. This includes maintaining the property, paying bills, processing payroll, and maintaining systems that allow staff to work safely from home.
  3. No one is allowed in the building while sick.
  4. All Redeemer staff will work from home as much as they can. When in the building for necessary functions, they will maintain physical distance and practice good health habits including but not limited to frequent hand washing, refraining from touching one’s face, taking care when touching surfaces, etc.  Staff members should try to schedule their time so as to not need to use the same spaces at the same times.
  5. Members are not to enter the building unless granted specific permission from Pr. Katie or the Council President and only to perform essential business operations.

As we seek to “love our neighbors” as Christ commanded, the church is eager to do our part in “flattening the curve.”  By staying home right now and limiting our interactions in our church building, we hope to protect the most vulnerable and medical workers, limit the spread of COVID-19, and return to gathering as soon as it is safe to do so.