• Read Bishop Sharma Lewis's most recent letter to us, the Virginia Annual Conference here. 
  • View the plan for resuming in-person worship here.  
  • Learn about our local family of churches and from Eastern Shore DS Alex Joyner, here.
Protocol Requirements: Generally
  • Sick must stay home.
  • Face coverings required for in-person Worship services indoor and outdoor.
  • Post signage at the entrance that states No one with fever or symptoms of COVID-19 or known exposure to COVID-19 in the prior 14 days is allowed in.
  • Individuals need to bring their own hand sanitizer.
  • Strict physical distancing - 6 feet or more at all times.
  • Post signage to provide public health reminders of social distancing, options other than in-person worship, and staying home if sick.
  • Hymnals, Bibles, and all worship materials removed.
  • No choirs.
  • No in-person singing - including congregational singing. Some options for providing non-in-person singing are: soloist pre-recorded, or piped in from another empty room.
  • Digital bulletin.​
  • Children welcome in Stage 2.
  • Limited childcare in Stage 2 during the in-person worship services with additional requirements. 
  • Sunday School in Stage 2 is not allowed.
  • No coffee or fellowship time in Stage 2.
  • Limited restroom usage in Stage 2.
  • No handshakes or hugging in Stage 2.
  • Drop-off only offering in Stage 2.
  • Communion (pre-packaged) in Stage 2 and the requirements are in Attachment F.
  • Baptisms may occur in Stage 2 as long as physical distancing (6 feet or more) and all other requirements for in-person worship are observed. 
  • Weddings may occur in Stage 2 as long as physical distancing (6 feet or more) and all other requirements for in-person worship are observed.
  • Funerals may occur in Stage 2 also long as physical distancing (6 feet or more) and all other requirements for in-person worship are observed.
  • Clean high touch areas.
  • Physical distancing (6 feet or more) during dismissal in Stage 2 at a service.
  • Strict physical distancing in Sanctuary seating in Stage 2.
  • In no event should any local church hold a service in any location that exceeds 50% capacity of the sanctuary, chapel, or fellowship hall.
  • Continue livestream for most vulnerable.
  • The requirements for any service in Stages 1,2, and 3 apply even when there is an off-site (private property) worship service with UMC clergy.
 
        Health Acknowledgement
  • Every person should review their own health using the Health Acknowledgment Form before attending an in-person worship service or gathering. One of the following two methods of health acknowledgement must be used for every in-person gathering, with the exception of drive-in worship.
  • 1) Health Forms on line. We have developed a fillable Health Acknowledgement Form that anyone can complete online on the Conference website at https://www.evc.vaumc.org/home/ After it is completed, the form goes directly to your local clergy. If you are not able to complete the form online, call your local church clergy and complete the form over the telephone.
  • 2) Entryway Health Acknowledgement. An entryway version of the Health Acknowledgement Form can be found at www.vaumc.org/return. Churches may print the form in poster-size and post it at the entryways used for each in-person gathering. Persons entering must read the form, acknowledge that they can affirm ‘yes’ to all of the statements on it to a volunteer posted at the door, and provide their name and contact information, which the volunteer will record and the church will keep.