LAST UPDATED 12/31/2021
Leaders,
On Thursday May 27th, 2021, the Ohio Department of Health announced the cancellation of the Ohio Public Heath Advisory System. Because of of the availability of the vaccine, the decreasing case rates, and this guidance from Ohio Department of Health, we are removing any restrictions for groups to meet in person.
Even with the current spikes of the Omicron variant, we are continuing to advise small groups to exercise wisdom. We’ve updated the communication templates below and continue to update our Welcome Back page (https://vineyardcolumbus.org/welcome-back) regarding our weekend services.
Whether you choose to you regather with your small group or shift to meeting online, we continue to encourage you to seek wisdom as James 1:5 urges. We serve in a big church with a broad range of experiences and convictions around regathering. As a leader, we implore you to lead with kindness and a posture of service to those in your group. Join us in the present focus of rebuilding our small group communities so we can prepare for renewal.
Continually grateful,
The Small Groups Team
Email Templates for Uncomfortable Conversations
General
Hi everyone,
I hope your holiday celebrations were full of rest and joy! I wanted to send a quick note regarding next week’s meeting. As cases are continuing to spike, I wanted to resurface the question of meeting online. In order to do this, would you email me individually if you are not be comfortable meeting face-to-face?
If I do not hear from you, I am assuming you are okay to meet in person. We have continued to stay connected both virtually and in person over the past few years. So even if only one person prefers to continue with precautions (online/outdoors only, etc.), I feel it would be best we remain together (virtually/outdoors) over dividing our group during this time of transition.
That is why I’m asking you to email me individually to honor our group as a whole. If I don’t hear back from anyone (meaning everyone is okay with it), we will be meeting FACE-TO-FACE at my house. We’ll meet outside on my patio with masks being an optional personal preference. We won’t be doing a meal together just yet so let’s try and meet here at 7:30pm. In case you’ve forgotten where I live, my address is: INSERT ADDRESS HERE.
Lastly, I would love for us to sit together at church on Sundays! We have decided to attend the COOPER Campus at the 9AM service. We sit on the left riser section. For any questions on Vineyard’s Mask Requirements, visit https://vineyardcolumbus.org/welcome-back-faqs.
Blessings,
Planning for the Future in Person
As the restrictions on mask wearing and social distancing are lifted, we are going to spend the two meetings praying for wisdom in how our group should move forward. If you are not be comfortable meeting face-to-face please email me. We want to spend time praying in person if it works for everyone. But if one person is uncomfortable, we will meet virtually for the next two meetings to determine the best path forward.
Returning to an Online Group
We have been meeting in person, but with the increased cases over the past few weeks, some members in our group have expressed the desire to meet online. We want to pray about the future of our small group with the specific request to meet virtually. Would you join us in prayer over the next week? We will spend our next meeting time talking through the logistics of continuing as an online group followed by waiting on the Holy Spirit. A very real possibility is meeting online with monthly or quarterly meetups. Looking forward to chatting with you all!
FAQ & Scenarios
- Why aren’t we placing restrictions on small groups?
- Our protections, protocols and guidance concerning Covid-19 were always meant to be temporary. Even with the present increase in cases due to the Omicron variant, the vaccine is widely available and hospitalization rates are already beginning to drop in Central Ohio. We want you discern what best fits the realities of your small group rather than attempt to impose a church-wide restriction on where and how groups meet. But we are always available for a conversation. Contact us here!
- Our protections, protocols and guidance concerning Covid-19 were always meant to be temporary. Even with the present increase in cases due to the Omicron variant, the vaccine is widely available and hospitalization rates are already beginning to drop in Central Ohio. We want you discern what best fits the realities of your small group rather than attempt to impose a church-wide restriction on where and how groups meet. But we are always available for a conversation. Contact us here!
- How do I address mask wearing in my group?
- We strongly recommend avoiding politics and avoiding asking people if they are vaccinated. Instead, simply ask “is anyone uncomfortable if I remove my mask?” If one person is uncomfortable, please continue to wear your mask and model servant leadership. We want to encourage servant leadership that is oriented towards the preferences of others. At Vineyard Columbus, we also desire leaders to bend toward the vulnerable.
- Additionally, our small groups are meant to be safe spaces where people feel comfortable sharing their opinions. For the sake of the group, it may be helpful to pull an individual aside to talk through their convictions as opposed to an all group email or full discussion.
- We strongly recommend avoiding politics and avoiding asking people if they are vaccinated. Instead, simply ask “is anyone uncomfortable if I remove my mask?” If one person is uncomfortable, please continue to wear your mask and model servant leadership. We want to encourage servant leadership that is oriented towards the preferences of others. At Vineyard Columbus, we also desire leaders to bend toward the vulnerable.
- Can we begin meeting in person?
- Yes! Please continue to follow the CDC’s quarantine and isolation guidelines. Read more here.
- Yes! Please continue to follow the CDC’s quarantine and isolation guidelines. Read more here.
- Can we share a meal together?
- Yes, but please be aware that some group members may not yet be comfortable. Communicate with your group members ahead of time and/or consider using the template above.
- Yes, but please be aware that some group members may not yet be comfortable. Communicate with your group members ahead of time and/or consider using the template above.
- How should we do ministry time?
- You may be super excited to go without a mask, whereas, others may be extremely nervous to be around anyone who doesn’t have a mask on. So ask a few questions ahead of time:
- Would you like me to wear a mask?
- Are you comfortable with multiple people praying for you?
- Are you okay with us laying hands on you?
- Again, we want to show honor to the preferences of some who may not yet be comfortable with prayer ministry.
- You may be super excited to go without a mask, whereas, others may be extremely nervous to be around anyone who doesn’t have a mask on. So ask a few questions ahead of time:
Reestablishing Small Group Rhythms
Ask for Wisdom: As a leader, you get to shepherd your group back into connectedness. Invite God into your planning and prayer (perhaps include a few emerging leaders into this preparation). Some decisions to seek God about:
- How often will our group aim to meet?
- i.e. will we meet every other Wednesday from 7 to 8:30, meet the first three Thursdays of the month, or meet once in-person and twice online?
- i.e. will we meet every other Wednesday from 7 to 8:30, meet the first three Thursdays of the month, or meet once in-person and twice online?
- If meeting online, how will we continue to remain connected to online attenders?
- How will we primarily communicate with group members and new attenders?
- How will we reintroduce ministry time?
Act in Wisdom: You have been entrusted with the unique opportunity to bring people together. Do so in the under the eyes of God. Covid-19 has impacted people in a multitude of ways. Some questions to consider:
- Many have lost loved ones due to the Covid-19 pandemic. How are we communicating about the impact of the virus on the home, in the church and the broader society?
- The pandemic has revealed a lot about strongly held beliefs. How might we create a safe space for dialogue?
- How are group members who have left the group spoken of? Is it with honor or derision?
- Is there a specific invitation to rebuilding our group in a way that is different than it was pre-pandemic?
Protocol for Covid-19 Cases
In the event that you or someone in your group tests positive for Covid-19 and/or is exposed to a person who is tests positive for Covid-19:
1. As a leader at Vineyard Columbus, you should immediately notify a Small Groups Pastor at david.schermerhorn@vineyardcolumbus.org or kristen.selva@vineyardcolumbus.org. We will not make this information public, but want to have a record to protect members & attenders.
2. Likewise, immediately notify your group members if you are meeting or intend to meet in person. We would prefer your small group to be aware, safe and in prayer. As the leader, remind the group to honor the individual’s confidentiality.
3. Finally, follow the latest CDC guidelines. Group members and attenders should not return to physical group gatherings until the criteria to discontinue home isolation (link) are met in consultation with healthcare providers. Group members who are sick should follow CDC-recommended steps (link).
Groups that met at Vineyard Columbus Prior to Covid-19
When we are able to welcome back groups to meet on site at Vineyard Columbus Campuses, please know that we will NOT be re-engaging ALL groups. Only very few groups for whom meeting online is deeply disruptive will be able to utilize spaces for meetings. We are actively working through our building use policies for small groups and will communicate with you as soon as we can.
Although there is always room for conversation around building use, many of our organizational protocols and policies have been altered by the pandemic. Freedom to use Vineyard Columbus property, both inside and outside of our buildings (including parking lots and cafe areas) with little to no oversight is no longer an option.
Please contact us at smallgroups@vineyardcolumbus.org with questions regarding meeting at one of our campus locations.
