Although religious gatherings are not part of DeWine’s order due to first amendment rights, Sliver said Vineyard will only stream Sunday service online.
“Even though we could gather, I don’t think we should,” Sliver said.
Vineyard has about 1,500 members total. Nearly 300 people attend each service, Sliver said.
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Sliver said all larger churches across the country are in the same boat and that the governor’s directive will impact large churches the most initially.
“There’s a fine line between faith and foolishness,” Sliver said. “The shepherd is called to take care of the sheep. Our church family and the health of our church family is our top priority.”
Sliver sent out an email to keep Vineyard members in the loop. “Please understand, this situation is fluid and changing rapidly,” the email said.
Vineyard will broadcast its 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sunday services to it’s Facebook and YouTube channel.
Sliver said for smaller church gatherings, like mens and womens bible studies, it will be left up to the discretion of individuals.
SouthBrook Christian Church in Miamisburg, which has a congregation of more than 3,000, canceled gatherings at its building effective Thursday, according to a letter sent to members of the church.
SouthBrook services will be broadcast online via Facebook and will be on the church’s website starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The church will also suspend “The Day Love was Quarantined” series.
Three-fourths of churches in the U.S. have congregations less than 100 people, Sliver said.
“If there is an upside to this, it’s that the majority of congregations are smaller than 100 people,” Sliver said. “But it gets sticky when you have like 87 people and you have to decide whether to put them at risk or not.”
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati advised those who are sick to stay home from Mass and those who distribute communion to wash their hands frequently or use anti-bacterial hand sanitizer before giving out communion. However, as of Thursday, the Archdiocese is leaving the enforcement of these precautions up to pastors.
Jeremy Helmes, director of the archdiocese’s Office for Divine Worship and Sacraments, said the health and safety of parishioners is their number one priority.
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“You are not obligated to attend church if you’re sick,” Helmes said. “The last thing the Archdioceses wants is for people to endanger their health and get others sick. Put your health first.”
Helmes said the Archdiocese is following to guidance of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and local and state boards of health.
Mary Bruce, executive assistant to the pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Dayton, said there will be no changes to their schedule this week when reached Thursday afternoon. The church could not be reached after DeWine’s order was made.
Dr. John Heading, senior pastor at Beavercreek Baptist Church, said they plan to have their regular service and main bible study this week, but they’ve cancelled all non-essential events.
Easter service is still planned, Heading said.
Although they clean the church on a regular basis, they brought in volunteers this week to do some extra cleaning as a precaution, and they will have additional hand sanitizers available.
There will be no hospital or nursing home visits, unless there’s an extreme circumstance. The church will continue to have funerals.
The church live streams their services, so if members have the option of staying home and watching the sermon if they don’t feel comfortable coming to church.
Fr. Ed Pratt, pastor at Ascension Catholic Church, located at 2025 Woodman Drive in Kettering, said they expect their live stream numbers to increase a “great deal.”
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