Some US churches stay shut despite new guidelines

California has released new guidelines that allow houses of worship to reopen while minimizing the spread of coronavirus. But some churches are in no rush to resume in-person services that require masks, social distancing and frequent cleaning.

The state released a framework Monday for county health officials to permit houses of worship to reopen.

Most have been limited to online and remote services since March, when Gov. Gavin Newsom' issued a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Religious services in California will look much different under rules unveiled Monday that limit attendance to 100 people and recommend worshippers wear masks, limit singing and refrain from shaking hands, hugging and sharing prayer books.

"The way we come back together will not be the same way that we left. We will have to have a new paradigm with ... coming to church, having services," said Rev. Bob Jackson, pastor at Oakland's Full Acts Gospel Church.

The state released guidance under which county health departments can approve the reopening of churches, mosques, synagogues and other houses of worship.

It's not immediately known how soon in-person services will resume. Counties that are having success controlling the virus are likely to move quickly. Others with outbreaks — such as Los Angeles County, which has about 60% of California's roughly 3,800 deaths — may choose to delay.

Several thousand churches had vowed to defy Newsom's order next Sunday.

The guidelines say even with physical distancing, in-person worship carries a higher risk of transmitting the virus and increasing the numbers of hospitalizations and deaths and recommend houses of worship shorten services.

Each county will have to adopt rules for services to resume within their jurisdictions and then the guidelines will be reviewed by state health officials after 21 days. The guidelines include limiting gatherings to 25% of building capacity or 100 people, whichever is lower.

Some church leaders aren't eager to reopen.

"We don't need to be in a rush," said Rev. Mike McBride, lead pastor at The Way Christian Center, lead pastor in Berkeley, Calif. "There's no rush to meet back in buildings in a global pandemic when we know many of our members are the highest at risk of contracting the virus and dying from this virus, a faith leader needs to lead the congregation away from harm and not rush into harm."

Many have been eagerly waiting an announcement on religious services after Newsom began relaxing constraints on stores and other secular outlets as part of a four-phase plan to reopen the economy.

Rev. Bob Jackson of Oakland's Full Acts Gospel Church was excited when he heard the state was releasing new guidelines, but he was disappointed when he read all the safety and cleaning measures his church would need to take to reopen.

"I kind of thought those restrictions were kind of tough for the church to be able to do it," Jackson said. "I get it. We want to keep our parishioners safe. And I believe that with all my heart. But at the same time, my goodness, the restrictions are so tough.""

Jackson now plans to follow his presiding bishop's guidelines and wait until late June to reopen his Oakland church.

Some places of worship around the country opened over the weekend after President Donald Trump declared them essential and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for reopening faith organizations.

In California, most houses of worship have complied with social distancing, making do with online, remote and a few drive-in services.