Pueblo councilman lays out plan to reopen churches

Pueblo City Councilman Mark Aliff is proposing a template for churches to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aliff believes this template is one that churches in Pueblo and all across the state can follow so that places of worship can reopen.

The proposed template was demonstrated in front of Pueblo city and county leaders and health officials on Wednesday at Family Worship Center. The church hasn't held an in-person mass since the beginning of March.

Here are some of the proposed changes to a Sunday mass or worship event:

• Attendees are required to wear masks if they enter the church.
• People are posted at both main entrances with gloves and masks to spray hand sanitizers on everyone's hands before they enter the building.
• Attendees are required to answer a few questions before entering.
• All doors to the building are already opened. People will walk right into the service without touching anything.
• As attendees enter the church, tape is on the floor indicating where people should stand. Each tape marking is 6 feet apart to adhere to social distancing guidelines. The area is also roped off so there is no gathering.
• Once inside the sanctuary, ushers seat congregation from the front of the building to the back. No need to pass parishioners as they come inside. When the congregation exits the sanctuary, it’ll be from the back row to the front.
• Sanctuary would be set up so chairs and seating is 6 feet apart.
  Families would be required to sit together in a family unit. 6 feet between family units.
• Communion comes pre-packaged. No one will actually touch the sacramental bread or pour the wine.
• Family worship center also provides FM radio broadcasts of the services for people who wish to stay in their cars. They will also continue to provide online broadcasts of the service.

Councilman Mark Aliff hopes to have churches in Pueblo reopened by May 25. Here is a Q&A conversation with a city council member regarding his plans to reopen places of worship.

Q: Why do you believe places of worship should reopen?

A: I believe the numbers have shown in Pueblo County that our rate of infection is low enough. Out of the major front range cities ours is the lowest. It's time to start opening up our community.

Q: You believe churches should be considered 'essential businesses'. Why is that?

A: For people's spiritual wellness. We are people who spiritually thirst to worship and come together as a community. When you sit in a car in a parking lot to worship or sit in your house looking online it is not the same as being with your church family. Our spiritual well being is every bit as important as our physical well being. For many Christians they will tell you it is the most important thing in their lives.

Q: Do you want every church in Pueblo and Pueblo County to reopen?

A: Absolutely, if any church is willing to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the health department and the state. If they want to open they should be able to reopen. There may be churches that aren't quite ready to do that.

Q: Not all churches have the space or resources like Family Worship Center. What should they do if they wish to reopen, but it might not be feasible with COVID-19?

A: Take baby steps. Open your doors, put in the place the guidelines and do the best that you can to minister to your congregation. The church community is a giving community. If a church doesn't have the resources to follow the guidelines then I am positive that the faith community would come together to help that church.

Q: You had Pueblo community and health leaders here today to hear your plan on reopening churches. What did you make of their feedback?

A: We knew going into this if they could just see how worship would be and how the sanctuaries were set up that this would be something they could sign off on. We got good feedback from the health department who is very supportive of this movement, the county commissioners as well. The Mayor's office think this is a great plan and it is something they could easily sign off on.

Q: Are there any concerns that reopening churches, even with all of the precautions, right now could put lives at risk?

A: I would argue that this church would be safer than Lowe's, department stores, even most doctor's offices when you come through the door. I don't think by any stretch of the imagination has the faith community decided they weren't going to adhere to guidelines and protect their congregation. The opposite is true. A congregation and a church by nature is for nothing but the health and welfare of their congregation. They would never do anything to jeopardize that.

Q: So what now? Who needs to green light churches to reopen in Pueblo?

A: Now we have everything in the hands of the people who can make the decisions and get it to the proper authority which is the Governor's office. I will be lobbying very hard this week and next week to ensure it gets in front of Governor Polis. For this community to open it's churches back up. If I have to drive to Denver and talk to the Governor myself with this plan then that's going to happen.

Pueblo health officials tell KRDO the county is still adhering to the Safer at Home order issued by the Governor's office, only admitting ten people inside a church at a time. However, they are reviewing and discussing Councilman Aliff's proposal.