Dear friends,
From the earliest days of this pandemic, any decisions about COVID safety precautions at Vine Street Christian Church were made under the guidance of public health experts and local government regulations. Our highest priority since March 2020 has been the health and safety of our community.
Now, in March 2022, we are grateful to have reached a different stage of this public health crisis. COVID-19 has not gone away, but conditions have changed sufficiently that we can enter a new phase regarding health and safety precautions. Given current COVID-19 community levels for Davidson County, the Centers for Disease Control state that “people may choose to mask at any time,” i.e. masking is optional. In Metro Nashville Public Schools, since Monday, March 21, masks are encouraged, but not required for students and staff.
At Vine Street, the following guidelines apply, effective April 3:
Given that vaccinations are not available yet for our youngest participants, we continue to encourage masks during worship, but do not require them. We will continue to provide masks for children and adults at the entrances to the sanctuary.
We continue to require masks for staff and volunteers interacting with children under the age of 5.
We do not require social distancing, but ask that all practice social distancing with people wearing masks; individuals wearing masks likely are less comfortable with physical proximity than unmasked persons, and as a community we want to honor that aspect of our diversity.
We strongly recommend that people with symptoms or exposure to someone with COVID-19 stay at home and attend services online.
Whether a person chooses to wear a mask, or not, is entirely up to them. For us as disciples of Jesus Christ, this freedom to choose is never absolute, but inspired by what love demands. The Vine Street community has been a model of resilience and compassion these past two years, and now we ask that you continue to care for each other with that same measure of compassion and devotion.
God is faithful. Easter is coming.
Rachel Dixon, Chair of Elders
Melissa Freeman, Chair of Administrative Council
Thomas Kleinert, Senior Minister