As tech leaders, we have a responsibility for the safety and lives of our congregations. Again, as tech leaders, we have a responsibility for the safety and lives of our congregations.
While we spend most of our days focusing on elements of the weekend production, ensuring we take all necessary precautions to protect both our tech teams and church members must be our first priority: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). The COVID-19 (aka “Coronavirus”) outbreak requires that we all have a plan ready for our churches to respond to a pandemic.
We have a unique opportunity to demonstrate to our church leadership our AV gear is not just expensive toys, but rather tools able to continue the spread of the gospel throughout all situations. Our leadership is looking to us in order to continue regular church operations as best as possible. Therefore, there are both practical day-to-day actions as well as long term strategic plans we all need to take.
The COVID-19 (aka “Coronavirus”) outbreak requires that we all have a plan ready for our churches to respond to a pandemic.
Have the Conversation – What is your church’s response to COVID-19? Will services be cancelled? Will they want to have remote locations, split services, or even hold them solely online? Pandemics are fluid situations, and there is no “one size fits all” answer. Let your leadership know what you are able to do and how you can help them. What technologies can be repurposed for other uses? The best way to plan is know your leadership’s goal.
Sanitize – We know we must wash our hands and use hand sanitizer, but how often do we scrub down the tech booth? Between all the ministries throughout the week, how many people are touching the faders in a given week? Keep wet wipes at the sound booth and clean all keyboards and user interface peripherals before and after you use them, as well as between services if you switch teams. Headsets should be wiped down with every use. Avoid physical contact; a polite hello can replace a welcome hug.
Keep wet wipes at the sound booth and clean all keyboards and user interface peripherals before and after you use them, as well as between services if you switch teams.
Stream Online – The church was early to recognize the value of offering “online campuses.” If people cannot get to the church or the pastor were to be quarantined, using live streaming services allows for the weekly messages to continue. There are a wide range of options from free to paid streaming options, delivering varying levels of quality and reliability. Additionally, live streaming will allow for your church to begin a repository of messages for congregants and seekers to view at any time. Live streaming can also serve as emergency messaging to keep your congregation up to date with changing scenarios.
Live streaming can also serve as emergency messaging to keep your congregation up to date with changing scenarios.
Collaborate Online – Live streaming is one-way communication. If your church or members of it were to be quarantined for a longer period of time, what activities could you continue to provide? Consider adding collaboration streaming services like Zoom of Teams in order to continue to hold ministry meetings, small groups, and counseling sessions. It is during a pandemic that those who cannot make it to church need it the most. If members of your congregation are in quarantine, your leadership will not be able to visit them, so we need to create the online community for them. Consider purchasing a USB mic, professional webcam, and podcast lighting for the pastoral staff to hold professional online meetings.
Live and Give in Cloud – The sad reality is that when people stop attending, donations drop. And they drop when we most need the funds to order meals and services for those who are ill or quarantined. Help find ways we can move your central services to the cloud. Can congregants give online or via an app? If they are quarantined, can they receive the bulletin via a digital download or email, and is it easy to find on the website? Consider a one-stop-shop for all services and contacts. Likewise, as our AV has joined the IT world, utilize managed services and cloud platforms which allow you to login from anywhere in order to hold services in case your church building is unable to be utilized.
Can congregants give online or via an app? If they are quarantined, can they receive the bulletin via a digital download or email, and is it easy to find on the website?
Clean Your Grille – Viruses and COVID-19 transmit easiest from moisture and saliva. Microphones can store bacteria that breed over time. For microphones with removable grilles, use a soft toothbrush and water with mild detergent. For condenser microphones, remove the foam windscreen and clean with soap and water. It is important that no water comes in contact with the condenser element; ensure everything dries completely prior to replacing. Before, after, and between services gently wipe down the outer elements and housing.
For microphones with removable grilles, use a soft toothbrush and water with mild detergent. For condenser microphones, remove the foam windscreen and clean with soap and water.
Use Your Sick Time – As tech leaders, we often feel a sense of duty to the church and believe that we cannot leave or everything will fall apart. However, if we are at all feeling the signs of sickness, we must stay home. Build your teams up to be able to thrive without you, and trust they can handle it. What happens if you are the one quarantined? You are only a phone call away in case of an emergency, but you risk the health of others by coming to work when you are feeling ill. Stay away until your fever has resided for at least 24 hours. Likewise, if you have a volunteer or band member show up to serve who is ill, send them home. You can handle being down a volunteer in order to protect the health of others.
Be Portable – During a pandemic, the church building itself may become unusable. Are you able to turn into a portable church? Do you have road cases and a set up that can easily be used in alternative locations? While we spend large budgets to improve our physical spaces, the church is not the building, it’s the people. Our technology needs to be able to go where they are, and in a pandemic, it may be an alternate location. Consider having a youth room install be in road cases with speakers on sticks that could be torn down easily and used as a temporary solution.
While we spend large budgets to improve our physical spaces, the church is not the building, it’s the people. Our technology needs to be able to go where they are, and in a pandemic, it may be an alternate location.
Check for Updates – Pandemics are unpredictable and fluid. Continue to check with CDC to see what precautions they suggest and any particular practices to avoid. Do not think that you are the exception to the rule. In times of need, our volunteers look to us for guidance, so we must set the standard.
Most of the preparations noted in this article are best practices we should be taking whether or not there is an immanent necessity. As tech leaders, let us be creative with our technologies to ensure that even in the direst of times, the gospel can still shine through. Our churches are looking to us and counting on us to deliver.
