RRR Summary of Updates and Changes

Report and Recommendations from the Task Force for Re-entering, Re-opening, and Re-imagining for the Diocese of New Jersey 

Summary of Updates and Changes 

October 23, 2020

• Added guidance for congregations suspending and resuming in-person activity in response to local COVID conditions

September 30, 2020

• “immunological bubble” defined (page 5)
• Updated guidelines on food and fellowship activities (page 24-25)
• Guidelines for responding to a COVID-19 exposure in your congregation (page 27-28)
• Update on ventilation guidance and cautions (Appendix F, page 44

Sept. 10, 2020

• Updated capacity limits for outdoor services (page 6, page 18)
• Updated capacity limits for indoor services (page 17)
• Guidance on planning for appropriate volunteer levels (page 8)
• Updated guidance for wind and brass instruments in worship (page 17)
• New guidance for Christian Education/Sunday School (page 24)
• New guidance for fellowship activities (page 24-25)
• Updated and expanded guidance on HVAC/ventilation systems (page 14 and Appendix F, page 42)

Aug. 28, 2020

• Clarification about soloists and congregational singing (page 17)

Aug. 21, 2020

• Guidelines for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation (Appendix E, page 38)
• Clarification on receiving communion (page 19-20)
• Guidance for special services, such as pet blessings and public commemorations (page 20)

Aug. 7, 2020

• Guidance on submitting plans for one-time events like rummage sales (page 10)
• Clarification on before- or after-service greetings (page 18)
• 14-day state quarantine requirements after returning from other states apply to church services (page 23)

July 24, 2020

• Guidance for funerals and weddings (Appendix E, page 38-40)

July 16, 2020

• Guidance for baptisms (page 21-22)
  NB, this addition changes page numbers after page 20 in the report. Items in this summary refer to new page numbers, not originals.

July 10, 2020

• Clarified guidance on the relationship of cleaning and disinfecting (page 12, 15)
• Additional guidance for equitable access to communion (page 8)
• “Medical” HVAC filters are not needed (but change your normal filters regularly!) (page 16)

June 26, 2020 

• New limits on gathering sizes, including a hard upper limit on outdoor gatherings (page 6, 17, 18) 
• information on distancing requirements for worship leaders using face shields (page 7 and 17) 
• Updated guidance on schools, camps, and VBS (page 22) 

June 19, 2020 

• page 10, expanded guidance under “Use of Buildings by Outside Groups.”  

June 12, 2020 

• page 4, to clarify that the diocese is NOT following Governor Murphy’s stages of re-opening 
• pages 11 & 12, with clarification about contact tracing for both the congregation and outside groups 
• pages 17 & 18, with clarification about distance for speakers in worship with and without masks 
• page 24, keeping up with further recommendations from the Task Force as we move to the next diocesan stage