Dear Friends,
I pray you and your families are safe and well. I know we all miss seeing one another in person and look forward to the day we can gather again as a family of faith. In light of recent state and local rulings regarding the gradual reopening of Texas businesses, many of you are anxious to know when the church campus will reopen and how that reopening will address the health and safety of our members and guests.
In order to address these questions, an Opening Protocol Task Force has been formed to advise the AHUMC Board of Stewards during this time. The task force includes:
Holly Gotelli, Senior Pastor
Matt Scott, Executive Pastor
Dinah Shelly, CLC Teaching Pastor
Darrell Smith, Pastor of Adult Discipleship
Robert Ortiz, Asbury Campus Pastor
Kacey Brewer, Director of Facilities
Ryan Kuecks, Director of Communications
Kitty Meyers, Board Chair
Roger Lind, Trustees Chair
John Jernigan, M.D.
On Wednesday evening, based upon the recommendation of Bishop Robert Schnase and the task force, the Board of Stewards voted to continue worship via live stream through May 31. On June 1, the church will begin a ‘soft open,’ allowing small groups to gather on campus. Allowable group size will gradually increase over time assuming that the church is able to maintain any social distancing and other health and sanitation rules that are in place. Because of the very large number of people who gather for worship at AHUMC, it is anticipated that in-person worship services will resume no earlier than late June.
Specific guidelines regarding the size and number of groups that will be allowed on campus, as well as details regarding health and safety precautions, will be recommended to the Board of Stewards by the task force in the coming weeks. As guidelines are adopted they will be communicated to you.
In the meantime, let us continue to love and serve others in the name of Christ. Please include in your prayers:
- Those who have died and their families
- Persons in the medical community who seek to bring healing and their families
- Persons and their families who have lost jobs
Thank you for your steadfast faithfulness. I am deeply inspired by your compassion and your resilience and know that even in the midst of this challenging time that God is doing a good work through you.
In Christ’s love,
