Plans for In-Person Worship
Plans for In-Person Worship
Taking Steps Forward Faithfully and Safely: A Plan for Returning to In-Person Worship in the Holston Annual Conference during the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 13, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Taylor and her Cabinet made the difficult decision to temporarily cease in-person worship within the Holston Conference. On June 1, the Holston Conference COVID-19 Task Force released a conference-wide plan, "Taking Steps Forward Faithfully and Safely," for local churches to follow in order to return to in-person worship. The plan was updated on June 20, and a second edition was released to offer additional clarification.
Since the release of the second edition of "Taking Steps," there were increases in COVID-19 cases that led our District Superintendents to temporarily cease in-person worship in some areas.
On September 16, Bishop Taylor released a video and statement allowing churches to move back to indoor in-person worship beginning on Sunday, September 20.
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Below is a listing of every county in the Holston Conference sorted by District. Our District Superintendents had been using the Harvard Metrics system to determine if church buildings in a particular county should be opened or closed. While all church buildings are open as of September 20, 2020, we will continue to offer these metrics as a tool for pastors and church leaders to determine if they should meet indoors for in-person worship for that particular week. If the county text is GREEN, then we are recommending churches with approved plans within these counties may gather for in-person worship indoors. However, if the county text is RED, then we are recommending churches in this county postpone indoor in-person worship.
Again, this is a conference recommendation. Pastors and church leadership should meet often to discuss their current situation and to stay on top of what is going on around them.
Last Updated 4/1/2021 (This page will be updated every Thursday if not sooner)
Counties
Tennessee
Hawkins
Sullivan
Washington
Virginia
Dickenson
Lee
Scott
Wise
Counties
Tennessee
Sullivan
Virginia
Buchanan
Bristol
Russell
Scott
Smyth
Tazewell
Washington
Counties
Tennessee
Bradley
McMinn
Meigs
Monroe
Polk
Rhea
Counties
Tennessee
Claiborne
Cocke
Grainger
Greene
Hamblen
Hancock
Hawkins
Jefferson
Sevier
Counties
Virginia
Bland
Carroll
Floyd
Giles
Grayson
Montgomery
Pulaski
Tazewell
Wythe
Cities
Galax
Radford
Counties
Georgia
Catoosa
Dade
Walker
Tennessee
Bledsoe
Hamilton
Marion
Sequatchie
Counties
Tennessee
Blount
Knox
Loudon
Monroe
Roane
Sevier
Counties
Tennessee
Anderson
Campbell
Claiborne
Knox
Loudon
Morgan
Roane
Scott
Union
Counties
Tennessee
Carter
Greene
Johnson
Sullivan
Unicoi
Washington