What Are the Consequences of Canceling an Off-Site Church Event?

To say that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has changed the way we live our daily lives is an understatement. Many schools and businesses are closed, and working from home has become the norm for many Americans. Moreover, the social distancing requirements implemented by government authorities to help slow the spread of the virus have generally prohibited the gathering of large groups. This has greatly affected churches.

In an odd sense of timing, this global pandemic hit the US hard at a time when many denominations, churches, and church-planting organizations are gearing up for their annual meetings. This has caused church leadership to consider making the ultimate decision to cancel the upcoming events that they have been planning for many months. Generally, such an event may host hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals and the large venue necessary to accommodate the crowd has ...