Making Virtual Church Attendance Permanent
I just found out that my stake is making virtual church attendance permanent.
The only thing that can kill it now is the kibosh from Salt Lake or a refusal to cooperate from other members of the stake. Here's why that would be a mistake, based on every person I can think of who would benefit from this change:
- Parents with young or sick children, especially mothers recovering from the physical demands of pregnancy.
- Folks with mobility issues who physically cannot get to the church building, especially our elderly friends with all kinds of physical challenges.
- Those who are investigating the church who want to see what a congregation is like before they commit to show up in person.
- Those with mental health challenges (myself included) who find it difficult to be around large groups of people, especially of the touchy-feely variety.
- Those who are immune compromised, who really need to limit their social interactions for their ongoing well being and safety.
- Those who have been away from church for many years who aren't sure if they want to commit to taking the plunge to return. It gives them a chance to get acquainted with people from a distance so learning new names and faces isn't so intimidating.
- Marginalized groups who are afraid of how they would be received if they showed up in person.
- Folks who live in neighborhoods that don't get plowed in inclement weather.
- Poor and broke folks who can't afford the money in gas to go to the church building, especially if they live far away.
- People in part member families who are constantly away from their loved ones on Sundays. This can create so many bad feelings and unnecessary stress for our friends.
- People who are traveling, but still want to go to church with their families. Rather than crashing other people's wards, they can attend their own.
- People in stake callings who can't remember the last time they went to their own wards and have no idea what's going on.
- Underage folks whose parents can't bring them to church, but who still want to participate in church meetings—without getting rides from strangers they don't know.
- People in the pews who want to invite their friends and family members to church in the least intrusive way possible.
- Families going through terrible divorces who need separation from each other.
- Chronically ill people (think IBS, terrible menses, etc.) who spend more time in the bathroom than in the pews anyway.
- People who get to the building after the parking lot fills up and the foyer couch is already occupied.
- People who have to work on Sundays.
- Missionaries who are homesick and just need to see some familiar faces.
- Single parents who can't wrangle children on their own.
- Those with religious trauma who struggle to attend in person, but want to work through their feelings from a safe, more comfortable distance.
