Play gospel music in churches, don’t sing says Bishop.
Reacting to the lift of church related gathering ban as from next week, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) encourages churches to embrace technology while conducting services.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that church services will resume but with gatherings of not more than 50 people. He emphasized the need to enforce health standard regulations like wearing of masks, keeping social distances and hand sanitizing.
SACC leadership advises the elderly congregation to continue praying from home as they are most vulnerable and susceptible to contracting Covid-19 infections due to underlying medical conditions.
SACC acting general-secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana called on church leaders to advise their followers not to subject themselves to a risk of infection during services.
Mpumlwana said the SACC had advised churches to rather “play music, (and) don’t sing”.
He further said in his comments: “Elderly people stay at home I know that these (elderly people) are the ones who really love to go to church.”
Reports emanating from United States America, reveals that singing in a public and closed space increases the chance of emitting “ infected respiratory droplets” in the air resulting in increased infections.
Controversial Bishop Bheki Ngcobo, who is the chairperson of God’s Church Must Rise movement, said while he welcomed the opening of the church services, he was concerned at the restriction that still existed, which included a limit of 50 congregants per service.
“We would love to be made aware of the duration of this 50 members requirement, taking into consideration the high number of our members that will fail to access the church (service) on a particular Sunday. We are eagerly waiting for a point in time where the church will be allowed to operate in full force,” said Ngcobo, who was recently convicted and fined for undermining Covid-19 restrictions.
Play gospel music in churches, don’t sing says Bishop.Source: Savannanews