Coronavirus (COVID 19) - Update
The Synod of SA is adapting and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We continue to support our communities, congregations and presbyteries across the state, and this remains our highest priority, while adhering to the latest Government advice.
As we have updates to this topic, they will be detailed on this page.
Free Online Church Resources
JOBKEEEPER & FINANCIAL INFORMATION
LATEST COVID-19 UPDATES
COVID FAQs (as at 25th November 2021) are available to download here.
25th November 2021
On Tuesday, 23rd November, South Australia moved into the ‘COVID-Ready Plan.' The main focus of the plan relates to border controls. You can find the plan here.
Mandatory Vaccination
In recent weeks a number of Directions have been issued by the South Australian government mandating vaccination against COVID-19 in a number of settings. The following directions effectively require that ministry agents, as well as lay workers and volunteer visitors from congregations be vaccinated against COVID-19 when attending:
- Healthcare - any person, who attends a healthcare setting in the course of their work or duties. This came into effect on 1st November 2021. This direction is available here.
- Residential aged care - any visitor to a residential aged care facility. This applies from 6th December 2021. This direction is available here.
- Education and early childhood settings* - any person who attends or volunteers in the course of their work. This applies from 11th December 2021. This direction is available here.
We continue to encourage all those attending worship and other groups on church sites to be vaccinated. This shows our care and concern for our community. It is putting Jesus’ command to love our neighbour into practice.
Activities
As the South Australian border opens and COVID-19 enters our community, churches will be required to follow the SA government’s Test, Trace Isolate and Quarantine system. Please find that information here.
We encourage congregations to assess the risk of COVID-19 entering their church community, and to take action appropriate to protect children (those under 12 currently cannot be vaccinated) and vulnerable members. You will need to think about those in public facing roles like the church office, op-shop, emergency relief centre and café.
The only change in the Activities Direction is that from 23rd November, capacity at home gatherings will increase from 20 to 30 people.
COVID-Safe Practices
All existing COVID-Safe practices remain in place for the foreseeable future. These are:
Mask Wearing
Wearing of masks remains mandatory in high risk settings, personal care and health care services, passenger and public transport, secondary schools, and indoor public places – this includes churches.
Singing
Attendees at indoor religious services may sing during worship and members of choirs or chorus groups may perform or rehearse indoors, if they wear masks while doing so.
(To ensure masks remain effective and protect you, you should change your mask as soon as it becomes damp and also after you have finished singing. Please make sure you bring spare masks, a bag to keep used masks in, and hand sanitiser to use before and after putting on, or taking off a mask).
The following exemptions from mask wearing during singing apply if:
- The singer is performing individually (not including a karaoke performer)
- The singers are members of a group of performers and they are performing or rehearsing in the indoor premises (not including karaoke performers or persons performing or rehearsing as part of a choir or chorus)
- The premises are an educational establishment
- The singers are undertaking or providing an individual lesson.
Density requirements and additional directions
The density requirement for seated activities is 3 per 4 square metres. This applies to church services.
The density requirement for standing (or mixed seating and standing) activities is 1 per 2 square metres.
Gyms and indoor fitness activities is 1 per 4 square metres.
Weddings and funerals, as well as private activities are capped at 150 people (at non-residential premises).
Food and beverage consumption remains seated (except for private activities), no communal service areas.
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help clarify current directions available for download here.
Archived COVID-19 Communications>>>
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RESOURCES
- 23 Oct 20: Uniting Church Attendance Record
- 21 Aug 20: Guidelines on the Rights of People with Disability Care during COVID-19
- 19 Aug 20: Ideas to consider for restarting Messy Church the COVID-safe way
- 30 Jul 20: Full list of Uniting Church SA livestreams and services
- 01 June 20: Government Contact Tracing Record Attendance Register
- 23 March 20: Response to COVID-19 in the UnitingCare network in SA
JOBKEEPER AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
- 1 May 20: A letter from the General Secretary about Financial Relief for Congregations
- 30 April 20: Synod of South Australia JobKeeper Declaration Form
- 30 April 20: JobKeeper Outline Pay Bureau Congregations
- 28 April 20: Facebook video by General Manager of Resources on JobKeeper payments UPDATE
- 27 April 20: Mission and Service Fund Contributions - Update
- 9 April 20: JobKeeper Information for Uniting Church Congregations
OTHER COMMUNICATIONS:
For all enquiries about Coronavirus, please contact:
- Rev Sue Page - Associate General Secretary
8236 4217 spage@sa.uca.org.au - Rev Phil Gardner - Executive Officer, Placements and Safe Church
8236 4268 pgardner@sa.uca.org.au
Please note that we may experience a heightened number of enquiries. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.
Please email us in the first instance, leave a message with your name and phone number, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Get the latest updates from the Uniting Church in SA regarding COVID-19 and weekly newsletters, subscribe below!
