• We will do all we can to not put people’s lives at risk by coming to worship or other church events. Church is not worth dying for.
• The mission of our church continues through a variety of online activities and programs.
• We are committed to full inclusion. We will assure there is a way for everyone to be included in worship services and other church wide events when we begin in-person services again.
• We seek to protect the health of all who use the building: staff, elders, adults, youth, children, renters, and contractors. 
• We will use only vetted up-to-date medical and public health information from reliable sources to make decisions.
• We will obey the laws and guidelines set by the State of Virginia and Loudoun County, but may go beyond them in protecting our congregation and others affected by our decisions.
• We will be transparent with the congregation and consider their input.
• We will apply all recommendations consistently, not making exceptions for individual desires, renters, status in the church, or financial impact. 

UUCL Guidelines for Outdoor Church Gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic
Definition – “church gathering” – any gathering of people outside of a single household who are invited to an event through UUCL communication channels (eg. church email lists like jammers@uuloudoun.org, UUCL Fellowship Facebook page, UUCL discussion list, UUCL Slack workspace/channel, UUCL announcements list, etc.) or through an official, church-sponsored function (eg. an auction event).

• These rules apply for every outdoor church gathering (see definition of “church gathering” above.)
• Groups of 10 or less may meet at this time.
• Observe physical distancing of at least 6 feet for participants who do not live in the same household.
• No communal singing.
• No communal food or beverages. (All food and beverages should be individually portioned or shared only by households.)
• Masks and facial coverings must be worn at all times for all adults and children over the age of 5, unless eating or drinking. When spacing of 20 feet or more between people is maintained, masks may be removed.
• Frequent hand sanitizing is encouraged.
• Efforts should be made for events to be inclusive and accessible for all. 
• Volunteers working outside at the church (eg. gardening) will stay six feet apart from people not in their household and wear masks (not necessary if volunteers are more than 20 feet apart), bring their own water, and coordinate their time working on the church grounds until the building is reopened.  
• Every group will identify a Safety Coordinator. The Safety Coordinator is responsible for reminding attendees of the guidelines and for submitting to the minister a list of attendee names and emails for future potential contact tracing
• Group participants agree to notify the Safety Coordinator if they become ill with COVID-19-like symptoms within two weeks after the event.  The coordinator will notify the minister immediately if someone who attended the group becomes ill with COVID-like symptoms. The minister will arrange for the participants to be contacted.
• Outdoor gatherings at the church building will be permitted to use the church bathroom with these restrictions:
  • Wear a mask 
  • Only one person in the lower level at a time (no line of people waiting inside the building)
  • Use sanitizing wipes to wipe down the toilet handle, faucet handle and door handle when leaving. 

Relevant links: 

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/considerations-for-events-gatherings.html
• https://www.uua.org/safe/pandemics/gathering-guidance/outdoor-gatherings
• https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/schools-workplaces-community-locations/social-gatherings/