Why the church must decide if they will advertise their vaccination statuses

I’ve got my first COVID vaccination and will get my second jab in a few weeks time.

When I got jabbed I wasn’t required to for my current job but, as a precaution, I got the shot in order to ensure that I could undertake my final teaching prac (which hopefully will include some face-to-face teaching).

If I still worked for the church nothing would change - I still would be vaccinated.

For me, backing up what I wrote on Tiny Bible Bits at the start of July, getting the shot is an act of goodwill and compliance for my family, neighbours, community and government.

If you want to label me a sheeple, knock yourself out.

But, as things reopen in Sydney and around the globe, will vaccination status become a church selling point?

Will churches advertise that every member of staff, or each volunteer leader within a ministry, has been double-jabbed?

Will this be something that people will look out for?

I imagine, for the vulnerable - the elderly or those with youngsters - the vaccination status of those in leadership will be a matter of concern.

But, what do you do if there is a holdout?

What If a staff member doesn’t get the shot?

What if a leader won’t get the shot?

Do they get stood down?

Frankly, I have no idea and, thankfully, it won’t be a problem I’ll need to juggle.

But, it is an impending situation that is arriving at the doorstep of every church and ministry. 

I genuinely hope that the institutional church will bring down mandates “from above,” otherwise, a lot of churches, ministries, ministers and leaders will be greatly out of their depth in navigating the situation - without a denominational safety net.