Places of worship take different approaches under Columbia reopening order

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two Columbia houses of worship -- a church and a synagogue -- are taking different approaches to deal with social distancing requirement and occupancy limits under the county's reopening order.

The pastor at Family Worship Center, Tom Leuther, said the church met in person for the first time on Mother's Day and since has held mid-week services.

Public health orders locally continue to limit the number of people who can be inside houses of worship.

The Columbia and Boone County health director issued a reopening order that went into effect May 4 and requires occupancy limits and social distancing measures in religious houses in addition to businesses.

County health director Stephanie Browning laid out a plan for relaxing those restrictions on Monday that will ease those limitations over the summer. By late June only social distancing will be required in houses of worship under the plan.

Leuther says the church is allowed to have 150 people under current capacity limits. The church has had about half of that at its in-person events.

He says others have been listening in from the radio in the parking lot as well as tuning in live on Facebook.

Family Worship Center has been putting measures in place to ensure social distancing as well, Leuther said.

The church has roped off seating so that everyone is 6 feet apart, has hand sanitizing stations readily available and has signs up reminding congregants to keep their distance.

Meanwhile, Rick Diamant with Congregation Beth Shalom said the synagogue is in no rush to reopen.

Diamant said that even though many businesses and places of worship are opening their doors, his synagogue does not plan to do so any time soon.

Congregation Beth Shalom has been holding online services and Diamant said it is preparing to possibly host Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur celebrations remotely in the fall.