DEAR CHURCH: VISITATION

Visitation.  It used to be our primary means of building relationships.  It was expected that pastors made regular visits to homes, hospitals, retirement facilities, prisons, and communal-living establishments.  However, in many churches, it has been removed from pastoral responsibility and has almost been forgotten by many of us.

I’m assuming I’m about to anger a few pastors, but let’s be honest:  We haven’t been

visiting folks like we should.  It’s not that we don’t like to visit people; many of us do!  But the demands on our schedules are such that it’s become very difficult to regularly schedule this important responsibility of church life.  In fact, as we’ve trained others to assist with visitation, some of us have stopped attending entirely unless the situation is critical.  I’ll be the first to raise my hand and admit it.

Ten years ago, I was visiting at least half-a-dozen nursing/retirement facilities on a regular, monthly basis.  I was visiting plenty of other facilities throughout the week, also, hosting chapel services, serving Holy Communion, and just visiting with folks in their homes.  Over time, these visits grew fewer and fewer as my schedule became crowded.  Pre-Covid, I had reduced my visitation schedule to only one facility on a regular, monthly schedule with a weekly chapel service scattered on occasion. 

Here’s the sad part:  During these last ten years (maybe even longer - I just can’t remember), I have NEVER - and I mean NEVER - encountered another pastor (any denomination or variety) at a retirement, assisted living, or nursing facility, other than the volunteer or part-time chaplains who are employed there.  That’s a very long time and a lot of visits to have NEVER encountered another pastor.  I’ve been told many times that I was “their only source” of Holy Communion, and the only “church” that visited was the church I represented.

Now, before you become upset and tell me that you have been making regular visits, let me mention something on OUR behalf:  This problem is NOT because we pastors and other church staffers aren’t allowed in these facilities.  On the contrary, it is greatly encouraged that we attend to people in facilities.  The health benefits have been medically documented time and time again - A healthy spirit can help provide for a healthier mind and body.  Facilities need and want as much of our help as we can provide. 

In life “After the Virus” (AV), Visitation will be more complicated and more important than ever.  Upon reopening, NOBODY will seek to visit facilities given the great effect that this pandemic has had on everyone, especially them.  We can expect that facilities will certainly operate under a new set of rules and guidelines.

I’m not suggesting that all of us become full-time chaplains (although there are multiple chaplaincy vacancies in the area).  Chaplaincy is a specific calling that requires a specific work.  However, in life “AV”, we pastors will need to discover the way and time to make our visits possible.  People in facilities were lonely long before the virus surfaced, and now, it’s much, much worse for them.  As soon as we can figure it out, we need to resume seeing these people and building relationships. 

What about people at home?  Can we make home visits when our churches reopen?  Yes.  We can knock on the door and visit on their front porch or driveway if entering the home presents a problem.  Hospitals?  Yes, once they are reopened, we can wear masks, gloves, and gowns that the hospitals will provide. Nursing homes, prisons, and other facilities?  Same thing, the needed safety items will be supplied by the facility.  We pastors can’t expect volunteers to do this for us, especially in the short term.  We must lead by example.  

Visitation is a big, big deal.  People need a personal connection, or at least, as “personal” as we can create in the given environment.  Will this translate to increased attendance, membership, and giving?  I’m not sure about that one, but I don’t think those are the reasons that we became pastors.  We love people and they desperately need this love of Jesus Christ.  We can’t allow this pandemic to cause any more collateral damage, especially for those who are in greatest need.

“‘I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”   

Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”  (Matthew 25:36-40, NLT)

Another glaring issue for churches in the post-Covid environment is Facility management.  Pre-Covid, many of our churches were empty when the church body wasn’t gathered for a specific purpose.  In life “AV”, ALL of our buildings will be even more empty than before.  How do we tackle our Facility issues while maintenance costs, rent and mortgage payments continue?  This elephant will need all our attention...