Update: March 18th

The government's new initiative, presented yesterday, is also of great importance to the churches. The bishops work closely with the Church Ministry to deal with the situation. We urge everyone to take responsibility for breaking the chains of infection. Read and follow the guidelines below - and take care of yourself and each other.

The National Church must, on par with other public institutions, keep its buildings completely closed to the public. This applies to churches, parishes, educational institutions and other premises in the national church.

Ecclesiastical acts such as baptisms and ceremonies can be performed in the church, but they must comply with the requirement that a maximum of 10 persons including pastor and church staff may. In the vast majority of cases, baptismal parents and bridal couples are therefore expected to postpone arrangements, which is our and the Ministry's recommendation.

Funerals in the church do not have to comply with a fixed attendance limit of 10 persons, but a maximum of one person per 4 square meters of floor space. This means that a maximum of 50 persons must be allowed if the church has an area of ​​200 square meters. Meanwhile, the church's interior must be taken into account so that distance can be kept and that the requirements and recommendations of the health authorities are adhered to. This means that there must be a realistic assessment of how the necessary distance can be kept with regard to seating areas and church benches, etc. We implore as few participants as possible. It is the responsibility of the church council together with the clergyman and pastor to conduct a local assessment and announce the exact number of max attendees with a notice on the church door.

Church staff must both stand at the door and ensure that only the specified number of attendees can access the church.

The bishops point out, exceptionally, during the current epidemic, to use the form of burial after cremation.

We encourage relatives to clearly state in obituaries that only invited participants can be sure of accessing the church room during the funeral or burial.

When funerals and burials are performed in the church, and if baptisms and weddings are performed, information from the National Board of Health must be sent out prior so that people who have symptoms of Coronavirus disease should isolate themselves at home. In addition, it must be ensured that the church staff comply with the National Board of Health's recommendations on good hygiene and appropriate precautions. Finally, as much as possible, soap and hand sanitizer should be available at the church.

Emergency baptisms and emergency services can continue to be made in private homes. Follow health authorities' general recommendations when visiting private homes.

All confirmations are postponed until after Pentecost. New dates are set locally as soon as possible. This decision is now being made clearly and universally for both families and employees.

Keep yourself informed. If you have any questions, contact your local pastor or bishop.

Update: March 16th 

The bishops are currently working very closely with the Church Ministry and to clarify the serious situation. We ask that all staff understand the importance of avoiding spread of the infection and are therefore also taking actions that are unusual for the church. We must have each other in mind and we ask you to take note of the following, to show consideration to sick and vulnerable colleagues.

- The churches are closed. Therefore it is not possible to keep the churches open for prayer or the like.

- All services are canceled.

- Funerals will take place in other forms. Baptism and marriage should be postponed if possible. If carried out, the number of participants must be limited to the closest relatives and witnesses.

- Confirmations until and during Easter should be postponed. Pastors must advise parents that all confirmations may be postponed.

- Funerals can under some exceptions be carried out with internment after cremation. The pastor has to arrange a later gathering of the relatives.

- The ecclesiastical acts performed must take place under restrictive conditions:

• Minimal staff: pastor, organist and usher. The number of church singers should be minimized or considered omitted.
• Number of participants: pastors are authorized by the bishop to determine an estimated number that includes the closest relatives and as few as possible.
• Invited participants only. It is important that the pastor clearly informs the family in question of how many participants may be present so that there are as few as possible.
• The usher should count participants at the door and reject entry when the stipulated number is reached - along with the pastor.
• Emergency baptisms and emergency services can continue to be held in private homes. Follow health authorities' general recommendations when visiting private homes.

- It is the pastor who decides if and how the ecclesiastical act should be carried out under the current restrictive conditions. The church council must provide the necessary staff. It is recommended that the church council, in a dialogue with the pastor, carefully assess how much of the usual church service is strictly necessary.

- Church staff may be asked to assist in strictly necessary administrative tasks, e.g. in connection with death notifications, baptisms, marriages, payment of wages or payment of overdue invoices.

- Conversely, the church’s employees cannot be assigned to perform ordinary maintenance, supervision or administrative tasks which cannot be performed from home. Thorough cleaning must be done after ecclesiastical acts. If toilets in the cemetery are kept open, they should be cleaned. There must continue to be daily oversight of church buildings.

- All other events and meetings in church and parish congregation halls must be canceled. This also includes memorial ceremonies in connection with funerals, ward council meetings and meetings in connection with the upcoming church council elections.

- Follow the health authorities' recommendations to prevent the spread of infection: Wash hands frequently, or use hand sanitizer. Cough or sneeze in your sleeve. Avoid handshakes and hugs - limit physical contact. Pay attention to cleaning - both at home and in the workplace. Keep a distance.

All of this applies for the time being - keep yourself informed.

Link to update article.

Guidelines: March 13th

In light of the latest announcements from the Danish government and the health authorities, we would like to ask staff and church councils in the Danish Church to adapt their work and services for the benefit of our fellow citizens most vulnerable to Corona infection and for maintaining a functioning health care system. We must take the situation as seriously as the authorities so that we reduce and prevent a rapid spread of infection in Denmark.

The government has decided that all public institutions' indoor activities be suspended with immediate effect. As a result, all worship services are therefore canceled, so far for the next 14 days. The same applies to council activities in parishes and similar public events.

At the same time, it is of great importance that we provide the opportunity to preach the gospel, hope and comfort in times of crisis. All the parish ministers, hospital ministers, and other pastors will continue to be available to people in need. We also have affiliated extra pastors to pastoral care and counseling on the internet, which is the Danish Church's constant online-option for a confidential conversation with a pastor.

The Danish Church will also still perform ecclesiastical acts such as baptisms, weddings and funerals but in other forms than usual. These will not be planned in connection with worship services and there will, as a rule, not be public access. The number of participants must also be adapted to the circumstances and must not exceed 100 participants in any circumstances.

While we will not host the normal service of worship, we will make great efforts, at both the local and at national level, to develop alternatives to church services through radio, television and the Internet.

The following guide is designed to enable the national church to perform its important tasks in the best possible ways, even under the current conditions.

In the coming time, it is important that we help each other through a difficult time. We are used to having each other in mind. We will still need our community and trust in each other, in the time to come when we cannot gather as we usually do. And we still need to have our family members, good friends, and people in mind that need our help.

Below are listed some of the church's responsibilities as well as the bishops' guidelines for each. You are always welcome to contact the diocese or your local pastor if you require further guidance.

You should also be aware that this guide is constantly updated.

Church services

The High Mass and other worship services are canceled as they are subject to the government's decision to suspend all public indoor activities with immediate effect. This also applies to all other types of services such as nursing home services.

Ecclesiastical Acts:

Baptism

Baptism acts can be carried out, taking into account the special circumstances:

- Firstly, offer baptism at a later date.

- Host only one baptism at a time.

- Talk to families about limiting attendance. Under no circumstances may more than 100 participate.

- Limit the number of participants so there is a good distance between the participants - max 100, but we recommend that the churches not be more than half full. The pastor in charge of the service may ask an employee, such as a church attendant, to stand at the door and ensure that the churches are not filled beyond the recommended number of churchgoers.

- Pay attention to the Health Board's instructions on the church door and from the pulpit: No handshakes, keep a distance, etc.

- Place hand sanitizer at the entrance.

- Use hymn sheets to reduce the spread of infection.

- Limit the amount of staff as much as possible.

Funerals

Funerals are to be conducted according to the following precautions:

- Talk to the relatives about limiting the number of participants - max 100 and preferably as few as possible. Tell them to be aware of the spread of infection and considerations to protect others.

- Consider how many staff members should be involved.

- Talk to the chapels about their precautions.

- Take the same precautions as described during baptism.

- The cemetery board is generally authorized to postpone the time of burial to 14 days. However, it is a prerequisite that the deceased person is kept in a room, with a room-temperature of no more than 4 degrees until shortly before the funeral or burial.

Marriages

Officiate based on these precautions:

- Offer to postpone the wedding ceremony

- Talk to the relatives about limiting the number of participants - max. 100 and preferably as few as possible. tell them to be aware of the spread of infection and considerations in order to protect others.

- Consider how many staff members should be involved.

Confirmation restrictions

Confirmation courses are canceled for the next two weeks as schools are closed. Await the situation in the coming weeks. Prepare yourself both for the current situation and for a situation where you have to postpone the confirmation service.

- Limit the number of participants so that the church is only half full - a maximum of 100 participants in total. We recommend that the churches not be more than half full. Tell them to be aware of the spread of infection and considerations to protect others.

- If necessary, divide the confirmation team into smaller teams.

- Consider how much staff is involved.

- Take the same precautions as described during baptism

- Consider carrying out confirmation services on the scheduled date, but with very few guests (the closest family).

Pastoral care / counseling

Follow the health authorities' instructions on how to deal with personal contact, especially at-risk groups and the sick.

- Contact the hospice and hospitals if the counselling/conversation is to take place there, in order to clarify with the staff if there is anything you need to pay special attention to.

- Avoid face-to-face conversations with quarantined people. Instead, use phone calls or Skype.

- Hospital pastors must follow the hospital guidelines.

- If in doubt, have a discussion with your local provst or bishop on how to handle the specific situation.

Meetings

Parish council meetings and committee meetings, including briefings and nomination meetings, should be postponed to the greatest extent possible, unless there are urgent issues to consider at the meetings. If necessary, the meeting should be held as a Skype or telephone meeting. If this is not possible, the ward council/trial committee must conduct the meeting with the necessary preventions of infection in accordance with the recommendation of the health authorities.

The Church Ministry is investigating the possibility of postponing statutory deadlines for approving annual accounts and deciding on new joint ward councils so that meetings should not be held for formal reasons during the next 14 days.

If staff meetings are unavoidable for the sake of important information, a good distance must be kept between the participants. Offer participants to join by phone or Skype if they prefer.

Lectures, talks and concerts

All events, such as concerts, talks, lectures, infant and child activities as well as other church events that are not church services and ecclesiastical acts, we ask you to cancel.

Church employees

Employees in the parishes should, as a starting point, be treated on an equal footing with other public servants. The bishops urge the parish councils to organize the daily lives of the churches with as little staffing as possible in the church and have office staff work from home if possible.

The above guidelines apply from today's date and so far. Stay tuned for announcements and for ongoing updates.

Link to the original article