South Main Baptist Church

The purpose of this page is to provide clarity on re-gathering efforts for South Main operations, church services, facility, and staffing changes in response to Covid-19.

South Main's phased plan and conditions-based timeline for reopening

General Safety protocols for Participants of All Gatherings

• Everyone over age 2 must wear masks (except those who cannot for medical reasons)
• Social distance minimum of 6 feet from others
• Clean all high touch surfaces between uses of the space
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)

General Safety protocols for the South Main Campus and Facilities

• If you have experienced any of these symptoms in the past 2–14 days, please stay home:
• Fever (100.4º or greater) or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• By entering SMBC buildings and any official SMBC gatherings, attendees agree to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and adhere to all other health and safety policies.
• Signage will be placed around campus with the above COVID-19 symptoms list and reminder about COVID-19 health and safety policies.
• All high touch surfaces will be disinfected regularly using non bleach based products, allowing 15 minutes of drying time
• Guidelines on restroom usage
• Maintain social distancing of 6’ or more, when possible
• Wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 sec
• Clean high touch surfaces frequently
• Prop restroom doors open when possible
• Necessary modifications to HVAC system made in accordance with CDC guidelines

Phase 1: Stay Home, Stay Connected

Worship – Online for Congregation

(Limited staff and broadcast volunteers on campus to produce worship service.)

Safety Protocols for Worship Participants

• Must wear masks (for children over age 2 and anyone who does not have a medical contraindication)
• Social distance minimum of 6 feet
• Clean all high touch surfaces between uses of the space
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)

Adult Groups – Online

MainKids – Online

Tribe / Youth – Online

Staff – Remote

Phase 2: Limited Gatherings 

Worship – Online for Congregation

(Limited staff and broadcast volunteers on campus to produce worship service.)

Safety Protocols for Worship Participants

• Must wear masks (for children over age 2 and anyone who does not have a medical contraindication)
• Social distance minimum of 6 feet
• Clean all high touch surfaces between uses of the space
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)

Adult Groups – Online & In-person; <25 Outdoors, <10 Indoors

• Safety Protocols for Adult Groups
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks; children under age 2)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Bring your own chairs for outdoor, off-campus events
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Indoor gatherings should be two hours or less.
• Organizers of any official SMBC gatherings must notify the appropriate staff member prior to the gathering.
• Examples of Gatherings
• Small sub-groups of Sunday School Communities in people’s front/back yards
• Small groups outdoors on SMBC campus
• Small in-person meetings indoors on SMBC campus
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings 

MainKids – Online

Tribe / Youth – Online & In-person; <25 Outdoors, <10 Indoors

• Safety Protocols for Tribe / Youth
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Bring your own chairs and water bottles
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Indoor gatherings should be two hours or less.
• Organizers of any official SMBC gatherings must notify the appropriate staff member prior to the gathering.
• Examples of Gatherings
• Family Ministry drive through events
• 2-part drive by: missions and pick up activity for home
• Youth outdoor missions gatherings
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings

 Staff – Remote; Discretionary In-office Days

• Safety Protocols for Staff
• Must wear masks (Except in office with closed door)
• Social distance minimum of 6 feet
• Clean all high touch surfaces between uses of the space
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)

PHASE 3: Expanded gatherings

Worship – Online for Congregation

(Limited staff and broadcast volunteers on campus to produce worship service.)

Safety Requirements for Worship Participants

• Must wear masks
• Social distance minimum of 6 feet
• Clean all high touch surfaces between uses of the space
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)

Adult Groups – Online & In-person; <50 Outdoors, <25 Indoors

• Safety Requirements for Adult Groups
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks; children under age 2)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Bring your own chairs and water bottles (outdoors)
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Indoor gatherings should be 2 hours or less
• SMBC Staff will mark off areas to ensure social distancing
• Examples of Gatherings
• Larger Sunday School Communities in people’s front/back yards
• Small groups indoors on SMBC campus
• Small in-person meetings
• Rooms available with sufficient space for social distancing
• Fellowship Hall (25 People in Phase 3)
• Gallery Rooms (25 People in Phase 3)
• Music Suite (15–20 People in Phase 3)
• Sanctuary (Max of 25 People in Phase 3)
• Chapel (Max of 25 People in Phase 3)
• Gym (Max of 25 People in Phase 3)
• Organizers of any official SMBC gatherings must notify the appropriate staff member prior to the gathering.
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings

MainKids – Online & In-person; <25 outdoors, <10 indoors, 5 groups max at one time indoors

• Safety Requirements for Tribe / Youth
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks; children under age 2)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Bring your own chairs and water bottles (outdoors)
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Indoor gatherings should be 2 hours or less
• SMBC Staff will mark off areas to ensure social distancing
• Use separate entrances/exits for different groups
• Use distinct routes to playground, for example, for different groups
• Examples of MainKids Gatherings in Phase 3
• MainKids playground / gym time – “Picnic & Playground”
• 1st floor kids in indoor playroom, or outdoor playground
• Older kids on outdoor playground or gym
• Parents will stay with children during activities in Phase 3
• Sunday School will remain online
• Spaces available in Phase 3
• Gym
• Indoor playroom
• Both playgrounds
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings

Tribe / Youth – Online & In-person; <50 Outdoors, <25 indoors

• Safety Requirements for Tribe / Youth
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Bring your own chairs and water bottles (outdoors)
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Indoor gatherings should be 2 hours or less
• SMBC Staff will mark off areas to ensure social distancing
• Examples of Gatherings
• Larger gatherings off and on campus
• Small groups indoors on SMBC campus
• Rooms available with sufficient space for social distancing
• Great Hall (Max of 25 in Phase 3)
• Tribe Space (Max of 25 in Phase 3)
• Gym (Max of 25 in Phase 3)
• Youth Assembly Room (Max of 25 in Phase 3)
• Fellowship Hall (Max of 25 in Phase 3)
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings

Staff – Remote; Discretionary In-office Days

Safety Requirements for Staff

• Must wear masks
• Social distance minimum of 6 feet
• Clean all high touch surfaces between uses of the space
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)

PHASE 4: Socially distanced worship (CURRENT PHASE)

Worship – Online and In-person for congregation; Reduced capacity – 25% in Sanctuary/Chapel

• Safety Requirements for Worship Participants
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks; children under age 2)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Hand sanitizer stations at each entrance
• No passed offering plates
• No passed Lord’s Supper trays
• Hymnals, envelopes, other shared elements removed from space
• Individuals/Families will be seated one at a time, escorted by ushers
• Prefer three days between events (unless using a different set of pews)
• Examples of Gatherings
• Sunday Morning Worship
• Weddings / Funerals
• Rooms available with sufficient space for social distancing
• Sanctuary
• Chapel
• RSVP system used for worship services

Adult Groups – Increased Capacity with Safety Measures

• Safety Requirements for Adult Groups
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks; children under age 2)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Indoor gatherings should be 2 hours or less
• SMBC Staff will mark off areas to ensure social distancing
• Examples of Gatherings
• Sunday School Communities on campus (must meet safety requirements)
• Leadership meetings (must meet safety requirements)
• In-person meetings on campus (must meet safety requirements)
• Rooms available with sufficient space for social distancing
• Fellowship Hall
• Gallery Rooms
• Music Suite
• Sanctuary
• Chapel
• Gym
• The Commons
• Large classrooms
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings

MainKids – Increased Capacity with Safety Measures

• Safety Requirements for MainKids
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks; children under age 2)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Limit mixing of classes in indoor play spaces
• Indoor gatherings should be 2 hours or less
• SMBC Staff will mark off areas to ensure social distancing
• Rooms available with sufficient space for social distancing
• Great Hall
• Gym
• Youth Assembly Room
• Fellowship Hall
• Little Church
• Large classrooms
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings

Tribe / Youth – Increased Capacity with Safety Measures

• Safety Requirements for Tribe / Youth
• Wear a mask (Exceptions: those with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks)
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between participants
• No hugs or handshakes
• Readily available touchless hand sanitizer (on SMBC Campus)
• No shared food
• Limited singing, with a mask on
• Indoor gatherings should be 2 hours or less
• SMBC Staff will mark off areas to ensure social distancing
• Examples of Gatherings
• Larger gatherings off and on campus
• Sunday School indoors on SMBC campus (must meet safety requirements)
• Missions / Music activities (must meet safety requirements)
• Rooms available with sufficient space for social distancing
• Great Hall
• Tribe Space
• Gym
• Youth Assembly Room
• Fellowship Hall
• Large classrooms
• RSVP system used to schedule gatherings

Staff – In-office Days, Increased Capacity with Safety Measures

• Safety Requirements for Staff
• Masks for all employees and guests, invitees, vendors, contractors, etc.
• All people in the building should be masked unless they are in their own office alone with the door closed (or have a medical indication for not wearing a mask, these employees should be encouraged to work from home)
• Frequent handwashing
• Social distancing
• No shared meals indoors (or maybe outdoors and 6 foot spaced only)
• Limit travel
• No glove use except when necessary for cleaning, etc.
• Meeting rooms available
• The Commons
• Gallery Rooms
• Fellowship Hall
• Great Hall
• Large Classrooms
• Note: 3rd floor conference room not available
• Staff will be scheduled to allow for adequate social distancing

PHASE 5: return to normal

Detailed guidelines and protocols to come...