PGI remains on the previously circulated appeal for churches to celebrate Christmas and New Year in virtual form
Jakarta (ANTARA) - General secretary of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), Jacky Manuputty, on Monday appealed to churches across Indonesia to go virtual for Christmas and New Year celebrations this year on account of COVID-19.

“PGI remains on the previously circulated appeal for churches to celebrate Christmas and New Year in virtual form,” Jacky said at an online press conference in Jakarta.

If it is possible to carry out physical services at church, the number of attendees must be limited, and health protocols must be strictly observed in coordination with the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 in the respective area, he advised.

He said that the recommendations of the task force must be kept in mind while organizing physical services, for which coordination between the task force and the board members of church congregations is very important.

If the task force allows physical services, then, as part of the health protocols, churches are required to provide a place to wash hands, disinfect rooms before and after worship, discourage congregations from shaking hands or removing masks, disallow any meetings after worship, and limit the number of congregants in the church building.

"We have held virtual services and other forms of worship that did not bring crowds of people during this pandemic," Manuputty remarked.

PGI said it is concerned with the increase in the spread of COVID-19 cases. The Task Force for Handling COVID-19 has an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases to 664,930 cases on December 20, 2020.

Noting these developments, PGI is supporting the government's decision to reduce joint leave during the Christmas and New Year 2020 holidays to curb the transmission of COVID-19. (INE)


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Translator: Martha H, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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