Melrose Churches Still There In Spirit, But Not Reopening Yet

MELROSE, MA — While some Massachusetts churches clamored to be allowed to reopen amid the coronavirus, most local ones are continuing to meet virtually despite the go-ahead from a relative higher power to resume physical meetings.

Gov. Charlie Baker and the state's reopening advisory board on Monday included houses of worship among the first places that could get back to business, with restrictions. Baker had been criticized by some religious leaders for what they said was infringing on their Constitutional rights to gather. One Worcester pastor even sued Baker after being fined multiple times for holding service.

But every Melrose church Patch got ahold of is content keeping it digital for the near future.

"At this time, we feel that a return to our sanctuary would jeopardize the health and well-being of our parishioners and the wider community," Rev. Dominic Taranowski emailed Tuesday morning to his First Congregational Church.

Taranowski added the church on West Foster will continue virtual worship services through June 21 (many Protestant churches don't meet through the summer.)

"We will re-evaluate the situation in late summer so that we return to worship in the best format possible in September," Taranowski said.

Leadership at Green Street Baptist Church also said it would be "awhile" before reopening for in-person worship, citing an older congregation that has some immunocompromised people.

"For their safety we feel it doesn't make sense to try and gather right away," interim pastor Rev. Jim Leavitt told Patch over the phone.

The First United Methodist Church said several factors led it to continue virtual worship services.

"Being apart is hard, but our time of separation will end," Pastor Travis Bonnette-Kim wrote in an email to members. "Until that time, stay safe and hold each other in prayer."

Temple Beth Shalom on East Foster is "examining how best to continue to serve our community," Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal said. The Temple has created a committee tasked with reimagining how it continues to offer services, which have been moved online.

While some church offices weren't open and didn't immediately respond to Patch's request for the latest information, none of the city's churches had anything online indicating they were ready to resume worship gatherings.

"YES! WE ARE MEETING ON ZOOM THIS SUNDAY!" shouted Seven Mile Road Church's website.

The First Baptist Church of Melrose's website said it will be closed until June 7, when the situation will be reassessed.

The Melrose Highlands Congregational Church is still meeting on Zoom.

Trinity Episcopal Church's voicemail said it won't be reopening its doors until at least July.