A few weeks ago, I wrote about the ways that six pastors across the country—in big and small churches, in urban and rural areas, in predominately black and white and multiethnic congregations—were planning to regather God’s people.

The biggest lesson I learned: There is no right way to do this. A 60-person church in a small town in Montana can—and should—approach reopening differently than an 800-person church in Chicago will.

But what happens when different leaders in a single church disagree on a reopening strategy? How can we balance between the eagerness to come together and the worry about spreading infection?

In “Church, Don’t Let Coronavirus Divide You,” Brett McCracken explains how we can model countercultural sacrifice, humility, patience, and nuance in order to preserve the unity of the Spirit.

As your church works on reopening plans, we hope your leaders will listen well, honor others, and value both courage and also prudence. And we hope your church family will emerge from this crisis in a joyful unity that points to Christ.