CLEVELAND — As multiple Northeast Ohio places of worship begin to reopen their doors to in-person services during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some faith leaders in the black community who say they're not quite ready.
The decision is all about the numbers.
“There's predominately African Americans that are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Imam Abbas Ahmad of the First Cleveland Mosque on Cleveland’s east side. “So, I just can't, I can't take a risk at it. Period.”
Imam Ahmad, who is also known as Angelo Wilson, says his mosque is predominately black with many of his members being older and at risk of developing life-threatening complications if they come down with COVID-19.
Statistics from the Ohio Department of Health on the novel coronavirus show the disease disproportionately impacts blacks. The community only makes up 14 percent of the population, but account for 25 percent of Ohio's COVID cases, 31 percent of hospitalizations and 17 percent of deaths.
“What that means is that it's literally wiping our congregation and our nationality out,” says J.K. Rodgers, Senior Pastor of The Good Hope M.B. Church in Akron.
Pastor Rodgers, who connects regularly with his congregation and more than 46,000 YouTube subscribers online, says all races should take the virus seriously.
“Just as quick as it can be passed to our African American community, it can be passed to yours.”
Pastor David Hughes of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church on E. 55th St in Cleveland has decided to keep the physical doors of his church closed to in-person services through June. He also has a predominately black congregation, which he says about 50 percent of his 80 to 100 members are older than 60.
“I don't know what I would do if one of the members of our congregation contracted COVID-19 in a service and then you know subsequently passed away. That would literally break my heart.”
Pastor Hughes says he and his church board are contemplating resuming in-person services in July. The reopening, however, depends on the data concerning COVID-19 and the church’s ability to implement proper protocol.
“There’s certain things that you do in a black church. You hug, you jump and shout, and all of the little spit goes everywhere,” Pastor Hughes says with a chuckle. “We kiss each other. We are real close.”
These are aspects of service Pastor Hughes acknowledges will have to be rethought moving forward.
Imam Ahmad and Pastor Rodgers have not set a timeline for returning to in-person services.
Out of all three faith leaders, Imam Ahmad is the only one who says a member of his congregation contracted COVID-19. He said that person recovered.
"We have to be very careful in terms of how we can expose people and how people can expose us," Imam Ahmad explained.
For now, these faith leaders plan to continue to serve the spiritual needs of their members through online services and staying connected using technology.
“We have to do the things that's going to make sense to us to make sure that most people are safe and that we can continue to ride through this until it becomes a better day,” says Imam Ahmad. "Hopefully, we will weather the storm, God willing."