Deciding whether to cancel church services due to bad weather is a complex issue that church leaders must carefully consider. The Bible does not directly address this specific question, but it does provide principles that can guide leaders in making wise and loving decisions for their congregations.
Prioritize the safety and well-being of the congregation
Church leaders have a responsibility to care for their flock and protect them from harm (Acts 20:28, John 10:11-13). Dangerous weather conditions like ice, snow, flooding, hurricanes, etc. can make travel to and from church very risky. Elders should think first of the safety of their elderly, disabled, and other vulnerable members before expecting them to venture out in treacherous conditions. If holding services would require people to put themselves in clear physical danger, then canceling is likely the right call. God desires mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13).
Consider the ability of most members to attend
Beyond immediate safety issues, leaders should think about how many people could reasonably be expected to make it to church if services are held as scheduled. Icy roads may be navigated by some but totally impassable for most. Flooding may cut off access for many families. Even if a dedicated few could attend, church is meant to be a communal activity (Hebrews 10:24-25). If the weather would prevent a significant percentage of the congregation from participating, then church closure may promote the spirit of unity over pointless division.
Seek wisdom from governing authorities
In most places, local governments have protocols and weather-related declarations meant to guide community response to severe storms, heavy snowfall, etc. Church elders should consider respectfully deferring to the judgment of those authorities regarding general public safety and travel. Their expertise and perspective may prove very valuable when making a wise decision for the church body (Romans 13:1-7).
Communicate clearly and provide alternate forms of fellowship
When services are cancelled, church leaders should notify members through all available channels and provide options for maintaining community despite inability to meet in person. Livestreamed sermons, small group video chats, and phone trees for mutual encouragement are just some ideas. Creatively maximizing fellowship despite separation can limit discouragement and reflect God’s desire for unity (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Consider the needs of church staff and volunteers
Elders must also factor in the impact on church employees and service teams who facilitate each gathering and depend on the church schedule. Travel conditions that are dangerous for the congregation at large are likely also unsafe for pastors, worship leaders, tech teams, etc. Requiring their presence may demonstrate disregard for their well-being. And even if some staff safely arrive, holding services without most members present could be an unwise use of scarce resources.
Seek consensus within church leadership
Because this decision requires careful discernment, it should involve collaborative discussion among church leaders. plurality of godly counselors can help ensure cancellation is not made rashly but with unified agreement (Proverbs 11:14, Acts 15:1-29). If consensus cannot be reached, then deference should be given to the view prioritizing safety and promoting the good of the entire congregation.
Make the call early for maximum notice
Once decided, church closure should be communicated as early as possible. This allows members to plan accordingly and avoids confusion. Notification should come through phone calls, text alerts, social media, signage, and any other effective channels. Leaders should seek to spread the word thoroughly without delay (2 Timothy 4:2).
Reflect Christlike care and discernment
Above all, this decision should be bathed in prayer and reflect the wisdom of Jesus Christ. He cared deeply for people’s needs (Matthew 14:14), never recklessly endangered his flock, and served as a model of humble, sacrificial leadership for all church elders to follow (1 Peter 5:1-4). Seeking first God’s kingdom means acting with love and discernment, which overrides simplistic rules.
In summary, the Bible does not prohibit adjusting church gatherings due to weather emergencies. The principles it does provide suggest church leaders should prioritize safety while creatively maintaining community, listen to governing authorities, seek unified godly counsel, communicate clearly, and act with the loving discernment modeled by Jesus. Wise shepherds lay down their lives for the sheep.
Though disappointing, cancellation may at times be the most faithful choice – a temporary pause that reminds us the church consists of people, not buildings. And it can provide opportunity to refocus on Christ and demonstrate His care within the congregation in alternative ways until meeting together is safely possible again.
With thoughtful discernment guided by scriptural principles, church elders can make weather-related decisions that honor both God and the people they serve. This requires humility, wisdom, and unconditional love.
When inclement weather strikes, church community does not cease. We remain united in Christ. Through prayer, creativity, and care for one another, He sustains us until we can join together again in joyful worship when the storm has passed.
The Bible passages mentioned include:
- Acts 20:28 – Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
- John 10:11-13 – I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
- Matthew 9:13 – Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Romans 13:1-7 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 – I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
- 2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
- Matthew 14:14 – When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
- 1 Peter 5:1-4 – So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
- Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
- Acts 15:1-29 – But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’ Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.