While Bathurst churches are happy to keep following NSW Government guidelines, leaders are hoping that restrictions will ease to allow parishioners to sing again in the near future.
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On Tuesday, the state recorded a 29th consecutive day without a locally acquired case, however, NSW Health still states group singing and chanting as "high-risk activity for transmission of COVID-19 should someone involved be infected", meaning members of a church's congregation or any other place of worship in NSW isn't allowed to sing.
While Bathurst Presbyterian Church pastor Tristan Merkel is thankful for the work the NSW Government has done to keep people safe during the pandemic, he would love to see the ban on singing lifted.
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"We really appreciate all that the NSW Government has done to safeguard our communities and limit the spread of COVID-19. It's been an enormous and difficult job, and we are very thankful to the premier and health officers," he said.
"We would love to see the ban on singing lifted, in line with other similar easing of restrictions. If it is safe for fans to cheer in a grandstand, then it is safe to sing in church."
Pastor Merkel said while community transmission is low, he believes churches are safe.
"There is wisdom in being agile enough to do things like wear masks while singing, or revert quickly back to not singing if community transmission resurfaces, and we are very happy to do that in order to love Bathurst and our community," he said.
"But while it is safe, we would love to be able to sing."
Pastor Merkel said singing to Christians is hugely important.
"What we believe about Jesus we believe with our minds switched on, but Jesus is such good news that our hearts fill with joy," he said.
"Singing is a way we emotionally express with our hearts what we believe with our heads. It's a way we encourage each other and remind each other of the wonder of the gospel."
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst, Michael McKenna, said he's also happy to keep following NSW Government's guidelines on singing at churches.
"As Christians, we are more than ready to cooperate with what needs to be done to stop the spread of the virus," he said.
"I'm not an expert in public health, so we need to take the best advice we can. As we've said in the past on all things restricting worship, we're happy to cooperate but we do hope that we will be treated the same way as other venues.
"[Singing] is important like a lot of other things. We can worship God without singing but it's wonderful to be able to sing."
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