Fellow Clergy,
I'm writing today with several updates, directives, and resources that I hope will provide guidance and relief to you as you seek to navigate these unprecedented times and shepherd with love.
Expectations for Pastoral Care for the Sick & Dying
As we continue to adapt to a new reality in our lives and ministries, I offer some further guidelines for the faithful and safe practice of ministry to the sick and the dying and presiding at funerals. When I became your Bishop I never imagined I would write to you asking you to refrain for a season from visiting the sick, the homebound, and the dying, but that is what I must ask of you; it is one more expectation in a series of strange and painful things being asked of all of us in this moment. As hard as it is for us, people of the Eucharistic table, to accept, right now loving the world, caring for those most vulnerable and marginalized, and following the Way of Jesus means keeping our physical distance.
I am so deeply grateful for all of you, and for the many ways you continue to follow in the Way of Jesus through expressing the Way of Love in this extraordinary time. As we begin another Holy Week together and journey again with Jesus to the cross and the grave, I pray that in this present darkness, the light of our resurrection hope will shine all the brighter in our lives and in our world.
Join A Zoom Conversation Today at 2pm
There's an opportunity to gather online this afternoon at 2pm to discuss these expectations in detail and to learn more from clergy colleagues who are already deeply engaged in this work, as well as a brief overview of the CARES Act information listed below.
Click here to register and join that gathering
.
Funds Available Starting Today Through the CARES Act
In the face of the current pandemic and ensuing economic crisis, many of our faith communities
—
both Parish and Mission
—
are doing all that they can to sustain their communities and continue their connectedness: missional, pastoral, and financial.
We are all aware of the historic action taken by the federal government to approve and enact the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,
which includes an important source of financing for small businesses and non-profits that provides loan capacity through a qualified lending institution, for which non-profit religious organizations are eligible.
With this in mind, the Bishop, Standing Committee, and the Trustees grant and approve “blanket authority” for parishes and mission faith communities in ECMN to make applications individually for these loans
.
Join a Zoom Conversation at 3pm
Join the Bishop, Treasurer and Vice-President of ECMN Council as they provide more information about these provisions of the CARES Act, and how faith communities can access these funds.
Click here to register.
Reaffirmation of Vows
Resources from the Church Pension Group
Just this morning, we heard again from the Church Pension Group. They outlined several areas in which they will be providing support and relief in response to the challenges individuals and institutions are facing during this pandemic. See the highlights below, and
click here to read the whole email
.
- Effective immediately, the Medical Trust will allow claims for virtual provider appointments and will waive member costs for healthcare plan telehealth services for the rest of the year.
- Until June 30, 2020, CPG will not be cancelling any group benefits or property & casualty insurance coverages or charging interest for failure to make timely payments.
- CPG has begun hosting a series of webinars and other resources on Wellness Amid Uncertainty. They hope you can join for two upcoming events on market volatility that will be hosted by Fidelity on April 27 and 29. Please read the descriptions of these webinars and consider registering to participate.
- Click here for a complete list of all updates from the Church Pension Group.
Know that I’m holding each of you in my prayers as we navigate these truly extraordinary times. I am grateful to each of you for being the hands and feet and voice and heart of Jesus.
Blessings,
