Dear Friends in Christ,

This afternoon, Gov. Walz extended the Stay at Home Order until May 18th. In light of the Governor's updated order, all ECMN faith communities are asked to continue offering ministries and worship services online only, and to continue to refrain from gathering until the Stay at Home Order is lifted. You can click here to listen to the Governor's address in full, and click here to read the executive order.

The State of Minnesota will be using this time to continue to build its capacity test all symptomatic individuals, isolate positive cases and trace those individual's contacts, protect those at heightened risk, build needed hospital capacity, and procure critical care supplies.

In the words of our Presiding Bishop, Micheal Curry, “I’ve seen this church stand for the moral primacy of love. I’ve seen it, even when public health concerns supersede all other considerations, including in-person worship. That is moral courage.  Who knows but that love may demand more of us. But fear not, just remember what the old slaves use to say: walk together, children, and don’t you get weary, because there is a great camp meeting in the Promised Land. Oh, I’ve seen us do what we never thought we would or could do, because we dared to do what Jesus tells us all to do.” Click here to read the full message from the Presiding Bishop .

The key question for all of us to keep asking in this moment is: what does love look like? Right now, love looks like staying at home to protect one another, those on the front lines, and the most vulnerable. 

During the briefing, Gov. Walz offered some helpful framing for what we might expect as leaders in faith communities. It’s possible, based on the metrics that state officials begin to see as testing increases, that Gov. Walz may move to lift certain portions of the Stay at Home order prior to May 18th. See the graphic below to gain a better understanding of how state officials are framing the process of returning to various aspects of daily life.
While we still don't know when the 'dial will be turned up' in any of these areas, it can be helpful to understand the progression that will be followed as restrictions are lifted.

Plans for a Phased Re-Opening

Figuring out how to re-open will demand even more creativity, flexibility, effort, and cooperation as it does to prepare for our long Minnesota winters.

In the coming days and weeks, ECMN will be providing more information and direction so that faith communities can begin to plan a phased re-opening of ministries and services.  To be clear, based on the directives of the Governor, we are not yet ready to actually enact these plans . However, we understand that a great deal of effort, time, and care will be needed to put plans in place for each phase of re-opening.

Click here for a pdf that lays out the phases of re-opening, and click here for a recording of a webinar in which these phases were introduced.
More Resources

For now, we recommend to you the resources on the COVID-19 Response page on the ECMN website . These resources are updated regularly and represent a wealth of resources, information, and support.

Please also consider attending two webinars next week:

Livestream with Dr. Michael Osterholm
Tuesday May 5th, 2pm
Next Tuesday, May 5 at 2pm, we encourage you to view the livestream of a discussion hosted by the Minnesota Council of Churches between Lutheran synod leaders and Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Osterholm will help faith leaders make informed decisions about when and how to begin to resume in-person gatherings. At 2pm next Tuesday, May 5th, please view the livestream on the ELCA's Minneapolis Area Synod facebook page .

Weekly Webinar with Bishop and Bishop-Elect
Thursday May 7th, 12pm
Bishop Prior and Bishop-elect Loya will be hosting a weekly webinar to update everyone on the situation as it unfolds, and we will invite different voices to provide perspective and help us all plan during these three weeks and beyond. Next week's webinar will be bumped from Tuesday to Thursday, May 7 at 12pm, where we will review any new guidelines released by the Governor's office and discuss reopening our faith communities. Please click here to register.


We know that this time is hard in so many ways. We are praying for you ceaselessly, and are heartened in the knowledge that we are one beloved community, people of abundance, the heart and voice of Jesus when the world so desperately needs us.

Blessings,
Bishop Brian N. Prior
Bishop-elect Craig Loya