March 24, 2021
Thank you once again for resilient, courageous and faithful leadership in this pandemic. Because of your leadership, the mission of the church has continued. You have fed thousands, sheltered the homeless, opened your parish halls to children needing Wi-Fi for school, and communicated the Good News of Jesus through Zoom, live streaming and outdoor liturgy in parking lots. You have stayed in touch with parishioners who don't have computers with letters and phone calls. I am so inspired by you. History will remember the lives you saved and the grace you conveyed.
Understandably, many are asking, "When will our churches re-open?" Our churches never closed. We necessarily suspended indoor worship and indoor gatherings. God was worshipped with great energy and creativity in this last year. Jesus' mission of mercy, compassion and hope was present among us in powerful ways.
We long to see one another and pray together in our church buildings. In my last communication, I asserted that there is reason to hope we can gather together indoors after Easter, in small groups and in some church contexts. We closed buildings because of science and now we are moving toward re-opening based on science-not just because we are all so very weary of this pandemic. Vaccinations continue at a much improved pace. Although infections have not decreased in recent weeks, they have leveled off and hospitalizations and deaths have continued to decline. I encourage and support outdoor worship on Easter Sunday for congregations that feel ready to regather in-person. After Easter, some congregations will begin indoor worship attending to the most current measures of public safety. With regard to the distribution of Holy Communion, the sacrament of Baptism and Pastoral Care, the Expanded Guidelines for Stage 2 remain helpful.
I fully support those church leaders who cannot have indoor worship at this time. You know your context. Your church building might be too small to gather safely. Perhaps it does not have proper ventilation. Your community might be an "at risk" population. Your priest might not yet be vaccinated. There might be anxiety about doing this now. Given these concerns, it is better for some of our congregations to wait. Some church leaders have told me they will continue with outdoor worship or live streaming until the fall. That is a good and wise plan, too.
If you have gotten some feedback on your regathering plan, "go for it." If you are creating a plan for the first time, I suggest you run it by a colleague. My staff, the regional deans, and I are all here for you to talk these decisions through with you.
With gratitude for all you have already done, with prayers for your continued love and care for the safety and health of God's people, and with constant commitment to Jesus Mission, yours in Christ,
+Doug
