Email from Bishop Ken to the Clergy and Churches in the Diocese:
Dear Clergy and Churches in the DRM,
In thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic and how we should respond, the verse that has come to mind is Proverbs 21:3, “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” It does not say that since victory rests with the Lord, there is no need to get the horse ready. This is the call to wise preparation and trusting in the Lord. We do what we do knowing that he is the one who holds all things in his hands, which means that we are not operating out of fear. And we are still called to “get the horse ready for battle” – we are still called to wise preparation.
Wise preparation and trusting the Lord shapes what we do as we gather as the church (in worship), and what we do as we scatter as the church (as a Kingdom presence in this world). We love our neighbors who live with higher risk, and the medical professionals caring for them, by doing our part to slow the spread of this virus.
We know much more than we did a few weeks ago about COVID-19, and it’s important to keep up with the facts (available at cdc.gov – I recommend that you subscribe to email updates from the CDC about COVID-19).
- The virus manifests in symptoms more slowly than the flu, making containment highly difficult.
- COVID-19 patients end up infecting more people than normal flu patients (2-2.5 on average).
- Because of the lack of testing, it is hard to get an accurate mortality rate (South Korea, for example, with extensive testing has a low mortality rate because they have found many more mild cases).
- The disease appears particularly dangerous for the elderly, those with chronic conditions, and the immunocompromised.
We have a diverse and spread out diocese. We have churches that are at epicenters of outbreaks and we have churches in states with no known cases (current trends indicate that might not last long).
First of all, there are things that apply across the board.
- Follow the guidance of your local health authorities
- Practice safe hygiene (see previous email).
- Self-quarantine when sick. If you or any in your congregation are sick at all with a respiratory illness or fever, stay home for the duration of the illness plus a few days afterwards. It may just be a cold: but it may not, and it is an act of love to not expose others. The same applies for kids: please don’t bring them if they have had a fever in the last 24 hours, even if the fever has been medicated.
The following guidelines are provisional – and may change as the situation changes. You may choose to move to a guideline that is “higher,” but you may not opt for a guideline that is “lower” (i.e., if there are known cases in your area, you may not choose to do worship as if there are no known cases).
How We Gather
Stage one – no known cases in your area
Passing the Peace
Inform your congregation that a hug is safer than shaking hands (a side-hug is even better), and that it is perfectly acceptable to do an elbow bump or to pat on the back.
Communion
Past studies by microbiologists have shown that you are more likely to get sick from opening the door to the church or standing in line for a movie than you are from communion. Those same studies have shown that sipping from a common cup is actually safer than dipping from a common cup. In the past, the CDC has said that theoretically there is a risk in sipping from a common cup, but the risk is so small it’s probably undetectable.
However, encourage those who are vulnerable (the immunocompromised, those having other health risks, or the elderly), to receive in one kind – just the bread. This is still a full encounter with Jesus. Make that option available to all.
All who handle and administer the bread are to sanitize their hands before handling the bread (following CDC recommendations) and are not to touch the face or mouth during the celebration or administration of Holy Communion. In giving the bread, make sure to drop the bread into the communicant’s hands without touching their hands.
As stated in the previous email, wash your hands well before and after each service).
Stage two – known cases in your area
Passing the Peace
Human touch is important – so be creative in how to exchange the peace, like an elbow bump, without shaking hands or hugging. You may opt, at this point, to not have the Peace in your service or to have it without physical contact.
Communion
Communion is to be administered using the Bread only until further notice. All who handle and administer the bread are to sanitize their hands before handling the bread (following CDC recommendations) and are not to touch the face or mouth during the celebration or administration of Holy Communion. In giving the bread, make sure to drop the bread into the communicant’s hands without touching their hands. Let people know that they can also come forward and receive a blessing if they don’t want to partake at all.
Encourage the vulnerable to stay home.
However, care must be taken so that the vulnerable don’t feel isolated. You need to find ways to connect and support those who are not participating in worship. The Rev. Ken Robertson wrote:
But in the midst of these practices of distancing, we dare not lose our tangible connections to one another. Gathering together is a sign of the gospel, because God has gathered us to himself and to one another. In a culture where loneliness and a lack of community are already an epidemic, these isolating practices may actually create different kinds of difficulties. In short, we are very concerned about the potential side effects of isolation.
Therefore, we want to move from a paradigm of “social distancing” to “social focusing.” In other words, how can we create more focused opportunities for fellowship, practical help, and perhaps even worship (if it comes to that) for those who are isolated from the body’s primary Sunday gathering?
Stage three – epicenter of an outbreak
or somebody in the congregation has tested positive for COVID-19.
Follow local health guidelines which may prohibit gatherings over certain sizes.
If you do gather, omit the passing of the peace.
The preference is to not have communion at all – dismissing the service where you would normally have the Peace or opting for Morning Prayer. If there is a strong desire to have communion, follow the directions above.
You may want to record or live-stream the sermon.
How we Scatter
The current situation is an opportunity for us to live into the Kingdom values of being generous instead of hoarding, of serving instead of being concerned only for our own well-being. We are not to be caught or driven by fear – we are to be compelled by the love of Christ. This means that we act out of wisdom and trusting God as we seek to meet the needs of those around us affected physically, socially, or financially by this virus. This is where we get to live out what it means to be the Church, to be His presence in this world. Prayerfully look for those opportunities.
I am continuing with my scheduled travels, but I am monitoring the situation and will adjust my travel plans accordingly.
I am thankful for you and that we get to engage in this Kingdom work together.
+Ken