Dear Colleagues,
Grace and peace be with you!
Attached, please find a document outlining my office’s recommended Best Practices for the Safe Resumption of In-Person Worship. We have created this document in response to the many inquiries we have received these past few weeks from rostered ministers and congregational leaders who are contemplating a resumption of in-person worship.
I recognize that some will receive these recommendations as being unduly restrictive or not restrictive enough. This is understandable given the broad geographical expanse of our synod. I do believe, however, that they are appropriate and responsible.
If you have not already done so, please carefully review and examine whatever public health directives are in place for your particular community. Those directives mark the bare minimum of what you must do to help safeguard and protect the health and well-being of those who are physically attendant within our churches.
Finally, I would encourage all of you to actively and enthusiastically promote the use of vaccinations as the best means of ensuring a safe return to the activities that so many of us have missed over the past 17 months.
Thank-you, again, for your faithful efforts to bless, safeguard and preserve the health and well-being of our communities and neighbours.
Blessings and peace,
Bishop Michael