May 14, 2021: Covid-19 Updates

Commission on Ministry and Presbytery Leadership:
Guidance in Light of Latest CDC Announcement Regarding Fully-Vaccinated Individuals

The recent increase in images of outdoor services has reflected our deepest hope and desire to gather together in person.  For many, after a very difficult fifteen months or more, the latest announcement related to fully vaccinated individuals from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is welcome and very good news. It is an understatement to say we are eager to ease back into our in-person worshiping life. As we work on the best method for our individual congregations, we strongly recommend churches and ministries in our midst to continue to do so cautiously. We, as the body of Christ, are called to care for those most vulnerable among us. While recommendations and CDC guidance changes, this gospel witness remains the same. We do not worship in isolation and, therefore, cannot guarantee everyone in our pews will have yet been vaccinated.  Currently, only about a third of Pennsylvanian residents are fully vaccinated.

Please consider this as a transitional period.  As such, the Presbytery urges continued care, caution, and thoughtfulness. We hope that soon we will be able to be more relaxed about the precautions taken in this pandemic season; until we can be assured that ALL will be safe, we need to remember that we all are God’s children and are called to care for one another.  Even as the state and local governing entities loosen restrictions, please be mindful that our congregants worship in different jurisdictions from where they live.

We are grateful for all of our Sessions and Task Force, which have leaned into guiding their congregations and making difficult decisions over the course of the pandemic.  May we, together, continue to discern a way forward for our life together as a covenant community of faith in Philadelphia and the surrounding regions. Let us continue to worship the Lord with a joyful noise –and know that no safety cloth can stop God from hearing and loving us.

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