We have been navigating through challenging and strange
times during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is certain that there is
more for us to face as we move ahead. The life of the church
and our personal lives have been changed in ways we may not yet
fully understand.
It is without question that despite all of the change
and challenges, God has remained steadfast in His love for
us. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday and today and forever. And while we are
all still adjusting from the suspension of in-person gatherings for
worship, fellowship, and ministry, we will need to continue to
adjust and adapt as we provide guidance on what
re-gathering across the Diocese will look like.
As many of you know, a Diocesan
Committee has been hard at work on a re-gathering plan to reopen
churches and church offices. We should all be grateful
to the members of this important Committee: The Rev Canon
Jerry Smith, Chairman, The Rev Steph Britt, The Rev Hugh
Chapman, The Rev Jon Davis, The Rev Adam Greene, The Rev Matt
Marino, The Rev Ronnie Willerer, Rhonda Masters, James Pierce and
Mary Call Proctor.
This reopening cannot be an all at once or
one-size-fits-all approach. The decisions and
the types of gatherings we can consider will depend on the
incidence of the Coronavirus in our many communities and upon the
best guidance of public health officials at all levels. Even as we
begin to regather, we must all be prayerful and nimble as we adjust
course.
Though the State of Florida has lifted or eased some
restrictions, please note that almost all
safeguards are still strongly recommended-including physical
distancing, hygiene and cleaning practices, and limiting
gatherings. As the Committee approached the
guidelines it seemed appropriate to break it into
phases. I ask that you please read the
phases carefully and with an open mind and heart, knowing that we
all long to be together in our churches again but knowing, too,
that we ought to be cautious out of love for our
neighbor.
Regathering will be more complicated in some of our
churches than in others, and I expect some congregations will be
ready to reopen before others. The
Diocesan Guidelines will not solve every problem or address every
situation. Early next week we will
have an online resource center that will address frequently asked
questions and ways to contact the Diocesan Office if you have
specific questions.
Week after week I continue to be encouraged by the signs
of hope and by the ingenuity, hard work and optimism of our clergy
and parishioners. I have seen a core commonality across
churches in our diocese, big and small, city and
rural: Everyone of us feels that worship
matters to us, and that being together as the Body of Christ truly
is at the very core of our life.
visit website | Watch Video: Our Regathering Plan: Next steps and important considerations
download document | Regathering Guidelines
download document | Regathering Cover Letter