As we approach Holy Week, Bishop Eaton invites the church to join a diverse group of Christians in witness to our common faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Category: Public Health
April 3, 2020
Bishop Eaton: We Remain United
As we approach Holy Week, Bishop Eaton invites the church to join a diverse group of Christians in witness to our common faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
April 2, 2020
Recommendation: Discontinue Gathering To Live Stream
April 2, 2020 Colleagues, With increasing concern about aerosol spread of the COVID-19 virus and news such as this and this, and reports that the government will recommend wearing masks in public, we strongly recommend that you discontinue gathering a group of worship leaders together to record/live stream your worship service. We make this recommendation...
March 31, 2020
Bishop Eaton on COVID-19 Response
During these times of COVID-19/Coronavirus, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton provides some thoughts as many of us are quarantined.
March 31, 2020
Options For Churches Under Federal CARES Act
Congress has passed three acts recently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latter two, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), provide significant assistance that is available to churches, religious organizations and their employees. The FFCRA requires employers to provide paid sick leave...
March 29, 2020
Churches and Coronavirus Relief
Rostered ministers, Bishop Davenport shares information on potential financial assistance for ministers and churches via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act. ELCA General Counsel Tom Cunniff has advised bishops that the recently passed stimulus act has several provisions that are available to churches and church employees during the coronavirus...
March 28, 2020
Daily Bread, Hunger Grant Information
Dear partners and friends of ELCA World Hunger, Since we announced the opening of the 2021 Domestic Hunger Grant application on March 10, the reality of how we address hunger in this country and around the world has shifted drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of you have already begun the hard work of...
March 28, 2020
ELCA Responds with Hunger Grants
March 27, 2020 Dear church, The last couple of weeks have been trying ones for everyone across this church. Our synods, congregations and ministries are facing challenges that they’ve never faced before. Being church together means more now than ever before. The churchwide office is launching a comprehensive Covid-19 response across the ELCA beginning today....
March 24, 2020
Staying Connected
March 24, 2020 Greetings Beloved, Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who can do all things but fail, Jesus Christ! This is my usual salutation, oh, but these are not usual times. The Coronavirus and COVID-19 has us as Christians, the disciples of Christ, us as the children of the...
March 18, 2020
Bishop: Churches Should Comply With Governor’s Order
Beloved, I’m sure you aware that Governor Wolf ordered that all non-essential business in Pennsylvania need to close, effective March 17, for two weeks. This is part of the ongoing mitigation efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. My colleague, Bishop Michael Rhyne of Allegheny Synod, shares that their synod’s attorney informed them that...
March 13, 2020
Pastoral Message: Prepare, Take Care, and Pray
Care for our neighbors means we should not make the virus spread worse. March 13, 2020 Dear Beloved, Do not be afraid! The public health situation with coronavirus and COVID-19 in Southeastern Pennsylvania is serious, but not a cause for panic. We are bombarded with anxiety from schools closing, new cases reported, financial worry, and concern...
March 7, 2020
ELCA presiding bishop addresses concerns about COVID-19
In 1527 the plague returned to Wittenberg, Germany. Two hundred years earlier the plague had swept across Europe killing up to 40% of the population. Understandably, people were anxious and wondered what a safe and faithful response might be. In answer to this, Martin Luther wrote “Whether One May Flee From a Deadly Plague.” In...
March 5, 2020
ELCA Issues Congregation Checklist, Worship Guidance for Coronavirus
While the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is not currently having significant impacts in Southeastern Pennsylvania, the news (and misinformation) about the spread of the virus is creating worry and anxiety in many communities. On March 3 we received via Lutheran Disaster Response a preparation checklist for congregations and ELCA worship guidance, “Worship in Times of Public Health...
