Updated: March 17, 2021
Latest Pandemic-Related Articles
Bishop Davenport continues to call on congregations to make safety a priority in determining whether to gather online, outdoors, or indoors. Loving our neighbors calls us to take care not to increase risks to our neighborhoods, our worshippers, or our worship leaders. |
This guidance assumes that worshippers who gather
The bishop recommends that worship leaders and congregants gathering in-person adhere to the CDC’s advice to wear two masks.
Ecumenical Consultation documents:
Realtime Trendlines for the Region
Current Recommendations for Philadelphia Metro Region
Guidelines For Virtual Congregational Meetings
Pennsylvania does not set or enforce occupancy limits for worship services. We note, however, that the virus behaves similarly in houses of worship as in other businesses. Our faith calls us to be cautious to protect people at risk of serious outcomes in our congregations and in the communities that we serve.
Currently Pennsylvania limits indoor community gatherings under 2,000 people to 10% of the venue’s fire code occupancy. Theaters, for comparison, are limited to 50% of maximum occupancy. This assumes that facilities take steps to address ventilation and assure cleaning in between uses.
Congregations will have to make a judgment call based on their demographics, the preparedness of their facility, and the situation in their community. We recommend adhering to the state limits and moving toward the lower end of the 10% to 50% range when possible.
The Consultation’s guidance recommends determining local risk with data from the COVID Act Now website, https://covidactnow.org.
COVID Act Now is an independent non-profit that works with Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security, Stanford University Clinical Excellence Research Center, and Harvard Global Health Institute, and aggregates data from federal, state and local sources.
Considerations for Reopening Churches
Bishop Davenport continues to urge congregations to err on the side of safety when determining if and when to return to in-person worship. Bringing people together affects not just the rostered ministers, worship leaders and congregants of a church but, because such gatherings have the potential to be “super-spreader” events, the households, workplaces, and communities to which people return are also affected.
The experience of regions of our state and nation show that the incidence of COVID-19 in a community can change suddenly and significantly. Recognize that all decisions are provisional and may need to be changed as disease rates and public-health guidance is updated.
The medical community is still learning about COVID-19. We are still in the early stages of what could be a prolonged battle against this pandemic. Information and guidance changes rapidly. Please consult the web pages of the World Health Organization, the CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health before making plans.
Highlights of what we do know*:
*This information is gleaned from government, academic, and media sources and does not constitute official guidelines of the Synod. Be sure to consult official sources in your decision-making process.
Latest Pandemic-Related Articles
Under the commonwealth’s order for employees to telework when possible, synod staff are working remotely most of the time. The staff is working hard from home and channels of communication (phone, email) are the same. The staff is in regular touch to coordinate efforts.
CDC Considerations for Communities of Faith
CDC Information About Variants
CDC Indicators of Community Transmission metrics for reopening schools
CDC Guidance for Community Organizations and Gatherings
Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Early Warning Dashboard
CDC Events and Gatherings Readiness and Planning Tool
Video: Preparing Heating/Cooling Systems — On Oct. 1, our communicators group was joined by Mr. Dennis Smith, manager of buildings and grounds at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale. Dennis shared with us good information about airflow requirements, ways to improve ventilation in enclosed spaces, and other considerations in reopening church facilities.
Updated: March 17, 2021 by Bob Fisher