COVID-19: May 27 Update from Co-EP Eliana Maxim
Seattle Presbytery
Dear friends,
Governor Jay Inslee has provided new guidelines for religious services in the state of Washington during Phase 1 and 2 of the Staying Home mandate.
As of today’s date, churches may host an outdoor in-person worship service for up to 100 people. Social distancing and face masks are required.
Once the county moves to Phase 2, indoor worship may be observed with up to 50 participants (or 25% of the building capacity, whichever is the lesser number). Again, social distancing and face masks are required.
Reminder: King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties are still at Phase 1 and are not expected to move to Phase 2 in the near future.
Although the Governor has provided these new guidelines for houses of worship, I want us to remember that central to our faith is our commitment to care for our neighbor. We need to take into consideration that our congregations are made up of a great many individuals categorized as vulnerable either due to age or health. We also need to take into account that the number of new Covid-19 cases each day in King County is still in the double digits, and we have already hit the heartbreaking mark of 100,000 lives lost in this country due to the pandemic. We also know that issues of justice and access have been accentuated as communities of color are more severely impacted by the virus.
Despite “virtual” worship services and Bible studies as well as church facilities left empty, we continue to be church, to serve our communities, and proclaim the good news of the Gospel. There is no rush to leave our safe practices of worship and engagement, only to expose our communities, our congregations, our pastoral leaders, and ourselves to possible illness. We have witnessed what can happen when congregations gather in person despite their best intentions.
“...believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem…” (John 4:21)
Let us continue our practices of worshiping safely while caring for one another and our communities. It’s a matter of faith and justice.
Grace and peace,
Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter