In Short:
With the pandemic scene shifting daily, expert COVID watcher Canon McCarthy and our communications canons will update our online resources, including the diocesan COVID FAQ page, as soon as practicable. For now, five quick points:
- We want churches to feel comfortable resuming socially distanced coffee hour and fellowship times (outside if possible, or in well-ventilated indoor spaces) if food and beverage are offered by servers who are vaccinated, masked, and gloved.
- For now, no congregational singing.
- Think twice about unmasking while offering worship. Still Wear Masks
- Do all you can to offer hospitality for outside meetings, especially twelve-step groups.
- Relying on the reassurance our faith confers that Holy Communion is complete in one kind, and honoring our Anglican tradition of the common cup, we ask our churches not to offer consecrated wine, including in individual servings.
[Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles] Bishop John Harvey Taylor issued a notice on May 14 giving direction regarding in-person worship in light of the May 13 CDC announcement regarding masks and social distancing for vaccinated people.
Although they both have been fully vaccinated, Bishops John Harvey Taylor and Diane Jardine Bruce continue to don masks as a precautionary measure.
My siblings in Christ:
The CDC made our hearts leap with joy on Thursday when it announced that vaccinated people don’t have to wear masks or social distance except in hospitals and in crowded indoor spaces such as public transportation.
But please remember that in California, and all the counties and institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, the usual COVID protocols are still in effect — masks, social distancing, and the county color tiers. Los Angeles is yellow right now. Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties are still orange. Keep track of the semi-liturgical colors here.
State and local officials will soon have more to say about the local impact of the CDC statement. Once they’ve decided, our diocesan Council of Advice and I will offer guidance to our local leadership teams.
If we end up sounding cautious, remember that many of our folks are in high-risk categories. Remember too that according to media reports, the CDC’s announcement was designed in part to encourage vaccination. Just 30% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccine resistance and reluctance persist. Seeing you without your mask, does everyone nearby know you’re vaccinated? Seeing them without theirs, do you know they are? Think especially of those who see you without your mask and worry about their unvaccinated children.
Let’s remember what got us to this encouraging moment.
- Wearing our masks.
- Keeping our distance.
- Getting vaccinated.
- Putting our neighbors and strangers ahead of ourselves, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commanded.
As you are, Bishop Bruce and I are sick of wearing our masks. But we give thanks each day for everyone who wore theirs and helped other people stay well. Who made every day for 14 months an Easter Day by helping keep tombs empty.
Giving thanks for the progress we’ve made against this scourge, remembering all those around the world who lack the blessing of the vaccine that our nation’s wealth and privilege confer, let’s stay the course.
For now: Love your neighbor. Wear your mask.
With the pandemic scene shifting daily, expert COVID watcher Canon McCarthy and our communications canons will update our on-line resources, including the diocesan COVID FAQ page, as soon as practicable. For now, five quick points:
- We want churches to feel comfortable resuming socially distanced coffee hour and fellowship times (outside if possible, or in well-ventilated indoor spaces) if food and beverage are offered by servers who are vaccinated, masked, and gloved.
- For now, no congregational singing.
- Think twice about unmasking while offering worship.
- Do all you can to offer hospitality for outside meetings, especially twelve-step groups.
- Relying on the reassurance our faith confers that Holy Communion is complete in one kind, and honoring our Anglican tradition of the common cup, we ask our churches not to offer consecrated wine, including in individual servings.
Let any of us know if you have questions.
Yours in Christ’s love,
The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor
VII Bishop of Los Angeles
The Bishop’s Council of Advice on Our Safe Return to Physical Presence
The Very Rev. Canon Michael Bamberger
The Very Rev. Peter Browning
The Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce
The Very Rev. Tom Carey
The Very Rev. Canon Ian Davies
The Very Rev. Canon William Dunn
The Very Rev. Gabriel Ferrer
The Very Rev. Canon Mark Kowalewski
The Very Rev. Canon Gregory Larkin
The Very Rev. Jeannie Martz
The Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy
The Rev. Thomas Quijada-Discavage
The Very Rev. Jeanette Repp
The Very Rev. Keith Yamamoto
Canon Richard Zevnik