A Reflection on Events at our Nation's Capital

In the video below, Bishop Doug shares a short reflection on the events today at the United States Capital.

---

Presiding Bishop Curry - Call to Prayer for the Nation 1/6/21

Today is January the 6th, 2021. It is the Feast of the Epiphany. And on this particular day at this particular moment, even as our nation’s capital is being endangered and assaulted, we pray that the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that God, in his Way of Love, might prevail in all of our hearts.

The events at our Capitol today are deeply disturbing. We believe the actions of armed protesters represent a coup attempt. We are a democracy, with long-standing institutional norms that must be honored, foremost among them, following the processes laid out in the Constitution and Federal statute to facilitate the peaceful and orderly transition of power.

Today’s protesters pushed through police barricades and forced their way into Congressional chambers, and the Capitol building are now threatened, and threatening the safety of lawmakers, their staff, and others who work in the Capitol complex. This threatens the integrity of our democracy. The national security of our nation, the continuity of government, and the lives and safety of our legislators, their staffs, law enforcement, and all who work in the Capitol.

I therefore ask you now to join me in prayer for our nation, praying first from the prayers that accompany Morning Prayer:

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold us now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name forever.
Lord, keep us from sin today;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.
- Morning Prayer II, Book of Common Prayer, p. 98

Let us pray:

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered together under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one God and Creator of us all; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever.
- For Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815

Oh God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your son. Look now with compassion on the entire human family; and particularly this part of the family, in the United States, and those in our nation’s capital; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- For the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815

On this day and at this moment, we pray for our nation. We ask God to heal us, to show us the way to healing, to show us the way to be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.

And now, may the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be on you and on this nation and on the entire human family and all of creation this moment and forevermore.
Amen.

Episcopal eNews for January 2021

Click this link to access the January 2021 enewsletter.

OGR Priorities for the New Congress and Administration

On Sunday, members of the 117th Congress were sworn in. This new Congress is the most diverse in U.S history in terms of race and ethnicity, including having a record number of Blackand Indigenous women in Congress. There are more women in Congress than at any other time in history, as well as record numbers of the LGBTQ community.

Members of Congress have their work cut out for them in the coming months. While Congress passed the appropriations and stimulus bill at the end of the year (which the President thankfully signed), many of the benefits in the stimulus bill expire in March. Congress will need to address a dizzying array of domestic concerns and international crises. And members across the political spectrum will want to take action on the promises they campaigned on, ranging from addressing racial injustice and enacting police reform to ending corruption and bringing back jobs.

A new Congress and new Administration presents The Episcopal Church with the opportunity to highlight our values and to speak up for the way we think our country should be governed. The first 100 days of the presidency do matter (see an article from FiveThirtyEight here and the work of political scientist Casey Byrne Knudsen Dominguez here), and the new Administration has an ambitious agenda. We are hopeful that our government will be able to rise to the challenge and enact meaningful legislation that helps all Americans. We will continue to engage on areas where the Church has spoken, including:

Creation Care: The Episcopal Church supports policies that protect the natural resources that sustain all life on Earth. In recognition that loving God and our neighbor includes caring for God’s creation and the environment where our neighbor lives, OGR advocates for policies that protect the natural world and that promote a healthy, clean, and safe environment for all. Our advocacy includes greenhouse gas emission reduction, a just transition away from fossil fuel energy, and safeguards to protect clean water and clean air. 

Racial Reconciliation: OGR challenges long-established policies that perpetuate systemic racism and injustice and strives to change legislation that continues to harm Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color. The Episcopal Church aims to bring a perspective of transformation to public policy to heal communities that have been the most marginalized and discriminated against.

Ending Poverty: OGR advocates for policies that will eliminate poverty and help people live with dignity, both in the U.S. and internationally. OGR advocates for federal programs that provide development assistance and humanitarian relief, including education and healthcare initiatives, as well as support for social safety net programs, care for veterans, and other U.S.-focused anti-poverty initiatives. 

Immigration and Refugees: We advocate for comprehensive immigration reform through policies that respect the dignity and worth of every human being. OGR works to protect the human rights and safety of refugees by supporting the refugee resettlement work of Episcopal Migration Ministries and advocating for robust refugee resettlement policies.

Human Rights and Peacebuilding: The Church supports legislation and policies that protect human rights and prevent atrocities, promote gender justice, and build peace. OGR partners with non-U.S. Episcopal dioceses and provinces throughout the Anglican Communion to work towards justice.

We will also push for an ambitious response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including accelerating vaccination for the most vulnerable and helping to encourage the general public to take the vaccine following guidance from public health experts. We thank you for your commitment to public policy advocacy and look forward to our partnership in the year ahead!

With best wishes in this Christmastide and New Year,

The Office of Government Relations (OGR)

-shared from https://episcopalchurch.org/posts/ogr/ogr-priorities-new-congress-and-administration

A Financial Update from the Diocesan Council

Watch the video below as Bishop Doug provides an update from Diocesan Council regarding Diocesan Assessment Relief for January 2021 and 2021 cost of living increases for clergy.

Honduras Hurricane Relief Update

The Diocese of Northern Indiana has sent off to the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras, as of last Monday, December, $9750!  Thanks to all who have contributed and we are still accepting money for this special need.  Here are the words of Bishop Allen, sent December 16:

Dear Bp. Sparks and John,

Greetings and peace to you both and the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Northern Indiana.

First of all, allow me to express my gratitude and appreciation for assisting us during this time of great need after the devastation of repeat hurricanes ETA and IOTA, SPECIALLY IN THE SULA VALLEY.

We are still providing clothing, food, mattresses and biosecurity and cleaning materials thanks to your support and that ER-D and other friends.  We are making a difference and supporting the families who after a month have not seen or heard from the government. Therefore, churches and NGO's have taken responsibility and are doing the best we can. This weekend we will gather enough relief to take to 65 families northwest of San Pedro Sula.

The international community are beginning to come to our rescue; we are in this for a long time. 

As of yesterday I spoke to Randy Smith [John’s note: he is head of the Honduras Development Network—through which our funds arrive in Honduras for the relief effort] for a report on how much contribution we have received so far. We need to repair our Retreat and Convention Center and a few homes AFFECTED BY THE STORMS.

Once again, on behalf of the clergy and laity of the diocese, MUCHAS GRACIAS POR SU AYUDA.

[John again: you can send your contribution to the Diocese of Northern Indiana, 117 North LaFayette Blvd, South Bend, IN 46601.  Mark your check for Honduran Relief.  Thanks!]

Submitted by: The Rev. John Schramm on behalf of Compañeros en Cristo

OGR Advocacy Newsletter December 2020

December 16, 2020

Dear Friends,

Advent is a season that teaches us to wait well, and we are all waiting for what’s next. We are waiting to put 2020 behind us. We are waiting for a new Administration and new Congressional session to take the reins of our government. We are waiting for the vaccine to be ready, for the pandemic to be over, and to hold those we love close to us again. Many of us are waiting in grief over loved ones we’ve lost or waiting in worry for those who are sick. Yet, we are waiting as we always do at this time of year – waiting for Christmas, for the Christ Child to arrive and to transform the world. We are waiting always for the second Advent, for Christ’s return, waiting for the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.

This is a time that allows for reflection on what we are doing to build the beloved community. You will see below a review of the work that we have done together over this past year – from alerts that you may have acted on, to statements and sign-on letters we joined raising the voice of The Episcopal Church in the public square. We also take some time to summarize some key resolutions from General Convention and tie together our advocacy with work on corporate social responsibility.

In the New Year, we have several new projects planned including a weekly “network call”. On these calls (which will be Zoom meetings!), we will provide updates on what we are working on, what we are hearing from Capitol Hill, and provide some background information on that week’s action alert. Above all, we want this to be a chance to hear from you. Stay tuned—we hope you will join us.

We also look forward to sharing our priorities for the 117th Congress and the new Administration with you, including letters we have signed on to as part of coalitions urging the upcoming Biden Administration to take swift action on critical issues. Thank you, as always, to you our network members. Your advocacy makes a difference, and you are helping The Episcopal Church to carry out our public witness.

OGR “Behind-the-Scenes” Advocacy

OGR staff have worked directly with grassroots and grasstops leaders throughout the Church to push for Congressional action, most especially on COVID relief. We are so grateful to all of those who took the time to meet with us, to meet with Members, and to meet with Congressional staff. This behind-the-scenes advocacy can be the most impactful and allows us to engage across Congress in strategic ways while working with Episcopalians who are constituents of the members we meet with. We are grateful for all the partnerships and dedicated staff work that makes these meetings happen.

All of our advocacy is based on the resolutions of the Church. The Episcopal Church has a long history of advocating on healthcare issues, and you can find here a Summary of Episcopal Church Policy and Advocacy on Healthcare in the United States. For an update on immigration issues, you can review this update from August and a statement on abuses in detention facilities here: Statement on Reported Abuses of Immigration Enforcement and Detention Centers.

OGR Action Alerts

Over the past many months, almost all of our action alerts have focused on the pandemic – in particular boosting SNAP, federal support to states, and international assistance - urging Congress to take action and help all of those in need. Despite these efforts, and several instances when it seemed Congress would be able to move forward, we have still not seen Congressional action for more than half a year. Our action alerts are still active – we urge you to continue to take action until Congress provides relief!

Urge Congress to Pass COVID relief before year end
Support International Relief for COVID-19

Sign-on Letters

The Episcopal Church, with the guidance of OGR, continues to raise its voice with our secular and faith-based partners in policy areas where we think we can make a positive difference. The letters we sign on to serve the purpose of helping policymakers understand our Christian witness and demonstrating to them the power of broad and diverse coalitions in the fight to ensure a more just and compassionate society. Please find below a list of our letters since the publication of our last newsletter in July.

• Circle of Protection letter to Congress on need for year-end COVID relief

• Clean water access during COVID-19

• Religious Organizations Admonish United States’ Formal Exit from Paris Climate Agreement

• Statement of the Ecumenical Network on South Sudan for International Peace Day

• Faith leaders' statement on integrity, safety, and fairness in the 2020 U.S. election

• Request for Investigation on Misconduct and Mistreatment of Unaccompanied Children in the US During the Removal Process

• Faithful Democracy coalition letter urging the Senate to provide sufficient Census and election funding in the next COVID-19 legislation

• Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition Letter on Boosting Medicaid Assistance for People with Disabilities

• Interfaith Request to DHS for a) an 18-Month Extension and Redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan and b) 18-month designation of DED or TPS for Lebanon

• Letter to Senate Calling for Just and Reasonable Phone Service Rates for Incarcerated People Necessary During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs letter on prioritizing vulnerable individuals and communities with relief in the next COVID-19 legislation

• Circle of Protection letter calling on Congress to enact measures that help the poor and the most vulnerable

A Year in Review: Election and Census Work

Alan Yarborough led OGR’s work on the Census and the 2020 Election. He mailed out thousands of #VoteFaithfully stickers and magnets, developed resources, toolkits, and promotional materials through both new and old partnerships with faith-based and secular organizations. He helped to plan and host webinars, alongside other OGR staff, to make sure Episcopalians knew about deadlines for registration, had information on early and mail-in voting, and understood the importance of the 2020 Census. The work – and the partnerships we all relied on – created some incredible engagement from our network and beyond. Thank you!

EPPN Election Educational and Webinar Series: This fall, we released an election education series as well as two webinars focusing on various aspects of the election process in the U.S. Check out each of the educational series here: Election Process Integrity, Voter Access, and What to Expect When You're Electing.

Check out the webinar series here: Empowering the Vote: Voices from the Church, Voting Beyond 2020: You vote Nov. 3, now what?

EPPN Census Series: What Happens Next?: In an installment of our series on the U.S. Census, we discussed the implications of COVID-19 for the administration and enumeration of this year’s Census, whose results will be publicly released in the new year.

OGR Resources

2020 was a year like no other that was epitomized by a once-in-a-century pandemic and historic demonstrations for racial justice. In the midst of these unprecedented circumstances, the Office of Government Relations has continued to amplify the positions of the Church directly to the U.S. government. We cannot do that work alone, and we rely strongly on your skills and persistence in advocating alongside us and the partners we connect with. To help improve Episcopalians’ capacity for advocacy, we have shared the following resources with our network.

An updated Faith and Citizenship Guide for Advocacy seeks to help you fulfill your baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace. While it is focused on the federal level, the advocacy tips and tactics we recommend throughout the guide are applicable to state and local advocacy as well.

The Postcard Project invites Episcopalians to engage in “slow advocacy” to shift the focus from reactionary outreach to long-term, big-picture strategy and relationship building with government officials. Use this guide to create advocacy events in your congregation.

The EPPN Ambassador Program is a curated group of Episcopalians across the Church who help amplify our messaging on advocacy, education, and civic engagement. We are slowly building this program with the goal of one ambassador in each diocese. We’d love to have you join this group of brand ambassadors to help get more folks advocating with us.

We now have our disinformation resource available in Spanish: La información errónea, la desinformación y las noticias falsa: ¿Por qué nos importa?

As always, we are very grateful for the tenacious advocacy of our EPPN network. 2020 has assuredly had its fair share of challenges. But we’ve come this far by faith – leaning on the Lord and trusting in God's holy word. Onward!

Yours faithfully,

The Washington Office

Reposted from The Office of Government Relations

Podcast - Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community

New for Advent 2020 is a five-session podcast series, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, Episcopal Church staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. Prophetic Voices explores where that dialogue intersects with faith. Join Brokenleg and invited guests as they share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice. Learn more about this podcast here.

Hurricane Relief Aid Needed for Diocese of Honduras

Update: Since this request was received, another hurricane maybe even stronger than Eta, hit Honduras this week, threatening another catastrophe on top of the original—third catastrophe if we include COVID.

Nov. 12, 2020

Dear Northern Indiana Diocesan Family:

You have probably heard news reports by now on the devastation caused by Hurricane and then tropical storm Eta.  Even now its remnants are soaking parts of Florida, but a week ago it was causing catastrophic damage to parts of Honduras.  San Pedro Sula, where the Episcopal Cathedral, El Buen Pastor, is located, was especially inundated, since all of the rains in the mountains flow down and collect there.  The airport our teams flew into was flooded, inside and out—by several feet according to the pictures.  A town named La Lima, close by, was particularly hard hit—waters up to the eaves of houses and everything inside lost.  There are roads and bridges destroyed and travel is impossible between certain locations.

The Bishop of Honduras has made the Cathedral a center for storing supplies and distributing them to those in need.  I am waiting to hear more particularly, but I know now that the need for money to buy supplies will be great. 

Therefore I ask you to send a contribution, if you are able, to the Diocese of Northern Indiana, marked Compañeros en Cristo, the name of our companion relationship committee.  It is sometimes forgotten that the Diocese of Honduras has been in companionship with us since 1997.  All funds sent to the Diocese marked with this committee name will be sent on to the Bishop in Honduras.

Please give as you are able.  I will update you as I hear more.  It seems urgent to get money to Honduras as soon as possible.

Blessings!

Fr John Schramm, on behalf of Compañeros en Cristo

EDNIN Partners in two Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations Grants

The Lilly Endowment has awarded the Episcopal Diocese of Indiana two Thriving Congregation Initiative grants in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis and the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Watch Bishop Doug’s announcement below!

The first grant is in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis has been awarded a three-year, $1 million grant by Lilly Endowment Inc. to establish a joint program with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana titled “Maximizing Church Building Assets in Advancement of Mission and Ministry.” Learn more by reading the press release from the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.

The second grant is in partnership with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the ELCA as well as United Church of Christ, Presbyterian USA, and Episcopal churches located in Indiana and Kentucky. The Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has received a grant of $994,255 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish an ecumenical expansion of Connect Transformational Ministry Process. Funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, the aim of the national initiative is to strengthen Christian congregations so they can help people deepen their relationships with God, build strong relationships with each other and contribute to the flourishing of local communities and the world. Learn more by reading the press release from the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

About the Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations Initiative
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is one of 92 organizations taking part in the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations initiative. The 92 organizations represent and serve churches in a broad spectrum of Christian traditions, including Anabaptist, Baptist, Episcopal, evangelical, Lutheran, Methodist, Mennonite, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Reformed, Restoration, Roman Catholic and Orthodox, as well as congregations that describe themselves as nondenominational. Several organizations serve congregations in Black, Hispanic and Asian-American traditions.

“In the midst of a rapidly changing world, Christian congregations are grappling with how they can best carry forward their ministries,” said Christopher Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “These grants will help congregations assess their ministries and draw on practices in their theological traditions to address new challenges and better nurture the spiritual vitality of the people they serve.”

Lilly Endowment launched the Thriving Congregations Initiative in 2019 as part of its commitment to support efforts that enhance the vitality of Christian congregations.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment exists to support the causes of religion, education and community development. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s grantmaking in religion is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen their pastoral and lay leadership.

Pastoral Letter - Update Regarding In-Person Worship

Update: Per guidance from Gov. Holcomb, if the state has labeled your county as orange, then no more than 50 people are permitted for an in-person gathering. If your county is labeled as red, then no more than 25 people are permitted for an in-person gathering.

24 September 2020 

Dear Sisters, Brothers, Siblings, 

Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, the Light for all people! 

As of 13 September, we have lived with the consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic for 6 months.  Those consequences include, as of today in the United States, 7,135,603 persons who have tested positive with COVID 19 and 206,482 deaths due to COVID 19.  Other consequences include the loss of employment for millions which has led the loss of health insurance not to mention the challenges for many trying to navigate online learning for their children as well as working remotely themselves or caring for a loved one in a care facility.  Along the way, our missioners and I have done our best to consult with others about best practices, develop our Plan for Regathering for In-person Worship initially adopted in mid-May and identify platforms to enhance the information available regarding all of the data and measurements used to determine a way forward for us. 

In late March, I convened a Diocesan Disaster / Crisis Team comprised of Canon Terri Bays, Canon Carol Bianchini, Canon Christopher Hillak, Canon Michelle Walker and Bishop Frank Gray.  We began meeting weekly via ZOOM on 6 April.  I want to thank each of them for the difficult and challenging work they have done and continue to do on our behalf.  In consultation with other dioceses in Province V and the wider church, we developed the Plan for Regathering for In-person Worship.  Thanks to Fr.TJ Freeman, serving as Rector of Trinity Fort Wayne, in July, we were directed to the Harvard website which helped us adopt the Determination Color Code based on the number of cases per 100K in each of our counties in addition to the State of Indiana Dashboard. 

We know more in September regarding the spread of COVID 19 than we did in June which makes it possible to adapt our initial plan for Regathering.  The Episcopal Dioceses in Michigan began allowing 25 % of full capacity for indoor In-person Worship, which includes the protocols of physical distancing, wearing masks, using hand sanitizer along with all the other protocols in our Diocesan Plan.  In consultation with our Clergy, with the support and affirmation of our Diocesan Council and with the support of our Standing Committee, I have decided to implement the “ Michigan Adaptation” for all of our faith communities in Northern Indiana.  In doing so, I want to invoke the Anglican principle, all may, none must, some should.  Implementing this adaptation assumes that the clergy, wardens, and vestry of our 33 faith communities have prepared and submitted a Plan for Regathering for my review and approval.  As of this writing, 24 faith communities have submitted a plan.  Some of our faith communities will move to implement this adaptation this coming Sunday.  Others may choose to take some time to make sure all things necessary are in place before gathering in person.  What is most important to underscore is that each of our faith communities needs to listen to local officials, following their advice which may include closing if advised to do so. 

For those faith communities who choose to move to indoor In-person Worship, it is also important to underscore that this next phase should be a Hybrid Phase…both in-person and virtual worship should be offered so that everyone connected to your faith community may continue to gather. 

As I said earlier, we have learned some things since March and April.  First, as we moved out of lock down, the potential for achieving a 14-day decline in some of our more populated counties is virtually impossible.  Second, more testing is available in our state which gives us better sense of the positivity rate, another factor in determining the spread of the virus.  Third, the state has assumed responsibility for contact tracing which initially was the responsibility of each county. 

Bishop Andy Doyle of the Diocese of Texas sent a letter to the clergy in mid-June. He discussed several important topics:  exposure and moral leadership.  In terms of exposure, he quoted leading epidemiologist from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Michael Osterholm who said, “Exposure as a dose is a combination of time and amount.”  Exposure = time and amount.  Therefore, physical distancing, mask and brevity are essential for congregations in buildings.  This means as you do gather, we believe you need to keep the service short, between 30 and 45 minutes. 

Regarding moral leadership, Bishop Doyle pointed out that early in the pandemic, we were presented with two strong binary options:  lockdown or do nothing.  We have come to understand that moral leadership requires protocols for everyone’s safety.  Hence, that is why developing your Plan for Regathering is essential and that we may need to adapt our protocols, as the circumstances change.  Bishop Doyle then shared another quote from Dr. Osterholm, “We have to learn not only to die with this virus, which tragically we’ve had to do, but we also have to learn how to live with it.” 

So, my friends, what is required of all of us is wisdom, attention to implementing the Plan for Regathering in your context, directed by your clergy, wardens and vestry and moral leadership. 

If you have any questions, please contact me or one of our missioners.  We stand ready to continue to support you in any way that we can. 

I conclude, quoting Bishop Andy Doyle, in his letter to the clergy.  “This is hard and difficult work.  It is very difficult to do this work when your peers are not making the same choices.  It is challenging when parishioners push and pull at you.  I want to re-emphasize that we will support you if you open now, or later, if you close due to community spread, and when you are defending protocols against parishioner pushback.”  These sentiments are also true for the wardens and vestry members of our faith communities as they try make the best decisions possible. 

 Be assured of my prayer and support.  This comes with a brother’s love… 

Doug

The Rt. Rev. Douglas E. Sparks
VIII Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana

September 17 Determination Letter

My Dear Kindred in Christ,

More of our counties are in the Yellow Zone this week, and more are at the Low end of Orange. This, plus a lovely weather forecast for Sunday, is good news for our worship planning! This week’s "county to watch” is Marshall, which has been hovering in the low-Orange zone for a few weeks now but may well make it into the Yellow Zone by the time Sunday rolls around. Marshall is a county with an excellent Positivity Rate at 2.32%, so when the numbers look like they’re going down, we can be fairly confident that this is an reasonable reflection of the state of the infections in the county.

Green - N/A
Green/Yellow - LaGrange
Yellow - Adams, Cass, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Porter
Orange - Allen, Elkhart, Grant, Howard, Lake, Marshall, St. Joseph, Steuben
Red - N/A

Thank you as always for your efforts to find safe ways to support the spiritual lives of your congregations.

Blessings,

Terri

The Rev. Canon Terri L. Bays, PhD.
Missioner for Transitions and Governance
Emergency Response NGO/Government Liaison

Attachments: 7DayRollingAverage.xlsx