Communique Regarding COVID-19 Protocols

Dear Siblings in Christ,

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

As you know, early last week, the CDC revised its protocol regarding mask wearing, due to the increased infection rate, even among the fully vaccinated, because of the COVID-19 Delta variant. These revisions apply for indoor gatherings specifically.

Also on Monday, the Mayo Clinic News Network recorded a podcast with Dr. Greg Poland addressing these very concerns as well. Even though the podcast is somewhat long, I encourage our clergy and lay leaders to watch it because he addresses a number of concerns that apply to each of us and our faith communities. It is important to remember that the variants of the COVID-19 virus behave in such a way that we need to continually adapt our behavior given each variant's virulence. It is not like an off and on switch but more like a rheostat...modulating our protocols to address each context.

Also included in the email is a ZOOM conversation I had with Dean Brian Grantz which serves as a personal testimony from someone who was fully vaccinated yet became sick with COVID-19.

We have also included a link to the most recent CDC guidelines and a link to the Indiana Coronavirus Dashboard.

Please consult these resources as you seek to adapt, in your particular context, to keeping everyone safe and well, especially the youngest among us and those adults who are not able to receive the vaccine for other health reasons.

I have decided to wear a mask inside any building I enter when there are other persons present in order to keep others from catching COVID-19 from me.

Thank you for your ongoing care for one another.

You remain in prayer daily.

Doug

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

Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Stopping the spiral of the COVID-19 delta variant

A Conversation Between Bishop Doug and Dean Brian: Dean Brian's Personal Experience having COVID-19 and Updated CDC Guidelines

CDC COVID-19 Integrated County View

Click image or here to find your own county.

Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia Announces Slate of Candidates for Bishop

2 August 2021

Dear Sisters, Brothers, Siblings,

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

Earlier today, the Diocese of West Virginia announced their candidates for bishop and the Rev. Matthew Cowden (pictured), a priest of our diocese who serves as Rector of St. Michael and All Angels in South Bend, is one of their candidates. Please join me in praying for Matthew and Melissa and their family as the public part of this process now begins. The next step is the walkabout which will occur in August. The Electing Convention is scheduled for 25 September 2021.

I invite you to pray for the people of St. Michael and All Angels as well. The bond between a clergy person and those they are called to serve is deep and while it is a time to rejoice and give thanks for this potential opportunity for Fr. Matthew to be called to serve the wider church in episcopal ministry. Nonetheless, this process profoundly effects the life of the faith community of St. Michael and All Angels. Let us also pray for all those involved in this process of discernment and election in the Diocese of West Virginia.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen!

Every Blessing,

Doug

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


You can view the official release from the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia here.

You can read Fr. Matthew's email to the people of Saint Michael and All Angels here.

New Happenings Ministry Camp

Dear Sisters, Brothers, Sibling in Christ,

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

We have just completed our EDNIN Kids' Camp at Camp Mack under the direction of our new Missioners for Camping Ministries...Jodi and Daniel Kallenberg, Cindy Spice and Megan Spice-Frede. What a joy to be part of this formational ministry in our diocese.

We also have another camping ministry that has been part of our diocesan life for more than a decade...CAMP NEW HAPPENINGS. Camp New Happenings is a camping opportunity for pre-teen children of prisoners, to experience God's gifts of nature, kindness and togetherness, by sharing hopes and dreams within a positive camping experience.

I am designating the next three weeks as a time for you to consider making a financial contribution to support children during this year's week of camp which begins on Sunday, 25 July and runs through Saturday, 31 July at Camp Mack in Milford, Indiana.

Your clergy leader or lay leader may choose to designate one of the next three Sundays as Camp New Happenings Sunday. You can also send a check made out to the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana and in the memo line write Camp New Happenings.

All financial gifts will be used to support children coming for a week of camp! Thank you for your generosity!

Every blessing,

Bishop Doug
(he, him, his)

Commemoration and Action - George Floyd Memorial Service 5/25

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May 25 marks the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, which ignited a worldwide racial reckoning. You are invited to join Episcopalians in an prayer, reflection, and action.

Virtual service of commemoration on Tuesday, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET:

A service led by six Episcopal bishops and featuring a reflection by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will air on the Facebook pages of several dioceses including:

The pre-recorded service includes a prayer of lament from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, a candlelit remembrance from Ferguson, Missouri and prayers in places of protests across the U.S. Learn more here.

Engagement Options:

In addition to joining the service online, you are invited to engage in social media and advocacy:

Racial healing engagement on social media: All are invited to record a ten-second video of themselves lighting a candle and to post that video to personal social media during or after the May 25 service. Participants are asked to describe one thing in their post that they commit to do toward racial healing and justice in memory of Floyd and all victims of racial injustice. Those posting should also consider sharing a link to the commemoration service from one of the participating dioceses’ Facebook pages.

Take action: The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations offers the following opportunities to learn about and take direct action on legislative efforts for police reform.

  • Urge Congress to Enact Police Reform Many police reforms need to take place at the local level, but members of Congress have introduced legislation that would set national standards and would attempt to bring about lasting change to the ways that police departments operate. Click the link above to take action.

  • Nine Actions on Police Reform Click the link to take action today to learn about and address police violence in your community.

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Stay Connected:

If you would like to continue to receive invitations to events like the George Floyd Memorial, register for The Episcopal Church Racial Reconciliation newsletter here.

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Content for this blog post was pulled from an email sent by The Episcopal Church Department of Reconciliation Justice & Creation Care on May 25, 2021.

Guiding Principles for In-Person Worship as the Vaccination Process Progresses

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On Wednesday, May 19, the clergy and lay leaders of our diocese met for their monthly meeting. In response to the updated mask guidance from the CDC, we spent time discussing updates to the diocesan policy regarding in-person worship. Several resources, which are shared below, were reviewed. Clergy and Senior Wardens were encouraged to share the materials with their respective vestry and to come to a decision on what is the best course of action for their individual faith community.

Gathering on Sacred Ground: Recording and Resources

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Warm greetings to all who registered for Gathering on Sacred Ground, with Presiding Bishop Curry! 

We are so grateful to all the participants and facilitators who shared their Sacred Ground stories, grateful for the poetry and the song, and grateful to the Presiding Bishop for blessing us and calling us forward.  We are also deeply moved by how many of you registered: 4121! – and that approximately 3200 of you attended or watched the simultaneous livestream on YouTube (many more since). We are indeed living members of the Jesus Movement! 

You can find and share the event recording on the main page of The Episcopal Church website as well as the main Sacred Ground page.  Stay tuned for a closed captioned version of the recording and for an FAQ that responds to your most popular questions posed during the gathering. In addition, check out this wonderful story about the gathering in the Episcopal News Service.  

The program leaflet is here, including the Litany of Repentance and prayers for racial justice, with sources listed (find more on the Religious Resources page of the Sacred Ground webpages). The Sacred Ground Is… poem created by the Trinity Church Santa Barbara circle is here. 

 

Weblinks related to the gathering are listed below: 

  • Support The Episcopal Church’s work for racial reconciliation, healing and justice - The Episcopal Church is very pleased to offer this curriculum at no charge… and, if you are inspired and touched by the work and are in a position to make a gift to help it grow, here is the link.

  • Episcopal Asset Map - This map shows the hundreds of locations across the Church that have registered a Sacred Ground circle

  • Becoming Beloved Community Where You Are Resource - The best place to start when discerning “What comes next?” after Sacred Ground and where God is calling you in the lifelong journey toward truth, healing and justice

  • Becoming Beloved Community – The Episcopal Church’s vision for racial healing, reconciliation and justice, plus resources, curricula and more

  • Racial Justice Audit and upcoming webinars - The Racial Justice Audit surveyed Episcopal Church leaders about their experiences of racism, racial identity, and power in the life of our church. – read the audit and attend the upcoming webinars to learn more

  • From Many, One - Conversations Across Difference is a campaign inviting Episcopalians and our neighbors to engage in one-to-one listening and sharing across the many differences that separate us.

  • Register for FREE tickets to the May 22 Concert for the Human Family – This inspiring virtual event will include the postlude song (“Welcome to the Show” by Kory Caudill and Wordsmith), “From Many, One” conversations across difference, and a post-concert conversation with Presiding Bishop Curry and guests

  • Social Justice and Advocacy - Episcopal resources and events on community organizing and working for justice that take us “from the pews to the public square”.

  • Summary of Anti-racism and Dismantling Racism Trainings - select list of trainings by groups familiar with the Episcopal Church


Finally, a few statistics that may be of interest: of the 4121 registrants,

  • 720 were facilitators  

  • 3013 were participants 

  • 432 have been both participant and facilitator 

  • 235 were from other denominations/faiths (highest #’s: Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian) 

In closing, we loved bearing witness to the growing community building around Sacred Ground.  May there continue to be ripples of spirit that bring us closer to God’s and our dream of beloved community.  After the event Katrina was out for a walk and saw someone wearing a T-shirt that said “Teamwork for Dream work.”   

May it be so! 

Webinar Recording:

Watch the webinar recording on the Episcopal Church website here. We will also let you know when a more accessible version with closed captions is available.

Thanks again,

Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation Care

Katrina Browne
Sacred Ground Curriculum Developer
Consultant, Becoming Beloved Community 

Phoebe Chatfield
Associate for Creation Care and Justice
Presiding Bishop's Office

For more information on how to engage with issues of racial justice and reconciliation, check out The Episcopal Church Becoming Beloved Community webpage.

From email sent from sacredground@episcopalchurch.org on May 4, 2021.

Giving Is Worship: Stewardship Ministry Workshop Resources

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Thank you to all that participated in the Giving in Worship workshop. It was a great evening with a presentation by Carrie Wilson, stewardship chair at Holy Family (Angola) on how to make the most of the TENS resources. We were also privileged to have the executive director of TENS, Davey Gerhard, deliver our keynote for the evening. A recording of the workshop and links to the slide decks presented are linked below for those that were unable to attend the workshop and those that attended but want to review the content.

Giving is Worship Zoom Recording

Carrie Wilson’s “How to Use TENS” presentation

Davey Gerhard’s “Giving is Worship” presentation

Carrie Wilson’s “How to use TENS” presentation

Carrie Wilson’s “How to use TENS” presentation

Davey Gerhard’s “Giving is Worship” presentation

Davey Gerhard’s “Giving is Worship” presentation

First Annual Earth Day Event Resources

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Thank you to all who participated in the Creation Care Commission presents: First Annual Earth Day Event!

Below are links to some resources discussed today.

Giving Is Worship: Stewardship Ministry Workshop

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Date: April 28
Time: 6:30-8 p.m. (EDT)
Where: Zoom

It's never too early to start thinking about your annual giving campaign. Join the Faithful Stewards Commission and the ONES Network for this workshop on how to make the most of the TENS resources, led by Carrie Wilson, the stewardship chair at Holy Family (Angola). Following a time of Q&A, the executive director of TENS, Davey Gerhard, will deliver a keynote on "Giving is Worship."

Pastoral Plan Update for In-Person Worship (March 2021)

28 March 2021 

Dear Sisters, Brothers, Siblings, 

Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One! 

After several conversations with Dr. Greg Poland, a vaccinologist and infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, and in consultation with our missioners, I have decided to amend our Pastoral Plan for In-person Worship.  These accommodations were shared with Clergy and Lay Leaders during our ZOOM Call on Wednesday, 24 March.  A Summary Notes document from Dr. Poland was also shared with the Clergy and Lay Leaders. 

I would like to identify the protocols that remain in place for all in-person worship: 

  1. Any person not feeling well, experiencing symptoms including fever, coughing, sneezing, is asked to remain at home, consider getting a COVID 19 test and if necessary, call your health care provider. 

  2. Continue physical distancing of 6 feet. 

  3. Well ventilated space. 

  4. 25% of full capacity 

  5. Appropriate masks worn properly. 

  6. Having hand sanitizer available. 

  7. Continued contact tracing. 

For those faith communities that have chosen to offer in-person worship, it is important to underscore that a hybrid experience of in-person and virtual worship should continue to be offered so that everyone connected to your faith community may join in worship. 

Another adaptation that has been made is the opportunity for 4 to 8 people in a choir to sing in-person physically distanced and properly masked, in the setting of 25 % of full capacity in a well-ventilated space.  Those gathered for in-person worship, observing the protocols above, can sing softly while properly masked.  You are also encouraged to continue to check the State of Indiana Coronavirus Dashboard on a weekly basis. 

An updated checklist can be found here.  If you have any questions, please contact me or one of our missioners.  We stand ready to continue to support you in any way we can. 

Lastly, I give thanks to God for all those who have given of themselves, in so many ways, during this pandemic.  I also encourage you to get vaccinated and if you have questions or concerns, discuss them with your health care provider.  COVID 19 fatigue is real, even with the availability of the COVID 19 vaccines, we must remain diligent in attending to these safety protocols. 

Be assured of my prayer and support.  Please thank your clergy and lay leaders for their good work on your behalf. 

This comes with a brother’s love… 

Doug

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

Resources:

Indiana Bishops Oppose Elimination of Gun Licenses

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On March 9, Bishop Doug Sparks and Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows sent the following letter to Governor Eric Holcomb urging the opposition of House Bill 1369. A copy of the letter was sent to all members of the Indiana Senate.

Dear Governor Holcomb:

The Indiana House recently passed House Bill 1369, which would eliminate the need for citizens of our state to obtain a license in order to carry a handgun. This is an ill-considered piece of legislation that will make our state a more dangerous place to live, and we urge you and the members of the Indiana Senate to oppose it.

Evidence from across our country confirms that states with stricter gun laws experience fewer gun deaths. Yet the House is proposing to get rid of a law that helps to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them, even as gun violence in our state is on the rise.

Indiana’s rate of gun deaths increased 30 percent from 2010 to 2019, compared to a 17 percent increase nationwide, according to data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of gun suicides increased 19 percent during that same period, compared to a 13 percent increase nationwide, and the rate of gun homicides increased by an alarming 57 percent compared to a 26 percent increase nationwide.

These are alarming statistics, but they don’t tell the whole story. This escalating violence takes a particular toll on our most vulnerable communities. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children and teens in our state. It wreaks vastly disproportionate devastation on communities of color, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it poses a singular danger to domestic violence victims who may not be able to flee their gun-owning abusers, and to people struggling with mental health issues.

If passed, House Bill 1369 would also intensify the danger faced by law enforcement officers across our state. And that, no doubt, is why it is strongly opposed by the Indiana State Police.

We Hoosiers are hardy people, and we do not expect our elected officials to solve all of our problems for us. But we should be able to rely on the state legislature not to make our state more violent and not to place its people at greater risk.

We are participants in Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a network of more than 100 Episcopal bishops working to curtail the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. We acknowledge the importance of Second Amendment rights, but we object when those rights are understood so broadly that vulnerable people are put at risk. The current handgun licensing law does not present an undue burden on gun ownership, and our state will be safer if we keep it on the books.

We strongly urge you to oppose this legislation.

Faithfully,

The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows
Bishop of Indianapolis

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
Bishop of Northern Indiana

Cc: Members of the Indiana State Senate

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks Bishop of Northern Indiana

View a PDF of the letter here.