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Message to clergy and parishes in Connor Diocese
issued on 20 March 2020: |
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Bishop-designate George Davison writes: “These are challenging times for us all and we need to reassess what we do in our parishes each time the Government scientific and medical advice changes the parameters of our activity. “Following this evening’s Government update, which has increased the restrictions on social distancing in relation to the current Covid-19 situation, I would now advise all parishes in Connor diocese not to open church buildings for any public use (including private prayer). |
“Please do continue to offer prayer resources to your communities through technological and online means. “Know that you are continually in my prayers at this time, particularly as we approach our first Sunday without being able to physically gather together in our church buildings for worship. “Please do take care of one another. “Yours in Christ’s service,”
George Davison |
Ministry and worship in the light of new UK government advice on
COVID-19 (Coronovirus) |
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Yesterday, the UK government issued new advice to its citizens regarding the necessary precautions that we need to observe in order that we may minimise the impact of the COVID-19 virus to our communities and families. In a response to a specific question in the House of Commons about how this guidance would impact on churches and religious groups, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that with regret the government had to include religious communities within the scope of their guidance on avoidable social gatherings. I have consulted with the Connor archdeacons, with the bishops/ commissaries of the other dioceses in the Church of Ireland’s northern province and have received feedback too from other Christian denominations. We all feel that this is the time for significant action. As a result, in conjunction with what other church leaders are also doing today, I am writing to you to with the following recommendations for parishes in Connor diocese. As Christian people in the parishes of Connor Diocese, with our neighbours, we face real challenges at the moment. Please remember that whilst so much that is familiar is changing around us at the moment, God’s love for us is constant and Christ is still Lord. In these times of challenge we turn to Him afresh, in different patterns perhaps, but if we draw deeply on the resources of the Holy Spirit we will be able to not only come through this challenge intact, but stronger in our relationship with Jesus Christ and with one another. Please know that you are in my prayers – and remember me in yours!
With love in Him, |
Connor Bishop-designate Archdeacon George Davison. |
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Dear Colleagues and friends in the Diocese of Connor, As Christian people, we are a community that worships together. It is who we are and it is what we do. We will continue to be a people who worship together and in the challenging situation that we now find ourselves, I do not want us ever to lose sight of that! I am mindful of the injunction in the letter to the Hebrews – “Let us not neglect meeting together…” However we are currently faced with the reality of a pandemic virus which is going to make us have to rethink the way that we worship, at least for a little time.
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1. Parishes should suspend the normal services of public
worship until such times as the government restrictions on public
gatherings are lifted. This includes Sunday and midweek services
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Instead, I would urge clergy and parishioners to work together to
enable churches to be open as places of prayer for parishioners and
the community alike. This will require measures to be put in place
to enable adequate social distancing when people are using the
building, good hygiene practices and regular cleansing of the
building and surfaces.
2.
Creative ways should be considered in order to assist parishioners
continue in worship
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If your church has a website, or Facebook page, consider providing
short acts of worship, Bible teaching, etc online. You don’t need to
be a master of technology to do this. It is remarkably easy to
stream a service on your church’s Facebook page using no more
complicated equipment than a smartphone!
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Encourage parishioners to discover the resource of their prayer
books in a new way or point them to the online resources available
on the Church of Ireland website, or other online resources that you
use.
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Do remember that not every parishioner will have access online or
the skills to use online resources. Consider producing or
distributing prayer resources to encourage people in daily prayer. 3.
Other parish meetings and organisations should also be suspended
with immediate effect
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This advice now includes the Easter General Vestry Although it might
be possible to organise a meeting observing the appropriate
precautions, the new government guidance would mean that a section
of the church community would be disenfranchised. At this point it
seems unlikely that we will be able to properly convene EGV meetings
within the time limits set by the constitution, but it seems
unlikely that the Charity Commission will be unsympathetic in the
current situation and current office holders and trustees should
continue in post until such time as it is feasible to hold a General
Vestry meeting. The Assessor of the General Synod is being consulted
on the detail of this and further information will be given when it
is available.
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Select Vestry meetings should also be suspended until further
notice. Essential business should be conducted by email circulation
or other electronic means. 4.
Funerals will need to be smaller gatherings than normal. This
will obviously need to be handled sensitively and in close
co-operation with the funeral director, but the principles should be
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A brief, dignified service conducted with due regard for the needs
of the family, but also for the guidelines on public gatherings.
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Try to encourage immediate family only to attend – offer a service
of thanksgiving for the wider community at a later date when
restrictions are lifted;
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It may help if times and details of funeral services are not
published in funeral notices – meaning that casual attendance of
additional mourners is made less likely;
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Handshaking and other physical contact with and amongst mourners
should be avoided
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Catering after funerals should not be offered in church halls at
this time.
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5.
Weddings –
It may be possible to proceed with a marriage service in church,
again providing it complies with the recommendations of the
health authorities. This may require significant changes to a
couple’s plans and it may be that they will prefer to rearrange
a new date. Anecdotal evidence over the last day or two would
indicate that reception venues may be raising this issue with
couples and in some cases weddings have been postponed. 6.
Confirmation Services All confirmation services in the diocese
of Connor have now been postponed. 7.
Home Communions & Pastoral visiting. All
Home Communions and routine pastoral visiting should cease from
17th March 2020 until further notice. Instead Clergy and/or
Pastoral Visitors should contact those needing pastoral care in
parishes by telephoning them. The hospital chaplains are no
longer permitted to carry out hospital visits unless expressly
invited to do so by hospital staff. Clergy who are asked to
visit parishioners in hospital or residential care should only
do so if permitted by the hospital/residential facility and with
the consent of the individual’s family. Hygiene and physical
distancing measures must be observed. 8.
Support for the Self-isolated. Develop
a plan for your parish to provide help and support for those who
will need to self-isolate in the days and weeks ahead. As I
suggested last week, parishes could be a hub for co-ordinating
practical care such as collecting groceries or other essential
supplies for those who do not have family able to assist them,
etc. Contact local food banks to see if they need additional
support or help. Encourage parishioners to think about the
people who normally sit beside them in church and their
neighbours. Whilst calling to visit people in their homes is not
recommended, if everyone reaches out with telephone calls to a
few people it will help to reduce loneliness in these
challenging times and help make sure that help can be provided
where it is needed. 9.
Diocesan Events
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The Connor Diocesan Synod which was scheduled for 25 June 2020
will now be postponed.
A date for the meeting will be circulated in due course.
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Consecration of Bishop of Connor – The Archbishop-elect has
confirmed that the consecration service will take place on the
feast of St Philip & St James – May 1 2020.
However this will now essentially be a private service with a
very limited congregation. It is intended that the
installation/enthronement services (which will be held once the
current restrictions have been lifted) will provide an
opportunity for us to gather for a diocesan celebration. 10.
Clergy, Lay Readers and Volunteers –
The health and well-being of those in leadership in the parish,
together with volunteers is of key importance, both for their
own protection and for the good of those they serve. Those with
underlying health conditions, and those over 70 years of age
should adhere to government guidance concerning self-isolation,
as of course, should those who develop symptoms of the virus.
Clergy are asked communicate and work with neighbouring clergy/
rural deans to co-ordinate continuing pastoral care in parishes
across the diocese. A generosity of spirit and willingness to
help each other out will ensure that we are able to support one
another through this time.
11.
Diocesan Office –
Arrangements for the operation of the Diocesan Office will be
finalised in the next few days and will be notified to you
shortly.
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