Dear New England Synod

Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control released new guidance for mask-wearing and gatherings. Those can be found here at this link.

I’ve received the famous question of Martin Luther in his Small Catechism, “What does this mean?” I am not a scientist nor a public health official, and I’ve yet to play one on TV. But, since some of you asked, here are my thoughts:

· It means that getting a vaccine is essential for a path back to a life of in-person human contact. There is now broad clear and scientifically undeniable evidence that a fully vaccinated person can participate in society.

· It does not mean you can immediately hold in-person worship and events without masks. It does not mean you can start singing in worship. Let’s proceed with caution. In the words of one mother, “I’m not bringing my unvaccinated children to in-person worship where I know there are unvaccinated adults who refuse to wear masks.”

· It also means that we are going to have to figure out how to navigate the question of vaccine use by worship attenders. This is a challenging question. One worth discussion by your leadership. How does our often stated “all are Welcome” engage with “all should be safe here.?”

· It also means that we in the six states of New England, plus the counties in Upper New York need to watch and see how each state government interprets these guidelines. I expect we will know more in a week.

I have continued to advise wisdom and thoughtful engagement during this pandemic, as opposed to a rush to the quick fix. We’ve done well here in New England so far, let’s continue that judicious approach.

Sincerely

Bishop James Hazelwood