May 9, 2020
Dear
Virginia Conference,
May
the Lord be with you and keep you. It is a wonderful day to be a United
Methodist. I know that Virginia
United Methodists are longing for the return to in-person worship. One of our
highest priorities must be loving our neighbors through ensuring the safety of
those who attend our services. As we reported this week, a work group of church
leaders, medical professionals, and legal professionals have been working hard
to provide guidance to help us go back to in-person worship safely. On Friday morning,
the Cabinet reviewed a draft of their work and we are preparing a list of
frequently asked questions this weekend.
Friday
afternoon, Governor Northam announced that he may loosen the restrictions
related to in-person worship on May 15, 2020. Our timetable, as United
Methodists, will be phased. I will allow Drive-In worship to begin on May 24,
2020 for all churches under strict guidelines that will be released by May 15,
2020. I will also authorize some test churches (we will call them “pioneer”
churches) to open on May 24, 2020 with no more than 25 people in attendance under
strict guidelines that will also be released by May 15, 2020. These pioneer
churches will provide much needed data for the churches in our various districts
on how to open safely.
Please
continue to be in prayer for those who are affected by COVID-19 and those
working hard to care for them. Pray as well for those who are extending
themselves to serve at great risk and great cost. Whenever we return to
worship, we will have stories to tell of God’s goodness and provision in this
crisis.
Peace
and Blessings,
Bishop
Sharma D. Lewis
