ABOUNDING IN HOPE: The Diocese of Iowa Plan for Regathering for In-Person Worship

From Bishop Monnot:

Dear siblings in Christ,

These last two years of pandemic have demonstrated so very clearly our human inability to predict the future. A year ago, the distribution of vaccines was causing many to expect that COVID restrictions would soon be a dim memory, and that we could look forward to a carefree summer without concern about viral infections or hospital capacity. Then the Delta variant came along and reminded us never to underestimate the ability of a virus to mutate.

Now, a year later, with the Omicron variant in decline, your Regathering Task Force has met to review the recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We also spent time considering how the followers of Christ in The Episcopal Church in Iowa can best continue to protect the vulnerable among us and love our neighbors as ourselves. To that end, we are offering new guidelines to the congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa.

I want to make it clear that each congregation within the diocese has my express support to require more strict safety measures than are indicated here, if they so choose. The lay and clergy leadership of each congregation need to discern together whether additional precautions are required in the local context in order to protect the most vulnerable. We don’t always know whether someone is at a high risk for serious illness if they are infected by COVID unless they tell us. Those in a high risk category include anyone over the age of 65, children with preexisting conditions who are too young to be vaccinated, and anyone else with a medical condition that puts them at a higher risk, such as an autoimmune disease or an immune system suppressed due to chemotherapy or other lifesaving medicine.

The leadership of each congregation needs to determine what measures are to be taken in their context in order to protect the vulnerable and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The guidelines that accompany this introduction may go into effect in a congregation after the leadership has met, prayerfully discerned the way forward in their own context, and has notified the congregation of the new guidelines.

As I reflect personally on my own practices for the next few weeks, I take into consideration the fact that I spend a significant amount of time traveling from place to place, both within and outside of Iowa. I am aware that, even though I am vaccinated and boosted, it is still possible for me to become infected with COVID and to remain asymptomatic, and the risk of bringing the virus from one location to another is one that I am concerned about. I plan to continue my personal masking habits (masking in public spaces, including worship, unless I am actively speaking, eating, or drinking) in addition to continuing to take a rapid antigen test before each congregational visitation. If I test positive at any time, I will stay home and isolate. I encourage everyone to consider your own risk level and the risk that you may pose to others you come into contact with, and make your choices accordingly. The basis of all my decisions surrounding COVID requirements is Jesus’ commandment to love God and to love our neighbor, and I encourage you to make that your foundation as well.

Finally, we all need to bear in mind the lessons of the last two years. It may be necessary at some point in the future for every congregation in the diocese to move back into more restrictive safety measures. As always, these decisions will be guided by the best science we have available and the commandment to love God and to love our neighbors.

In the promised abundant life of Christ,
+Betsey
The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of IowaAdditional resources for Churches

Updated COVID Guidance for the Diocese of Iowa

  • In the orange areas of the CDC map, the CDC guidance is to mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. We continue to require masks at indoor services and events when in these orange regions. Restrictions on coffee hours, food service, seating, and limited movement within a service also remain in place in these areas.

  • In yellow regions, the CDC guidance for high-risk individuals (which would include anyone over the age of 65), is to mask. Also in yellow regions, the CDC guidance is for those who have social contact with others who are at high risk to "consider masking."

  • In the green regions, people are encouraged to stay up to date with vaccines and boosters, and have a plan for rapid testing if needed.

• Physical distancing: In the yellow and green regions, capacity limits and spacing requirements on church services and events are lifted. In the yellow regions, we encourage you to clearly mark an area in which attendees can maintain physical distance of 6 feet for all who wish to observe this safety measure.

• Holy Communion: may be distributed in both kinds in the yellow and green regions. The common cup may be offered, wiping and turning after each use, although individuals at higher risk from COVID infection are discouraged from receiving in this manner. Intinction is allowed using a very small amount of wine in a wide, shallow cup or bowl.

• Holy Baptism: Previously announced limitations are rescinded.

• Prayer books, hymnals and offering basins may be used. We urge you to continue careful attention to cleaning and disinfecting your facility, and commend to you CDC cleaning and disinfecting guidelines.

• Coffee hour and other events with food and drinks may take place in the yellow and green regions, but you are encouraged to plan carefully how food and drinks are served. Individually wrapped foods and designated servers, as opposed to potlucks or buffets, are still a safer option.

• Caring for the most vulnerable: Full COVID vaccination, including available booster shots, is required of all persons, clergy or lay, who are engaged in ministry or making pastoral visits with the most vulnerable, including children age 5 and under, homebound or immune-compromised persons, and those in hospitals and care facilities. Masks are required for all pastoral visits in the homes of those who are sick or at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Testing, as an additional precaution, is recommended in the green/yellow regions and required in orange, except in circumstances when both the need for the visit is immediate and pressing and it would not be feasible to have a test.

• Christian formation: We urge careful planning with regard to Christian formation classes and events, especially where they involve young children not yet eligible for vaccination or when groups will be together for longer periods of time (like an overnight).

• Outside groups: Outside groups may resume using your facility in the yellow and green regions, following any additional guidance your leadership has established.

For all churches

  • Continue to strongly encourage vaccination and booster shots, and regularly publish information about how to access the vaccine locally.

  • Promote good ventilation, such as opening windows when weather permits.

  • Stay attuned to the state of COVID-19 in your area and follow the current CDC guidance.

Look up your county directly from the CDC, which updates their data every Thursday by 8pm. To see the full map, click HERE.

TESTING

 

All households are now eligible to receive 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, delivered to your home. Order here: https://special.usps.com/testkits

Test Iowa in-person test locations have closed. They have been replaced with drive-through / walk-in pharmacy testing (limited scheduling & locations) and at-home test kits.

The Diocese recommends that all parishes order and have on hand, either at the church or among your congregation, at-home PCR (polymerase chain reaction) spit test kits from Test Iowa. These kits do NOT require an invasive nasal swab and are the most accurate test. Each member of a household can order up to five kits at a time for free. Kits stored locally can be redistributed as needed. Ordering online is quick and easy at: https://www.testiowa.com/en. It takes 5+ days to receive these kits, so they should be ordered immediately to have on hand for timely testing.

Congregants who test positive for COVID-19 should report test results to their primary care physician as well as their Parish clergy and / or employer as appropriate. School-age children who test positive should report results to their school principal.

 

CLEANING and SANITATION RESOURCES

Considerations for use and sanitation of restrooms during the coronavirus pandemic

Simple bleach cleaning formula: 5 TBSP bleach per 1 gallon water. 4 tsp bleach per quart water. Leave on surface for one minute.

Communications resources

Sample Communication Plan (in the event of a potential exposure to COVID-19)

MUSIC/SINGING RESOURCES

There are many resources available, particularly on the American Choral Directors Association website.  These are scientifically, academically, and artistically vetted to provide the most up-to-date and reliable guidance:

MASKS AND SHIELDS

air purification and airflow

  • The EPA recommends upgrading HVAC filters and supplementing with air purifiers, while maintaining other precautions: https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/air-cleaners-hvac-filters-and-coronavirus-covid-19

  • MD Anderson has a good FAQ: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/can-air-purifiers-protect-you-from-coronavirus-covid-19.h00-159385101.html

  • In general:

    1. The most effective thing to do is open windows and doors (weather permitting) to bring in fresh air from outside

    2. If opening windows and doors isn't an option, then do all of the following:

      • Read your HVAC manual. Search and find a copy of the manual online if you don't have a printed copy.

      • Upgrade HVAC filter(s) to the highest-quality filter(s) that your system will support, preferable HEPA filters. If you're not sure what kinds of filters your system supports, call an HVAC professional. Putting a high-grade filter on a system that isn't compatible with that filter type can be worse than using the *right* filter in combination with other precautions. Using the wrong filter on an older system can damage that system.

      • Set your HVAC system to circulate more frequently when the building is occupied (e.g. set the fan to run continuously).

      • If your HVAC system has multiple fan / blower settings that you can control directly, set your fan to the highest available setting when the building is occupied.

      • Change the filters more frequently, especially if the building is regularly occupied (e.g. office staff) and using these "active" settings.

      • Be sure to change the fan settings back to "default" when the building is unoccupied to extend the life of high-grade filters and to prevent older fans / blowers from burning out.

    3. Use air purification systems to supplement other precautions, not as a substitute. Masking, no singing, physical distancing, HVAC setting adjustments, etc. should take priority and *then* add in air purification systems. Especially consider using air purification systems if you have an older HVAC system with limited fan controls or a system that doesn't support using high-grade HEPA filters. Do not seat worship attendees or leaders directly in the path of the air flow from purification systems. Do not use air purification systems when windows and doors are open (you're just wasting electricity!).

    4. Use ozone treatment systems between indoor gatherings by two different groups (e.g. between "early" and "late" worship services on a Sunday morning). Do not use ozone treatment systems in a space that is occupied.

Other resources

Coronavirus: Safety Tips for Religious Organizations from Church Insurance Companies

Checklist: Get your organization ready for coronavirus from the CDC

Guidance for Church-run Day Care Centers and Preschools

No-touch portable hand washing station (for outdoor worship)