TOP LINKS:

• COVID-19 Southeastern Synod Guidelines Document
• ELCA COVID-19 Guidelines [ENGLISH] and [SPANISH]
• "Resuming Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life in a Pandemic" (Ecumenical COVID-19 Guidelines)
  • Now in SPANISH!!!

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July 30, 2020, update:
COVID-19 Podcast Updates
  Dr. Michael Osterhom, one of the nation’s top infectious disease epidemiologist and director of the Center for Infectious Disease at the University of Minnesota host podcast that can be found here on the continuing challenges of COVID-19.  Dr. Osterhom, as well as being an expert in his field is also an ELCA Lutheran. 
 

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July 14, 2020 update: This map shows the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location (assuming 10:1 ascertainment bias).

The risk level is the estimated chance (0-100%) that at least 1 COVID-19 positive individual will be present at an event in a county, given the size of the event

Choose an event size. Use the drop-down menu to choose a county you would like to zoom in on.
 

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July 8, 2020 update:

Bishop Strickland provides another pastoral update on the COVID-19 pandemic:
 


 

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Signage for Returning to your Building

• Physical Distancing Reminder
• Restroom Signage - One Person at a Time

June 8, 2020 update:

 

• Ecumenical Document:  Resuming Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life in a Pandemic

May 23, 2020 update:

• Bishop Kevin Strickland Issues Letter in Response to President Trump's Statement Regarding In-Person Worship Gatherings 

 

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May 14, 2020 update:

• Bishop Kevin Strickland's cover letter to our COVID-19 Guidelines Document

• The COVID-19 Southeastern Synod Guidelines Document, (also see accompaniment video below)

• The ELCA COVID-19 Guidelines, also available in SPANISH

• Link / Reminder to the next Council Leader's (Zoom) webinar where we will discuss next steps (held on May 26)

 

THIS VIDEO ACCOMPANIES THE SYNOD GUIDELINES FOR A PHASED RE-OPENING OF IN-PERSON WORSHIP AND OTHER GATHERINGS

 

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The Bishop and Synod Council is pleased to announce the availability of the

Southeastern Synod COVID-19 Grant

This grant is to address the immediate financial need of a small number of congregations in the Southeastern Synod.

These grants are not intended to be long term but only address a very immediate need with a one-time grant, providing a breath of support in the midst of this pandemic.
 
Applications can be found here.

The deadline for application is June 30, 2020.

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Updates from your Synod Leadership

Items are in chronological order, with most recent items towards the top of this page.

    See Bishop Kevin Strickland's Pastoral Letter from April 20, 2020, giving guidance to congregations for May 2020.  (4/20/2020)
 
See Bishop Kevin Strickland's Pastoral Letter Concerning Holy Communion Practices in this unprecedented time (4/3/2020)
 

Coping with COVID-19 - A Pyscho-Spiritual Approach (Posted 3/27/2020)

Read Bishop Strickland's Letter to Rostered Ministers about Worship in a Virtual Age  (Posted 3/20/2020)

Click here to see a PDF copy of the slides used in this second, and very important video from our coronavirus response team in our synod .

A Statement from Timothy Wengert regarding Holy Communion  (mentioned in Bishop Strickland's Letter about Worship in a Virtual Age)   (Posted 3/20/2020)

Letter from our synod's COVID-19 Response Team Leader, Dr. Erica Bjornstad (3/19/2020)

VIDEO:  Pastor Tom Clark to SES congregations RE COVID-19 response  (3/22/2020)

VIDEO:  Bishop Kevin Strickland and VP Imran Siddiqui share a pastoral word  (3/20/2020)

VIDEO:  Assistant to the Bishop Pr. Jill Henning, and Dr. Erica Bjornstad give guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic (and the PDF of PPT slides found in video)   (3/20/2020)

See this letter from Bishop Kevin Strickland and staff  (Posted 3/12/2020, 10:10pm EST)

Bishop Kevin Strickland's Pastoral Letter Regarding Coronavirus.  (Posted 3/8/2020; Includes responses from other church leaders, as well.)​

BLOG (Pr. Morgan Gordy):  How to care for our most vulnerable during a pandemic. (Posted 3/13/2020)

 

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ELCA-Related Updates related to Coronavirus:

PDF:  Considerations for Returning to In-Person Worship (May 13, 2020)

PDF:  [SPANISH] Considerations for Return to In-Person Worship (May 20, 2020)

VIDEO: Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton | March 28, 2020:

 

ELCA Worship in the Home Blog (updated weekly)

FAQs in time of COVID-19 for faith-based leaders from DHHS (3/27/2020)

ELCA Public Health page

LEAD - a group dedicated to resourcing faith leaders - is helping to provide holistic care for faith leaders in this difficult time of crisis.

Worship in Times of Public Health Concerns  (A resource from the ELCA)

ELCA Executive for Worship in the ELCA recommends no intinction for Holy Communion (NPR radio spot).

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton addresses concerns about COVID-19​.

Congregational Planning Checklist for a Pandemic  (A Lutheran Disaster Response resource)

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Other resources related to Coronavirus:

CDC's Response on preventing Coronavirus.

Click here to sign up to make cloth Face Mask Covers.