Bishop's Guidance

Bishop's messages
Pastoral Care
Guidelines for Sharing Communion in the Time of Pandemic


Bishop's Messages

3/8/2022     - Summary of Clergy Call, Presentation on R-10a and Q & A
2/8/2022     - Summary of Clergy Call, Bishop's Remarks, JP Causey remarks, and Q & A
2/4/2022     -  Bishop Goff's Letter to Clergy re: COVID Protocols - Feb 4, 2022
1/12/2022   - Summary of Clergy Call, Bishop's Remarks and Q & A 

9/28/21       - Summary of Bishop's Call including Notes from the Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill's Address
9/14/21       - Summary of Bishop's Clergy Call, Bishop's Remarks and Q & A
9/8/21         - When COVID Comes to a Congregation – Best Practices for Responding
9/7/21         - Bishops' Letter re: Vaccinations and Religious Exemptions
8/10/21       - Summary of Bishop's Clergy Call, Bishop's Remarks and Q & A 
7/13/21       - Summary of Bishop's Clergy Call, Bishop's Remarks and Q & A 
6/22/21       - Summary of Bishop's Clergy Call, Bishop's Remarks and Q & A 
5/19/21       - Bishop's Update to Clergy: More Restrictions Lifted 
5/5/21         - Bishops' Letter to Clergy Listing Updated Guidelines for Regathering 
3/25/21       - Bishop Goff's Letter to Clergy re: Change in Metrics for Regathering 
3/16/21       - Summary of Bishop's Remarks; Liturgy of Loss, Learning and Longing as We Mark One Year in Pandemic  
3/2/21         - Summary of Bishop's Call with Clergy; Rev. David Mucha's Presentation; Behavioral Health and EAP Benefits 
2/16/21       - Summary of Bishop's Remarks and Following Q & A 
1/26/21       - Summary of Bishop's Remarks and Following Q & A; Guidelines for Eucharistic Visits; Training Video 
1/19/21       - Summary of Bishop's and Presenter's Remarks; Guidelines for Drive-in Services; Prayers for This Time in Our Nation;
                           Slides on Jesus in Compassionate Solidarity; Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship (from Homeland Security)
1/12/21       - Summary of Bishop's Call with Clergy January 12;
                           Resources: Bishop Goff's Ash Wednesday Guidelines; Presiding Bishop's Discerning Moral Voice in a Time of State Crisis 
12/09/20    - Summary of Bishops' Call with Clergy December 8 with Q & A; full transcript of Bishop's Remarks
11/18/20    - Summary of Bishops' Call with Clergy November 17
11/10/20    - Summary of Bishops' Call with Clergy November 10
10/27/20    - Summary of Bishops' Calls with Clergy October 27
10/15/20    - Summary of Bishops' Calls with Clergy October 13
8/26/20      - Summary of Bishops' Calls with Clergy August 25
8/13/20      - Summary of Bishops' Calls with Clergy August 11
7/28/20      - Summary of Bishops' Calls with Clergy July 28
7/14/20      - Transcript of Bishops' Calls with Clergy July 14: Q & A here 
6/30/20      - Transcript of Bishops' Calls with Clergy June 30: Q & A here 
6/24/20     - Transcript of Bishops' Calls with Clergy June 23: Q & A here 
6/16/20     - Bishop Goff's Letter Announcing Outdoor Worship Services This Summer  
6/5/20       - Bishop Goff's letter, Preparing for Phase II Regathering in Our Church Buildings
May 27     - Transcript of Bishop Porter Taylor Remarks on Preaching in the Time of COVID (Clergy Call- Week 10); Q&A /resources
May 13     - Transcript of Bishops' Calls with Clergy - Week 10; Q & A and resources here 
May 13     - Transcript of Bishops' Calls with Clergy - Week 9; Q & A and resources here 
May 13     - A Letter from the Bishops Regarding Phased Regathering in Our Church Buildings ; (click here for Spanish)
May 4       - Follow-Up Letter from Bishops of Diocese of Virginia re: Regathering as Church 
May 4       - A Joint Letter from the Bishops of the Dioceses of Virginia, Maryland and D.C.: Regathering as Church  (click here for Spanish)
April 29    - Transcript of Bishops' Calls with Clergy - Week 7; Q & A and resources here
April 22    - Transcript of Bishops' Calls with Clergy - Week 6; Q & A and resources here
April 15    - Transcript of Bishops' Weekly Calls with Clergy; Q & A here
April 8      - A Message Regarding Streaming Worship in Church Building; downloadable PDF
April 8      - Transcript of Bishops' Weekly Calls with Clergy; Q & A here 
April 6      - A Message from Holy Week from Bishop Goff 
April 1      - Transcript of Bishops' Call with Clergy; Q & A here
March 31 - Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Word to the Church: On Our Theology of Worship
March 31 - A Message about COVID from the Bishops of Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC 
March 31 - Declaración de los Obispos Episcopales de Maryland, Virginia y Washington, DC
March 25 - Transcript of Bishops' Call with Clergy; Q & A here
March 23 - A Video Message from Bishop Goff 
March 18 - Bishop's Message Regarding Holy Week and Easter 
March 18 - Transcript of Bishops' Call with Clergy; Q & A here
March 13 - A Video Message from Bishop Goff
March 13  - From Presiding Bishop Michael Curry - Un mensaje del Obispo Presidente Michael Curry de la Iglesia Episcopal sobre el servicio litúrgico en respuesta a la pandemia del COVID-19
March 12 - COVID-19 Resources, including best practices and resources for virtual worship.
March 12 - A message from The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Michael Curry regarding worship in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
March 12 - A message from Presiding Bishop Curry related to worship changes during a public health emergency
March 11 - from Bishop Susan Goff

 

Guidelines and Resources for Pastoral Care  

Pastoral Visits

As of June 24, 2020, some hospitals now permit visits from clergy, though requirements and regulations vary from place to place. Many nursing homes and retirement or assisted living communities remain closed to visitors. If clergy feel called to do pastoral visits, you may use your discretion and do so as long as you are not putting yourself, your family or those you visit at risk. To reduce risk as much as possible: 

  • Wear a mask.
  • Keep proper distancing.
  • Keep visits brief. 
  • Visit outdoors, on a porch or backyard, if possible.
  • Follow all directives and guidelines of the facility you are visiting, if that is the case. 

Additional Resources