This page is up to date as of April 22, 2021. General information, updates, and resources will be added, as needed.
Effective Thursday, April 22, 2021, the congregations of West Texas may move toward further reopening, particularly regarding in-person activities on church premises, in those places where the spread of the pandemic has ebbed. We will call this Phase 2(c): Lifting Restrictions on Congregational Life. In this phase, sanitizing all surfaces between every service is no longer required; masks are optional for outdoor, socially distanced gatherings; fully vaccinated staff and volunteers are not required to quarantine after an exposure; and for fully vaccinated staff or participants in closed meetings of 12 or less masks are optional, when six feet social distancing can be maintained. All church services, fellowship gatherings, childcare options, and faith formation / education classes are considered open to the public, regardless of Average Sunday Attendance or frequency of new participants.
Even if no plans for further reopening are taking place, clergy and congregations are advised to review the Diocesan Guidelines and existing church protocols.
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas invites clergy, lay leaders, and congregations to commit to standard hygiene practices, to consider reasonable liturgical adjustments, to contact public health officials in their community for local conditions, to extend care and compassion to those in their congregations and communities who may be affected by the disease, as well as healthcare and other frontline workers. Please keep the specific, local needs and current status of your community in mind while considering your congregation's response. If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, impaired senses of taste or smell, and others, contact your health care provider and stay home to prevent the potential spread of the disease.
Clergy,Vestries, and Bishop’s Committees are reminded that the diocesan guidelines give you full authority to make decisions to reopen or to close again based on your own congregation and the local COVID-19 situation. However, the diocesan Guidelines for Phased Reopening are not optional. Your church's leadership may choose to do more than the Guidelines require, but they may not do less. Each church has its own particular characteristics that should be considered when deciding whether to hold in-person worship services. Listening to local health officials is crucial, and everyone should understand that a congregation or diocesan-wide restriction on all in-person gatherings may become necessary again. All plans these days are subject to change.
Guidelines for Phased Reopening of Churches in West Texas - These Guidelines are intended to help churches plan and facilitate a modified reopening, so that people may begin to return to in-person worship, and other aspects of congregational life beginning September 14, in the safest way possible and mindful that risk remains. The document includes Diocesan Phases 2(a) and 2(b) Guidelines, Resources, Forms, Questions to Consider, and a collection of letters from the Bishop and diocesan communications regarding the COVID-19 response. Spanish translations are available for the Phase 2 Guidelines, Covenant form, and several of the Letters from the Bishop. Contact communications@dwtx.org for other COVID-19 documents in Spanish.
"Stewardship and Communications in a Physically Distant Church" - The diocesan Development and Communications Offices offered resources and ideas for how to stay connected as a church when we are physically distanced, via live webinar on Monday, March 30. Click the link above to view the recorded conversation. Click here to open "Resources and Ideas for Staying Connected While Physically Distant," a supplemental PDF.
"Digital Communications Resource Guide For Church Communicators" - a resource guide from the Diocese of West Texas Communications Department for online worship services and virtual meeting tools for ongoing church business, digital Christian Formation, and ministry meetings.
"Liturgical Resources For Congregations Responding to COVID-19" - prayers, liturgies, and an order of Morning Prayer collected by diocesan clergy for families and congregations
Shared Congregational Resources Basecamp - a virtual workroom for clergy and lay leaders to share resources, pose questions, discuss ideas, and work together to sustain (and grow) our ministries during this season and beyond
Concerning COVID-19 - a resource page from The Episcopal Church with general guidelines for churches and safe measures for equitable treatment of church employees.
Faith-Based Response to Infectious Disease - a webpage curated by Episcopal Relief and Development with scientific information, print resources, liturgical resources, weekly webinars, and ideas for maintaining community in the midst of a pandemic, to guide congregations seeking to stay connected while remaining physically apart.
Episcopal Church Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution / Colección de Recursos para la Distribución de la Vacuna del COVID-19 - A toolkit designed as a compilation of ideas and educational resources to help your local Episcopal Church work with the government to help end this pandemic. Churches and church leaders (lay and ordained) can serve as important trusted bridges between public health officials and congregations.
"U.S. Copyright Issues Related to Live Streaming Music" - a summary of possible copyright violations and licensing options from The Episcopal Church's Office of Public Affairs. "The recent blossoming of live-streamed Episcopal Church services has highlighted the need for some guidance regarding the copyright law implications of this increasingly used method of maintaining community and fellowship."
"How to Livestream Your Church Service in Four Easy Steps" - a video tutorial produced by the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego explaining four steps to plan and prepare for live broadcasting a worship service
"Forward Movement offers resources for prayer and worship at home" - a collection of free resources "to support individuals, families, and groups as they worship and pray at home" from Forward Movement, a ministry of the Episcopal Church that inspires disciples and empowers evangelists
Complete List of Hymns Within the Public Domain - a list of hymns within the public domain for church's consideration in planning live-streamed or recorded worship services
"BCPOnline.org" - The (Online) Book of Common Prayer, for anyone who may wish to stay home, but remain connected to Sunday morning prayers
The following congregations are sharing live and recorded worship services throughout the week: St. Philip's, Beeville; St. Francis, Canyon Lake; All Saints', Corpus Christi; St. Bartholomew's, Corpus Christi; St. Luke's, Cypress Mill; St. Matthias', Devine; St. Barnabas, Fredericksburg; St. Nicholas, Hill Country; Trinity, Junction; St. Peter's, Kingsville; Epiphany, Kingsville; Christ Church, Laredo (English & Español); St. Peter & St. Paul, Mission; Trinity, Port Aransas; Christ Church, San Antonio; Grace Church, San Antonio; Holy Spirit, San Antonio; Reconciliation, San Antonio; St. David's, San Antonio; St. Francis, San Antonio; St. George, San Antonio; St. Luke's, San Antonio; St. Margaret's, San Antonio; St. Mark's, San Antonio; St. Paul's; San Antonio; TMI Episcopal, San Antonio; St. Mark's, San Marcos; St. Andrew's, Seguin; St. Philip's, Uvalde; St. Stephen's, Wimberley.
"How to Update Church Information on the Episcopal Asset Map" - step-by-step instructions for changing worship information, adding livestream details, and updating clergy and church contact information on the Episcopal Asset Map.
For recording or livestream questions, contact the Diocesan Communications Office, at communications@dwtx.org.
Presiding Bishop Curry's Word to the Church: March 17, 2020 - "It is important to emphasize that suspension of in-person gatherings is not a suspension of worship. I very much encourage and support online worship. God bless you and keep the faith." [March 17, 2020]
"Habits of Grace: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry"- "As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing social distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a moment to cultivate a ‘habit of grace.' A new video meditation will be posted on Mondays, through May." -Presiding Bishop Curry [March 16, 2020]
"Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations releases Public Health and Policy Advocacy Document related to the coronavirus" - a media release from The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations, [March 13, 2020]
Church Pension Group (CPG) COVID-19 Resource Center - announcements, resources, and webinars from CPG in response to.the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on institutions and individuals around the Church.
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