A Process for Moving Forward

As we watch the world around us beginning to re-open from the restrictions we have lived with since the COVID 19 pandemic began, we are all eager to know when and how we can begin moving forward into new ways of being a Saints James and Andrew that provides us the joy, comfort and inspiration we value, but which is a safe and responsible environment for everyone involved.

The Episcopal Church in Massachusetts has issued a set of guidelines to accompany the state’s guidelines for houses of worship;  we will also receive a set of guidelines, in June, with further guidance for parishes in our Diocese.  These documents make it clear that getting ready to move forward in compliance with diocesan and state requirements is not going to be quick or easy.  Until such time as we have a world in which the coronavirus is no longer a serious threat to human wellbeing, it is not going to be safe for us to return to the ways of being that we’ve fondly thought of as “normal”.  The conversations we’ve been part of and plans we’ve read from others have increased our awareness of how very complex the challenges before us are. 

• How can we worship together in person in a way that ensures health precautions that comply with CDC and WHO guidelines and follows the recommendations of front-line health-care providers?
• If we are required to limit the size of our gatherings, whether worship or ministry activities, how can we do so while still living out the values of hospitality and inclusion professed in our Statement of Mission?
• How can we maintain appropriate levels of disinfection as we use the spaces of our buildings going forward?

The guidelines we anticipate from the Diocese will be only that, guidelines.  It will be our job as a parish to figure out how to apply and implement those guidelines within the specifics of our own spaces and needs.  The job will require lots of careful thinking and planning, and we want everyone to understand our thinking and be able to offer input as we make decisions and develop plans; determining how to move forward will take time in order to be done well.   

We have outlined a process for developing specific guidelines for our parish and making decisions about moving forward; primarily responsibility lies with the Vestry and other key lay leaders, but we have also provided for parish-wide input.

In the meantime, we will keep being the Church in both virtual and traditional ways for as long as necessary. Our love of God and neighbor comes before all else.

Peace,
Rev. Heather & Rev. Molly 
on behalf of the Saints James and Andrew Vestry

A Process for Moving Forward 
Saints James and Andrew, Greenfield 

Goals:                        

1. We will keep being the Church in both virtual and traditional ways for as long as necessary. Our love of God and neighbor comes before all else. 
2. We will move slowly, cautiously and prayerfully, following the guidance of Bishop Fisher, Governor Baker, the CDC, and WHO.  We fully recognize and understand that even after the phased reopening of our buildings, we may need to close them again depending on how the virus spreads. 
3. ​We will be transparent in our process with all staff, parishioners, and community members. 
4. We will strive to communicate with consistency and clarity, providing updates and FAQs that will be posted on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. 
5. We will offer opportunities for feedback from the parish throughout this process. 

May 19
The Vestry met and adopted a Process for Moving Forward.

We reviewed Bishop Fisher’s latest Pastoral Directive, stating that our buildings will remain closed until at least July 1.  The Directive states that diocesan guidelines for moving forward will be made available no later than July 1.

We identified three working groups who will be prepared to meet, discuss, and plan how we will implement these new diocesan guidelines:

• Worship Working Group:   Rev. Heather Blais, Rev. Molly Scherm, Rev. Deacon Ann Wood, Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, Ella Ingraham, Bill Hattendorf, and Elle Morgan
• Property Use, Outreach, & Events Working Group:  Rev. Heather Blais, Rev. Molly Scherm, Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, Alan Kurkulonis, Andy Levchuk, and Maggie Sweeney
• Zoom Church Chats Working Group:  Rev. Heather Blais, Karen Greene, Charlie Houghton, and Rudy Renaud

July 1 or before
Diocesan Guidelines will become available.

Working groups will begin to meet approximately once a week to identify how we will live into these new guidelines.
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To Be Determined
1.  The Worship Working Group and the Property Use, Outreach, and
Events Working Group will each draft a document with instructions for implementing new diocesan guidelines at SsJA, while the Zoom Church Chats Working Group will draft a plan for church chats and/or other means through which parish members will be able to ask questions, share concerns, and provide feedback to the thinking of the Working Groups.

2.  The Vestry will review the draft documents and make modifications as appropriate. 

3.  Relevant Ministry Team leaders will be consulted and provide feedback on the current drafts.

4.  The working groups will make additional modifications.

5.  The Vestry will review and finalize the documents. 

6.  The clergy will merge the documents into draft Parish Guidelines and use both Diocesan Guidelines and draft Parish Guidelines to create a FAQs document. 

7.  The parish will be sent a link to Diocesan Guidelines, the draft Parish Guidelines, and a series of scheduled Zoom church chats (and/or other means of joining the parish conversation) in the newsletter.  This information will also be made available on our website and social media. 

8.  The parish will gather through Zoom church chats to share feelings and discuss concerns about moving forward and to offer feedback on the proposed Parish Guidelines. 

9.  The feedback from the church chats will then be used to modify and update the Parish Guidelines.

10.  The Vestry will vote to approve the Parish Guidelines.
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 Eventually
Based on the Diocesan and approved Parish Guidelines, along with government guidelines, we will begin to move forward in phases, as appropriate.