Texas Impact highlights statements of Texas religious leaders regarding the need to suspend in-person worship during the pandemic.
Public health officials have made it clear that physical distancing is essential for public safety and preventing the spread of the coronavirus. We agree with state leaders that religious services are essential, but join the chorus of Texas faith leaders calling for congregations to cancel in-person worship services and stay home.
While many in the media are highlighting pastors who are disregarding public safety guidance and threatening public safety, we want to highlight Texas’ many responsible faith leaders who are encouraging congregations to “love their neighbor” by prioritizing public safety…and staying home. Click on the religious leader’s names in blue to read their entire statements.
JUNE 26 UPDATE
Bishop Sue Briner, Southwestern Texas Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Through this crisis, I have been very aware of my duty to maintain a healthy boundary in my role as your bishop and our polity that preserves the autonomy of congregational governance. I feel I must push this boundary today due to the public health implications of the spike in positive tests and the daunting fact that cities like San Antonio are projecting a shortage of hospital beds in coming weeks.
It is my love and care for the people of our synod that urges me to become more bold in my request. I pray for your safety and health in this time when even the experts are unsure what the pandemic may bring.
Please show that you care for each other by sacrificing the return to gathering. We all long to be together again in-person and share in the nurturing rituals of our faith and the joy of our relationships. There has not yet been a more dangerous time to do so since this crisis began. We must consider this deeply.
As Martin Luther reminds us in The Freedom of a Christian, “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.” In this time of rising spread of Covid-19, it is essential our communities model this neighbor love and call to discipleship. Your leaders have worked hard to bring you online worship experiences and connection. Choosing not to gather in-person in a time of pandemic is a form of worship. It is acknowledgement that our desires are not as important as our neighbor’s health and safety.
Bishop Micheal Rinehart, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
I want to remind you that having in-person worship is only recommended if your area has seen two weeks of declining cases. Even if you are comfortable with a certain amount of risk, you do not want to put your people in danger, especially the most vulnerable. Love does no harm to a neighbor.
Rt. Rev David Reed, Episcopal Bishop of West Texas
We have said all along that the pandemic has not gone away; surges are likely; paying attention to local health officials is crucial; and we must all understand that we may need to backtrack. All plans these days are subject to change.
Dallas faith leaders: Freedom of religion is not absolute
We reject the claim that continued closure is somehow an insult to religious faith and freedom…The recommendations provided in the form of the UJG cannot adequately ensure the health and well-being of Texans. We believe this situation is a rare example of how and when the free exercise of religion must be limited…Our support for the continued closure of our buildings and suspension of our gatherings is in fact an expression of our faith. Our faith leads us to compassionate concern for all members of society, and we know that staying closed saves lives. Our faith leads us to acts of sacrifice, including the temporary sacrifice of familiar modes and places of prayer in order to contribute to public health and the public good. Our faith warns us about idols, including the idols that even our physical houses of worship can become. Our buildings may be closed, but the hearts of the faithful continue to open: in prayer, in song, in study, in acts of compassion and the urge to justice. From the Israelites’ wandering to Jesus’ trials in the wilderness to Mohammed’s sacred pilgrimage, our traditions have never centered on the fixity of mortar and brick, but on the openness of the human heart. To maintain community without physical gathering presents a profound challenge to us as religious leaders, but not an impossible one.
Our NT-NL leaders, along with public leaders at every level of society, have been challenged to make difficult decisions in the face of uncertainty. Decisions we make not only for our own safety and well being, but also that of our neighbors.
Practicing physical separation means that we must make difficult decisions about worship and life in community. It is my strong recommendation and hope that NT-NL congregations would suspend in-person worship indefinitely.
Bishop Sue Briner, Southwestern Texas Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
We must comply with public officials’ restrictions and prohibitions regarding gatherings. This is a gospel matter—we are to love our neighbors as ourselves—right now, this means protecting others from potential exposure. It’s also a matter of law, theological and civil. Our confessions state clearly that we must act as a church within the boundaries of civil authority apart from acts of sin—right now, sin may be risking lives through careless choices.
Worship – Please resist the urge to gather. I appreciate the impact of the many creative and responsible ways in which you’ve been providing inspiration to your members. You are together through the alternatives to in-person worship and your other outreach.
Bishop Scott Mayer, Episcopal Dioceses of Fort Worth
I am asking each congregation to suspend in-person worship services, and for each of you to worship with us from your homes for the next two Sundays, after which we will evaluate. I am not requiring you to cancel every event on your campuses. Experts are recommending no gatherings of more than ten people, so I am asking for congregational leaders to use good judgment regarding small gatherings. Finally, it is important for the Church to model responsibility during this very serious moment. It is going to take all of us to slow the spread of this virus – which will save lives.
Bishop Mike Lowry, Central Texas Conference, United Methodist Church
In-person worship is to be suspended at this time. We STRONGLY encourage the implementation of online worship.
Bishop Earl Bledsoe, Northwest Texas and New Mexico Annual Conferences, United Methodist Church
Our political leaders and healthcare professionals have all come together to provide guidelines for us to live by in order to minimize the spread of the virus over the weeks and months ahead. The threat is real, and the risks are high, if we do nothing.
Bishop Scott Jones, Texas Annual Conference, United Methodist Church
In light of Governor Abbot’s announcement yesterday, I strongly encourage you not to hold worship services or group meetings during the month of April. We must do no harm and do good! We can stay in love with God via technology. Some of you are experimenting with drive-in worship. While that poses fewer risks, the best practice remains online worship from our homes.
Bishop Michael J. Sis, Catholic Diocese of San Angelo
Effective immediately, and until further notice, it is my sad duty to announce that we must discontinue the “parking lot Masses,” “outdoor car Masses,” and Masses in outdoor facilities. All Catholic Masses in the Diocese of San Angelo are to be celebrated without an assembly, whether indoors or outdoors, including people gathered in cars. The practice of distributing Holy Communion outside the church after Masses without an assembly is also to be discontinued.
Catholics in the Diocese of San Angelo are still dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays, until further notice.
Rather than attending Mass, Catholics are encouraged during this time period to pray at home, meditate on the Scripture readings of the day, and enjoy the many opportunities for the broadcast of the Mass through television, radio, or online.
Michael Curry, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop
“Considering this changing landscape, I believe that suspension of in-person public worship is generally the most prudent course of action at this time, even during Holy Week and on Easter Day. I am also mindful that local situations vary. Bishops must make this determination and the duration of said suspension in their respective dioceses, based on the public health situation in their context and the recommendations or requirements of government agencies and officials.
“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.”
Rt. Rev David Reed, Episcopal Bishop of West Texas
“Each day during Holy Week there are so many things that are tangible and material, and part of the difficulty of being physically apart in this season when we are drawn so closely together is that the stuff of our worship is not accessible to us. And so, I hope and encourage you to hold on to the signs and symbols of Holy Week.
Literally, hold onto them. Find a branch to hold onto for Palm Sunday. Find a pitcher of water, a clean towel, and a bowl for Maundy Thursday. Find a nail for Good Friday or a small wooden cross. Be mindful of these symbols that are so powerful in our lives as we journey through this beautiful, and holy, and tragic time together.
The Rt. Rev. Michael Buerkel Hunn, Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande
We are not going to close our churches, but we are going to adapt the ministry we do. We are not going to meet in public places, or gather at the church, but we are going to continue to do the ministries that God has called us to d
The Rt. Rev. Dr. George R. Sumner Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas
I blanched at the idea of suspending worship, and yet again at the prospect of being shuttered for Easter! But we are doing what must be done in a hard and anomalous hour.
We will make it across together, by the grace of God. I cannot say when we will be able once more to pray in person and together in our churches, but it will be as soon as safely and prudently possible.
“Because heaven and earth belong to God, we may worship in any place.”
Bishop Micheal Rinehart, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Texans are aware of Governor Abbott’s stay-at-home order, issued yesterday, that goes into effect tonight at midnight. The order has suspended on-campus learning at schools until May 4 at least, and orders Texans to stay at home unless providing or securing “essential services.” Gov. Abbott designated churches as essential services.
The order says, If religious services cannot be conducted from home or through remote services, they should be conducted consistent with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC by practicing good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation, and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
While I appreciate the impulse of religious freedom, I would dissuade congregations from having parking lot services, especially in urban centers. Why risk putting the most vulnerable in danger? The most loving thing we can do right now is make the sacrifice to stay home and keep them safe.
Most Reverend Robert M. Coerver Bishop Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock
On Wednesday afternoon most of the Bishops of Texas participated in a conference call to discuss the Governor’s order and its impact on our decisions regarding the administration of Sacraments. As you are probably aware, the Governor explicitly defined church activities as “essential services,” and that has been upheld by the state Attorney General. But we are still under orders to carry out such services in keeping with the national guidelines set forth by the federal government – specifically, we cannot gather more than ten people together, and the “social distance” of at least six feet of separation between persons must be maintained.
In keeping with those guidelines, there is a consensus among the Bishops of Texas that the practice of only private Masses be continued, hopefully livestreamed, with only needed liturgical ministers and video technicians present, never to exceed a total of 10 persons (counting the priest).
Due to the danger of contagion, Holy Communion cannot be distributed to persons not within the church building. Most of the Bishops are also not allowing palms to be distributed as a safety precaution – we will not be distributing palms in the Diocese of Lubbock because doing so carries the danger of contagion.
Dr. Griff Martin, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Austin
At this time, we think we will not be in our regular worship space until early May.
Bishop Michael McKee, North Texas Annual Conference, United Methodist Church
As a pastor for 30 years, I never canceled a worship service. With ice and snow on the ground, a small group of people and I would gather to worship wherever I served. Last week was the first time in my ministry I have been part of canceling worship services. It was necessary and wise in order to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
As Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” This is a vivid reminder to us all that church isn’t simply the building where we worship on Sundays or conduct programming throughout the week. This could be a time when we create even more new spaces.
On Sunday throughout the North Texas Conference, we saw proof that the spirit of God is alive and well where it matters most: in the hearts of all United Methodists and in our communities. I commend our pastors and lay leaders for putting together quality worship experiences for our congregations despite the conditions brought about by the coronavirus and COVID-19.
Bishop Andrew Doyle, Episcopal Diocese of Texas
“As I was thinking about that and realized how we, all of us, are going through this trial and this time in which things feel like sand is moving under our feet and the regularity and normalcy of a daily schedule, routine, work and family life has all been changed as we come to be confined in our homes, we need to remember that it’s actually not any of those things, the regularity, the normalcy, the substance, the work, the wealth, all of those things. Actually, we have a hope-filled faith that buoys us up at moments like this.“
“So I encourage you in this time. I don’t know what the next few weeks will bring. I don’t know how this virus will continue to spread across the United States or even in our own diocese or in our own towns, but I know that it will not defeat us, that we have an amazing faith, a hope in God that will deliver us through this time, and that nothing can separate us in this moment.“
Bishop Robert Schnase, Rio Texas Annual Conference, United Methodist Church
Yesterday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott extended his executive order enforcing federal social distancing guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19. The renewed order, found here, was noted to include an exemption for religious services, only where online services are impossible to provide, and then following the social distancing guidelines issued by the President and the CDC. Those guidelines include a restriction on gatherings of more than 10 people.
We acknowledge and commend those Rio Texas church leaders and participants who have adopted alternative, creative ways to gather virtually for worship and support. Especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter, we encourage churches to continue working in this way. The next several weeks will be critical in our effort to stem the spread of the virus, and the cooperative effort of all of us is important. Our willingness to amend our practices is a gift we give to people we may never meet.
Unitarian Universalist Association
Overall, we feel it is essential for all of us to err on the side of caution and to support public health. The most important thing the public can do is to help flatten the curve of transmission so there will be hospital capacity for those who need that level of care. We also recognize that those at highest risk—people over 60 or anyone with underlying health or respiratory issues—are not just members of our congregations, but they are also our ministers and staff. We hope that our actions and recommendations can help staff and leaders make good decisions that center the health and wellbeing of the community as a whole.
Campbell Lovett, Consulting Conference Minister, South Central Conference United Church of Christ
I’ve been thinking a lot about these verses from Romans 5 over the past few weeks. They remind me of our new national mantra that goes something like this: staying home reduces the spread of the coronavirus, and reducing the spread “flattens the curve,” and flattening the curve means fewer virus victims, and fewer victims produce a faster recovery, and a faster recovery produces the hope that we will be able to get through this very difficult time. This is not a season for boasting, but it is very much a time for endurance and character and hope.
Proclamation of Compassion and Care
THEREFORE, we call on all people of faith, no matter the expression of faith, to join in our urgent appeal not to congregate or gather in person for worship and prayer until the pandemic threat is resolved. We commend our government and community leaders in taking action for our welfare and resolve to work in one accord with our civic leaders to maintain physical distance as a means to diminish the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to respectfully honor the sanctity of human life.
Houston Rabbinical Association Guidelines
The County Order from Harris County states the following as it pertains to houses of worship:
Faith leaders may minister and counsel in individual settings, so long as social distance protocols are followed. Religious and worship services may only be provided by video and teleconference. Religious institutions must limit in-person staff to those necessary for preparing for or conducting video or teleconference services, and all individuals must follow the Social Distancing Guidelines, including the six-foot social distancing.
Based on these regulations and the Jewish value of pikuach nefesh (preserving life), these are the current guidelines for Jewish life cycle events.