Diocese of Maryland COVID-19 Response
Guidelines and Parameters
Individual congregations can seek permission to move from phase to phase depending on local
circumstance. The bishop may move a congregation back to an earlier phase if local circumstance
risk factors change and merit such action. These guidelines remain in effect and will change only as
local conditions require.

Red Phase: Suspension of Live In-person Public Worship Services and Public Use of
Property

Public Health Indicators: Civic authorities shut down all public gatherings and numbers of known
infections and deaths rising or near peak levels in state.

Worship:

Congregations encouraged to offer online worship
Services live-streamed using as few persons as necessary
For Eucharists, no distribution of Holy Sacrament either live or virtually; celebrants may
consume elements on behalf of congregation
Online social gathering and community building encourage

Other property use:

Outside tenants or small groups prohibited from gathering
Schools closed

Staff:

Strongly encouraged to work remotely. Essential reasons for coming into church offices
include processing mail, checks, bills and payroll, and setting up for live-streaming. Further
accommodations made for high-risk persons

Orange Phase: Significantly-limited Live In-person Public Use of Property

Public Health Indicators: Civic authorities allow for limited numbers of persons to gather and
numbers of known infections and deaths have fallen substantially in the region. Numbers of known
infections and deaths have declined in the county for fourteen (14) consecutive days.

Worship:

In conjunction with online services, limited number of worshipers may gather for in-person
worship inside or outside. Number of worshipers dependent upon modified seating
capacity to allow social distancing by household
Copies of Covenant for Regathering available in advance and at entrances
Mandatory use of masks or scarfs covering mouths and noses for entire time in church
buildings. Worship leaders with speaking role may remove mask only while speaking
Worshipers known to be diagnosed with COVID-19, actively sick or symptomatic are not to attend or must leave immediately. Worshipers with underlying health risks are discouraged from attending service
No choirs or congregational singing allowed. Churches may allow, however, for one cantor who is at least 20 feet away from other worshipers to sing alone on the congregation’s behalf. Other worshipers may join in silently while hymns and psalms are sung by the cantor
No touching others outside one’s household during any portion of service
Offerings: online and regular electronic giving encouraged. Offering plate placed on table near entrance and other access points for in-person gathering
For Eucharist, no distribution of wine. Only celebrant consumes host and wine. After Invitation to Communion, only wafers to be distributed, (the wafers having been consecrated by celebrant wearing mask). Communicants may come forward to receive standing only and continue to maintain social distancing
Holy water basins and baptismal fonts must be emptied during this period
No live coffee hours, potluck meals, or live community building times allowed
In addition to making hand sanitizers widely available, churches must disinfect all doorknobs and handles before and after each church service
Emergency baptism and anointing only, at discretion of cleric’s comfort level and using gloves and masks
Weddings, funerals complying with other worship guidelines. No food receptions allowed
Pastoral care administered via telephone or video conferencing only

Other building use:

Groups may gather following guidelines for this phase: social distancing, mandatory mask
use, cleaning and disinfecting before and after
COVID-19 signage at primary entrances
Schools may resume following guidelines for this phase

Staff:

Staff may return to office, but remote working still encouraged. Guidelines for social
distancing and cleaning and disinfecting apply. Mask use only necessary in shared areas; not
necessary in individual office area

Yellow Phase: Moderately-limited In-person Public Worship Services and Property Use
Public Health Indicators: Vaccine has been developed to effectively prevent spread of disease
and/or test to detect disease widely available. Numbers of known infections and deaths fallen to
near zero in state. Widespread testing and tracking.

Worship:

No social distancing required
People who are COVID-19 positive, actively sick or symptomatic are still not to attend
Masks optional
Singing may resume
All Eucharistic guidelines of Orange Phase still in effect
Distribution may be at altar rail only if rail is disinfected after each group fills row
In-person social hours with light refreshments may be offered with professionally prepared and packaged food products (no home-prepared food)
All sanitizing practices still in effect
Baptisms permitted at cleric’s and family’s discretion and comfort level
Weddings, funerals, anointing permitted at cleric’s and family’s discretion and comfort level
Receptions using professionally prepared and packaged food products
Pastoral care may be in person using mask and gloves with persons with any communicable disease

Other building use:

COVID-19 signage remains in place
Masks optional
Food and beverage use still limited to professionally prepared and packaged food products

Staff:

May return and not required to wear masks or maintain social distancing. Accommodations
still encouraged for high-risk persons

Green Phase: All Live In-Person Public Worship Services Allowed with Few Limitations
Public Health Indicators: Civic authorities have allowed all public gatherings. No reported new
cases of pandemic infections in the state for at least two weeks. Widespread testing and tracking.

Worship:

Those who are COVID-19 positive, actively sick or symptomatic are still not to attend
Acolytes no longer need to wipe down the altar rail after each round of worshipers have
been communicated
Holy water basins and baptismal fonts may be refilled
The Passing of the Peace should be not extend beyond a few minutes. Words, hugs and fist
& elbow touching are allowed – but no handshakes
Offerings may be collected as the congregation chooses, using a variety of means
For Eucharistic celebrations, traditional practices may resume, and wine can be distributed
to all who desire it – except that worshipers may not intinct (dipping the bread into the
cup). If intinction is desired, a eucharistic server follows the clergy person distributing the
bread, and that server alone dips the wafer into the consecrated wine and places it on the
tongue of the worshiper
Baptism and other sacramental rites have no restrictions except for those with COVID-19
positive or symptomatic
In-person coffee hours, potluck meals, and community building times may resume
In addition to making hand sanitizers widely available, churches should still wipe down all
doorknobs and handles before and after each church service
No restrictions on pastoral care visits, except the use of masks and gloves still required for
any diagnosed or symptomatic COVID-19 persons

Other building use:

No restrictions except for people who are showing signs of possible infection

Staff:

• Can return fully, but accommodations are still encouraged for high risk persons

These guidelines are developed in accordance with recommendations of the Center for Disease
Control, the World Health Organization, Episcopal Relief and Development, and Johns Hopkins
University of Medicine and in compliance with federal and State of Maryland policies.

For specific guidance on preparing for regular disinfecting after regathering:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html

EPA guidance on disinfecting products:
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

Training for ushers (and/or greeters):

Before worship, entrance doors are to be propped open if possible. All door knobs and
restroom light switches disinfected
Bulletins placed near entrances for congregants to pick up themselves
Door handles disinfected repeatedly and consistently
Make sure hand sanitizer available
Keep track of number of participants to ensure maximum capacity not violated
No open seating. Guide people (while social distancing) to available seats, keeping in mind
size of household
Ask people displaying symptomatic behavior to leave
Used bulletins not reused for subsequent services
Door handles and other contact surfaces cleaned and disinfected after
Checklists printed and maintained as record for liability purposes. A sample disinfecting
checklist is listed below

Signage:

“STOP and help us stay safe. Do not enter property if you have been exposed
recently to someone with Covid-19 or if you are experiencing symptoms.” signs
displayed at all public entrances

Seating Capacity:

Generally speaking, expect normal seating capacity to be reduced to 15-25 percent
capacity depending upon architectural layout. Calculate based on an average
household unit of two being able to sit together with minimum of six feet to the next
closest person
Generally speaking, pews are spaced every 33-36″, so typically only every other pew will be usable
Generally speaking, seating clusters of two per household can be assumed when determining capacity
Aisle access does not necessarily have to maintain six feet from seated congregants as long as that proximity is brief while people are moving in aisle

Approved Communion Distribution Practices:

Wafers only, consecrated on tray(s) in individual disposable paper pill cups or placed at
least one inch apart on a corporal or purificator. Altar guild prepares cups Celebrant
remains masked for prayer of consecration and/or wafers remained covered during the
consecrations to prevent contamination. Tray(s) placed on altar during consecration and
moved to separate table in front of altar for distribution
Wafers only, consecrated in ciborium or other container and distributed by cleric after
prayer of consecration using hand sanitizer and gloves to drop into individual cupped hands
as congregants come forward six feet apart
Congregants maintain masks except to briefly consume wafer by slipping it in mouth from
bottom of mask
Congregants can wait to consume until all have received the wafer in the hand and all have
returned to seats, at which time the cleric would say, “The Body of Christ…” and all would
receive simultaneously “as one”
Drive-by distribution may be performed by cleric at end of service for those who
participated virtually but are not ready to enter the church interior
Contact [email protected] to seek approval for other adaptive practices

Midweek property use:

Staff wash hands regularly. Door knobs and other contact surfaces cleaned at least twice a
day
Rooms used by church or outside groups cleaned before and after use
Outside groups given copies of Covenant for Regathering Outside Groups and asked to
comply
Outside groups trained to disinfect and provided sufficient supplies to do so

Sample
DISINFECTING CHECKLIST:
(in chronological order of treatment)
List of touch surfaces to be disinfected for Sunday worship:
Door to women’s restroom
Light switches in women’s restroom
Faucet handles in women’s restroom
Stall doors and toilet handles
Door to men’s restroom
Light switches in men’s restroom
Faucet handles in men’s restroom
Stall doors and toilet handles
Altar rail
Backs of pews
Pew cushions of used areas
Light switch(es) for worship space
Interior door to nave
Light switches for narthex
Entrance door handles (outside and inside)

Date:
Time of day completed:
Name:
Signature:

Covenant for Groups Regathering in Episcopal
properties in the Diocese of Maryland

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, I agree, to the best of my
ability, to abide by the guidelines of the Diocese of Maryland for behavior and
safe practices while on church property. I agree to:

Wear a mask or scarf over my nose and mouth at all times in church
buildings
Only attend meetings or events if I am healthy and non-symptomatic
with COVID-19 or any other transmittable disease that could
compromise the health of another participant
Make no physical contact with people beyond the members of my
own household
Maintain a six foot or more distance from other participants.
Respect any requests for distance, masking, cleaning, to ensure the
safety and comfort level of others, even as restrictions are reduced
Assist in disinfecting surfaces before, during or after building use

Dear friends,

As our state has begun to strategically plan a safe way to re-open, our Diocese has also created a strategic plan that will allow us to slowly gather for public worship. Bishop Sutton, our Diocesan bishop, has been working in conjunction with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde and Bishop Susan Goff, bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and Virginia respectively, in creating a four phase plan. There are public health indicators for each phase that must be met in order for each phase to be implemented.

Phase One:
Public Health Indicators are: COVID-19 CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE INCREASING

Church protocols with guidelines under phase one: Congregations holding virtual worship, live-streamed or recorded
Bible studies, coffee hours, social gatherings, and meetings via telephone or online
Pastoral care via telephone or online
Continued ministries of service and compassion within protocols of safety
First assessments of economic impact on members of the congregations and wider community–preliminary adjustments of budgets, ministry goals

Phase Two
Public Health Indicators are: 14-DAY CONSECUTIVE DECLINE IN NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND INTENSIVE CARE BED USE WIDESPREAD TESTING / CONTACT TRACING AVAILABLE TO TRACK THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT EVIDENCE THAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS HAVE SUFFICIENT EQUIPMENT AND ARE NOT OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER OF CASES

Church protocols with guidelines under phase two:
*Note: All re-gatherings require bishop’s advance approval of the congregation’s plan

Church offices may reopen in spaces large enough for physical distance to be maintained, with the requirement that proper sanitation measures be strictly adhered to and enforced
Small indoor church worship (under 50 or number designated by civic authorities) may re-start in spaces large enough for 6 feet of physical distance to be maintained between people
Outdoor worship for limited numbers with physical distancing
Restrictive practices for celebrations of the Eucharist
Small group gatherings permitted with physical distancing
Continued health/safety protocols, including the use of masks at all gatherings.
Ongoing care for the most vulnerable, engagement with those assessing the societal impact of the pandemic and advocacy for justice Next level assessment of pandemic’s impact on members of the congregation and community. Forecasting of necessary long-term adjustments of ministry initiatives. Exploration of collaborative partnerships
Virtual worship will still be necessary in all congregations to accommodate vulnerable populations and larger worshiping communities Pastoral care to those in high-risk categories for contracting the virus remains restricted, particularly for clergy and lay visitors in high-risk categories

Phase Three
Public Health Indicators are: COVID-19 CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS HAVE FALLEN TO NEAR ZERO WIDESPREAD TESTING AND TRACKING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WELL EQUIPPED AND ABLE TO TREAT ALL IN NEED

Church protocols with guidelines under phase three: Moderately Limited Gatherings (More Businesses and Institutions Reopened / Fewer Restrictions)

Increased number of persons allowed for public worship, according to guidelines set by health officials
Continued physical distancing and masking requirements likely
Restrictive practices may still guide the celebration of Eucharist, with gradual easing
Restrictions eased on office/classroom gathering, within guidelines
Larger group ministries (youth groups, camps, classes) may resume within established guidelines
Continued assessments of pandemic impact and prayerful discernment of future ministry

Phase Four
Public Health Indicators are: A VACCINE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND IS AVAILABLE TO ALL IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC TREATMENT OF PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS IS WIDELY AVAILABLE TESTING IS WIDESPREAD FOR VIRUS AND IMMUNITY

Church protocols with guidelines under phase four: Unlimited Gatherings with Some Protections (All or Most Physical Restrictions Lifted)

No limit to the number of worshipers who may attend, except that those who are known to be infectious, actively sick or who display any of the symptoms of being ill should not attend
Worshipers may wear masks throughout the service but masks will not be required
Sacramental worship and community gathering restrictions are lifted

Life After COVID-19: CONTINUED ADAPTATION TO NEW REALITY
No limit to the number of worshipers who may attend, except that those who are known to be infectious, actively sick or who display any of the symptoms of being ill should not attend Worshipers may wear masks throughout the service but masks will not be required Sacramental worship and community gathering restrictions are lifted

POST COVID-19 CHURCH INCREASED MISSION CAPACITY

Both in-person and virtual worship Both in-person and virtual meetings Increased engagement in small group gatherings and widespread pastoral care Increased online giving as well as in-person offerings Fruitful collaborative endeavors Right-sizing of building use and capacities to meet a growing mission field Streamlined, efficient use of financial and other resources Strategic efforts toward the realization of key strategic mission, vision and goals Emergency preparedness plans and strategies in place Each diocese will develop specific strategies and checklists for its unique situations.

I recognize that there are some who are frustrated as many businesses have remained open during this time, and questions such as “If they can remain open, why can’t we?” Perhaps the feeling that ‘our rights’ have been taken away, and you disagree with the measures that have been established by the Diocese.

Our church recognizes that there are many vulnerable people in our congregations, whether they are young children, people with autoimmune disease, asthma, low immunity as result from other illnesses or the elderly to name a few. Two commitments come to my mind from our Baptismal Covenant. The first is will you respect the dignity of every human being? We are called to be mindful of others and to respect their worth, not just to serve ourselves and our desires. The second is will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? If we love and want to protect ourselves, how can we love and protect others? Being separated from each other during a global pandemic is tough love. Through it, we are protecting our loved ones and ourselves. We often don’t like to give it, and we certainly don’t like to receive it. Tough love is painful, especially when we are grieving and separated from loved ones.

Personally, at this time, I would rather err on the side of caution.

Perhaps you might feel that the church is dying in all of this, as we cannot gather together in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers (as is laid out in one of the promises that we commit to in our baptismal covenant). But there is more that we commit to in our baptism. We commit ourselves to Christ as we affirm our faith with the Creed. We promise to continue in the apostles’ teaching (open your bible and find out what they say); resist evil and repent when we sin, and to turn ourselves to the Lord; proclaim by word and example the Good News of Jesus (remember that we are still in the season of Easter!); seek and serve Christ in all persons, and love your neighbor as yourself; to strive for justice and seek the dignity of every human being.

This is what it means to be the church. The church is not a building. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he reminds us that each of us is a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-31). We are called to serve Him in our lives with our own unique gifts. As long as we are living and able, we are the church. It is up to us if we chose to die as it’s member.

We will get through this. Just as God led the Israelites through the desert., Jesus, our Great Shepherd, leads us now.

Blessings,
Rev. Elizabeth+

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