Because of increased transmission of the COVID-19 virus and its variants in Los Angeles County, the LA County Department of Health has reinstated an indoor mask mandate for vaccinated as well as non-vaccinated people as of 11:59 p.m on Saturday, July 17.
The Office of the Bishop calls upon the people and congregations of the SWCA Synod to comply with the county mandates and protect one another, whether vaccinated or not, by wearing masks during indoor worship, as well to continue to observe distancing and sanitation protocols. We ask the church community to continue to model Martin Luther's advice in the face of a 16th Century pandemic: therefore I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence...See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.
From Interim Bishop Murray Finck's communique, "A Safe Return:"
We followers of Jesus are called to care for all around us in ways that will never put ourselves and others at unnecessary risk. God has been and will always be with us. God’s Church will continue to discover ways to tell the Good News as it has done for two thousand years through every imaginable dilemma. God will bless and keep us all these holy days.
Our caution and our care for each other has allowed us to gather together in ways we were not able to over the past year and a half - let us continue follow COVID-19 safety guidelines so that this good trend may continue.
The Office of the Bishop, SWCA Synod
Bishop-Elect Brenda Bos
