Thank you to everyone who has been in contact either to advise they are waiting until at least 19 September to resume services or to forward a revised Action Plan, seeking to open this Sunday. I have some further information about this to share.

This has turned out to be a much bigger piece of work (in a short time frame) for the small team at the Diocesan office than originally anticipated. 

Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding as we work with you to ensure we are meeting the new Government guidelines to ensure we can safely and comfortably meet together at Delta Level 2.

Within the Diocese (and more widely) there has been a lot of correspondence and discussion as to what is “allowed” or not under Level 2 restrictions. This is an evolving situation, and I am grateful for the grace being shown as we try to keep each other safe.

The Anglican Church (with other denominations) is trying to come to some consensus with the Government and as at the time of writing it would appear that the only absolute requirements are:

• there are to be no more than 50 people meeting together indoors.
• Scanning in or signing in is to be mandatory.

The first condition is to limit the chances of a “super-spreader” event. 

In today’s ODT, Prof Michael Baker clearly outlines that the 50 limit is to stop this from happening. We will never be able to eliminate risk completely but having limited numbers of people who are in the same place and are contract traced etc, means that if anything happens, contract tracers can quickly track people down. That was the real challenge this time around in Auckland. See https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/return-level-1-depends-further-fall-cases.

The second condition is again for contact tracing purposes.

Set alongside this is the increasing recognition of how face coverings are protective - and we are strongly advising that they be worn.

There is also the increased infectivity of the Delta variant which suggests that increasing our distances from others would reduce our risk of being infected. This has led to a lot of questions as to how far apart should we sit. The essential advice given is that all individuals or “bubbles” keep a 2m distance from anyone they do not know, and 1m from anyone else. Because we cannot exclude the visitor or stranger we have to be prepared to err of the side of caution and work on the basis that everyone attending a service at a place of worship needs to keep 2 metres apart.

In trying to balance our legal duties with our social and Christian responsibilities I am reminding us all to respect the law – so scan in, and limit numbers to 50.

We also need to recognise our duty of love and to attempt to provide for what will suit your congregation. For example: congregations of over 100 will have to be creative in providing alternatives to a single service; congregations of less than 50 where everyone knows everyone else need to be aware of the stranger and visitor. (So no excuse for anyone to leave without being acknowledged and welcomed and not just “signed in”!)

Poorly ventilated buildings will increase the risk of spreading any air-borne infection – how does this fit with a plan to hold a hymn festival?!  I (and the government) are not mandating face-coverings, though this is one way of slowing the spread of the virus.

I am not trying to impose restrictions on any group, and I am wanting us all to be using this time as an opportunity to see what is at the heart of our faith and relationship with God.

Hopefully we will be able to update you all in time for those affected to be able to open for services next Sunday 19 September.

And Finally

Because of the tight turn around , the Diocesan office team will send back your Action Plan as approved by me, showing amendments highlighted. If Clergy and Wardens agree, please confirm by email with Nicola Wong - your confirmation will mean you are set to open for services this Sunday. 

If you need more clarification or do not agree with the Plan approved by me, please let us know - we will get back to you as soon as we can after we have responded to all those who have already submitted Plans. This may mean that you do not get a reply in time to open on Sunday.

Thank you for all you are doing to show God's love and care at this time.

+Steven