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We acknowledge with gratitude the traditional territories of our Indigenous and Metis neighbours and their hospitality. 
We offer our respect and commitment to living into right relationship with all our relations.

Resource Update and Check-in

June 01, 2020

To: Pastoral Charge Supervisors (Lay)

Greetings from the Pastoral Relations Minister of Prairie to Pine Regional Council
 
I wanted to check in at this point as the province of Manitoba has announced that Phase two of the re-opening plan will take effect on Monday, June 01, 2020. The details of this are available online at: https://engagemb.ca/restoring-safe-services-phase-two

Because in Manitoba the gathering sizes were adjusted effective May 22, 2020  from 10 people to  25 indoors and 50 outdoors adhering to all social distancing protocols, there were no further adjustments announced to this particular factor effective June 01, 2020. There are some other aspects of the re-opening that may effect some Communities of Faith who may share their facilities with daycares or nursery schools or seniors programs. Please check online for these details.

There have been no changes of late to restrictions of gathering sizes in the Province of Ontario. Regional Councils whose total membership is within the province are closely monitoring the health restrictions and will ensure that Prairie to Pine is aware of any shifts that effect communities of faith.

I also wanted to make you aware of some additional resources that may be of assistance to the governing bodies in Communities of Faith as they make decisions around re-opening offices, discerning when to re-engage in face to face worship and navigating arrangements with other users within the building.

You have been made aware of all resources developed by General Council:
https://www.united-church.ca/community-faith/being-community/reopening-churches-during-covid-19

Some guidelines related to worshiping communities that have been published by government/health authorities in other jurisdictions:
Guidelines developed on May 18, 2020 by the Province of Alberta specifically for Faith Communities based on Alberta’s Health Protocols:
https://open.alberta.ca/publications/covid-19-information-guidance-for-places-of-worship

Guidelines developed by the Government/Health Authority in Saskatchewan specifically for worshipping communities:
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/re-open-saskatchewan-plan/guidelines/places-of-worship-guidelines

Guidelines developed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church (E.L.C.I.C.) Manitoba and NW Ontario Synod considering Manitoba Health regulations and their denominational principles (good links around explanation for no singing and standards for cleaning):
http://mnosynod.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020-05-22-Re-opening-guideline-COVID-19.pdf

Discernment Documents developed by Chinook Winds Regional Council considering Alberta Health orders:
https://chinookwindsregion.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Chinook-Winds-Reopening-Churches-During-COVID19-Discernment-and-Guidelines1.pdf

and Pacific Mountain  Regional Council considering health orders in B.C.:
https://pacificmountain.ca/wordpress2017/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/PMRC-Reopening-Churches-During-COVID19-Discernment-and-Guidelines
 
Shannon McCarthy, Elizabeth Brown and I were invited to participate in a brief consultation with the government of Manitoba, Minister of Infrastructure on Wednesday, May 27th, 2020. It is my understanding that consultations were being held with other faith groups before next week in the hopes of responding to particular needs/requests of our sector. (If you go on to www.engagemb.ca you will see some guidelines specifically geared to other sectors: business, industry, sports). We asked for a document similar to that published by the Government of Alberta as Guidelines for Worshipping Communities and some more specific guidance related to other aspects of ministry. We will now wait on a response.

Other forums that have been held this past week have some food for thought to offer:
A National consultation offered by the WayBase Network with Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health of Nova Scotia. Robert is a part of the Federal team that developed Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan and can speak to how it applies in all provinces.
 
PowerPoint used is available through:  
United in Learning webinar on Thursday, May 28, 2020 related to re-opening church buildings with Ontario resource people in anticipation of how to deal with matters related to worship, building use by renters or other user groups and cleaning addressing social distance and other restrictions when rules are relaxed.
Here is the link to the recording and PowerPoint related to that webinar:
https://www.united-in-learning.com/index.php/webinars/recordings/346-congregational-programming-opening-our-buildings-may-28

The Prairie to Pine Regional Council Executive meets on Thursday, June 04, 2020 and will have an opportunity to discuss the state of things within Communities of Faith within throughout the Prairie to Pine  Regional Council  and whether there are sufficient resources available to communities of faith as they discern what their lives will be like in the coming weeks as pandemic restrictions shift. If you find that there is information that you would like to share with the Regional Council Executive or specific things that you need from the Regional Council Executive that are not available in the resources listed above, please email either the Regional Council Executive Minister (SMcCarthy@united-church.ca) or Lori Stewart, one of the Co-Chairs (Loristewart@hagerman.ca) prior to Thursday’s meeting.
 
I trust that you are all taking time for self-care during these days when we are being challenged to do ministry and be church differently. For some that is exciting and energizing; for others it can be stretching and draining and for most it is likely a bit of both.

Peace to you all…..

Judy Hare, Pastoral Relations Minister,
Prairie to Pine Regional Council  
jhare@united-church.ca
204-421-8151
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