With the outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States and around the world, congregations and houses of worship need to be well-informed and well-prepared. The following information offers guidance as we minister to and engage with each other, and within our communities, as the body of Christ.

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton issued a statement in response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Martin Luther, said the bishop, “emphasized the duty to care for the neighbor, the responsibility of government to protect and provide services to its citizens, a caution about recklessness, and the importance of science, medicine and common sense.” Read the full statement.

In Bishop Eaton’s video message to this church about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said that even though “this is a time of disruption. It is also a time for us to live and act as faithful people of God.”

Numerous resources that offer guidance for congregations and members are available at www.elca.org/PublicHealth.