March 31, 2020 “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” – Romans 12:4-5 In these uncertain times when your congregation is not meeting in-person, it is easy to say to yourself that because you are not meeting, the church doesn’t need my offering. So often we see the church as the building and we forget the church is the people of God. Your congregation is not closed. Your congregation’s ministry has moved outside the building. The body of Christ is still alive and well. You can continue to participate in the body of Christ and your congregation’s ministry even while we are apart: Stay well. Wash your hands, stay home, eat well, exercise. Keeping yourself well in these days will allow you to help others. Help others. Even though we are apart, you can help others. Offer to make a few phone calls to check on members. If you are able, pick up medication for someone who cannot get out. If someone needs groceries and is not able to order online, offer to make the order and schedule the delivery. Pray. The news is often daunting and confusing. One thing remains true: you are a beloved child of God, called and claimed in the waters of baptism. Pray for your pastor, congregation members, community agencies, health-care workers, first responders, grocery store workers, small business owners, truck drivers, farmers, and all those who continue to work to help us sustain ourselves. Give. Continuing to give your offering is another way you can participate in your congregation’s ministry. If your congregation is set-up for online giving, you can give in that way. You also can mail a check to the church which includes your name and envelope number. Your congregation’s ministries continue to be a blessing to the community in these unusual days. Feeding ministries, prayer ministries, visitation by phone, and a host of other ministries are still happening through your congregation. We are proud of our pastors and deacons and lay worship leaders as they continue to find creative ways to be the church together even though we are apart. Please continue to financially support your congregation while we are apart, your gift ensures that your congregation will be able to continue its ministry long after this crisis is over. May God’s peace and blessing be with you now and always. The staff in the Office of the Bishop of the Allegheny Synod +Bishop Michael Rhyne Pastor Becca Ehrlich, Director for Evangelical Mission Pastor Paula Schmitt, Assistant to the Bishop Mrs. Michelle Bossler, Office Manager

This afternoon Mrs. Heather Kimmel, General Council for the UCC held a webcast on the Family First Coronavirus Relieve Act (FFCRA). Mrs. Kimmel gave an overview of the new law and how churches may be able to benefit from this law in paying and caring for their lay employees. This is the link to the video of the webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VLMQL0khwE&feature=youtu.be

This document is the updated information from the ELCA on Covid-19 relief for individuals and congregations. Continue to check back here for further updates.

Dear church, The last couple of weeks have been trying ones for everyone across this church. Our synods, congregations and ministries are facing challenges that they’ve never faced before. Being church together means more now than ever before. The churchwide office is launching a comprehensive Covid-19 response across the ELCA beginning today. We have three new approaches designed to provide several levels of support for our most vulnerable congregations and ministries. These three approaches are Daily Bread Grants, Here to Serve, and the Covid-19 Response Appeal. DAILY BREAD GRANTS ELCA World Hunger is announcing the immediate launch of Daily Bread Matching Grants. Through these grants, ELCA congregations can raise funds for their feeding ministries using an online fundraising platform and will receive a grant of $500 from ELCA World Hunger. Up to 100 Daily Bread Matching Grants are available for ELCA congregations on a first-come, first-served basis, with the possibility of more grants becoming available in the future. Apply or donate here. HERE TO SERVE The churchwide organization is inherently a resource in support of the members, congregations, synods and partners of the ELCA. During this time, Domestic Mission will pivot to a project-based, service-oriented structure so this church knows we are here to serve. By the first week of April, we will launch a chat function on ELCA.org along with an 800 hotline for prayer, support and questions that will be answered by our staff. As soon as these channels are live, we will let you know. COVID-19 RESPONSE APPEAL It’s more important now than ever to support our church across the country through these difficult times. We will begin to raise funds to support our congregations, ministries and synods. This effort will launch the week of March 30 via email and social media with a special form online to donate. In addition to our new three-pronged response, our work continues in providing and updating resources on ELCA.org/publichealth. We are also still at work in the world. Our global mission work continues and grows in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are working with our global companions to provide support where we can. Learn more about that here. I am proud to say that even during challenging times, we continue our service in living out the mission of this church: Together in Jesus Christ we are freed by grace to live faithfully, witness boldly and serve joyfully. Peace and be well, [if gte vml 1]>

Friends, Today, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches released A Pastoral Statement at a Time of Global Pandemic. Please feel free to share with your congregations or in other ways as you see fit. We have been maintaining a page with a variety of COVID-19 resources here, updated nearly daily. Here are the most recent additions (note in particular addition of resources for comfort): New York State Council of Churches’ Coronavirus Guide for Pastoral Leaders, Judicatories, and Congregations New PA Department of Agriculture COVID-19 Resources PA Department of Agriculture Community Feeding Guidance PA Department of Agriculture Guidance for Agricultural Producers COVID-19 Guidance for Grocery and Convenience Stores New FederalCOVID-19 Resources Waiver Granted: Food at Congregate Feeding Sites Can be Packaged and Carried Out What You Need to Know About the Government’s Break for Student Loan Borrowers Amid the Coronavirus New CDC Guidance: Unsheltered Homelessness and COVID-19) Financial Relief for Small Businesses & Nonprofits (seeking clarification on whether congregations are eligible) Information for Persons Who Wish to Volunteer During COVID-19 PA School Closures Extended, New Legislation Reduces Standardized Test Score Impact on Teachers Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Medical Assistance Watch a Doctor Demonstrate How to Safely Bring Groceries Home During the Coronavirus Crisis Love and Comfort in a Time of Global Pandemic—Assorted Resources We hope that you find this information helpful as you continue to navigate these choppy waters. Blessings and peace, Rev. Sandra L. Strauss Director of Advocacy & Ecumenical Outreach Pennsylvania Council of Churches

Friends, Recently we announced the suspension of in-person services and in-person meetings in the Allegheny Synod through April 6, 2020. This week members of our Synod team and several pastors took part in a conference call with the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine. Dr. Levine was very candid in her discussion of the current situation. Dr. Levine shared that infection rates are doubling every few days. Her estimation is that the shutdown will extend into May. As more people begin to be infected with the Coronavirus, we may see stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders extended to our area. The stay-at-home orders are, at the time of this writing, in effect for five Pennsylvania counties. With this new information, we must suspend our in-person worship services and in-person meetings indefinitely. To gather at this time, while the infection rate of Covid-19 is exponentially growing and doubling every few days, would be dangerous and would expose the most vulnerable among us to serious illness and could lead to the death of our beloved members. We do not have a date for resumption of in-person services. I strongly encourage your Council to make this decision. I learned this week from Bishop Bartholomew in New Jersey that one of their congregations has had three people die from Covid-19 and, at this time, four people are ill in the hospital with the virus. This is a small congregation where everyone knows and loves each other—not unlike many of the congregations in the Allegheny Synod. They mourn the death of three beloved sisters and brothers in Christ and are praying that they will not mourn the death of seven. This is why we can’t meet together. We don’t want our congregations to be a health hazard to our members. We don’t want to lose people we love. I don’t want any of you to get sick, die, or to accidentally pass what could be a lethal virus to people you love. I do not like that we find ourselves in this situation. I want our churches to be open. I want us to be able to gather together, to embrace each other, and to share the love of Christ in person. But, to gather together in- person at this time would be unsafe and life-threatening. Not gathering together in person as the church breaks my heart, but we need to protect each other. It is out of concern for the health of our members that I give you this directive. Additionally, this is the policy that most church bodies in our area are following. The Altoona-Johnstown Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church has suspended services indefinitely. The Orthodox Churches have closed public worship at the order of the Ecumenical Patriarch. The Episcopal Church has suspended in-person worship until the shutdown is over. The Presbyterian and Methodist churches have suspended services. We are all doing the best we can to care for our people. Your pastors and deacons are hard at work figuring out how to faithfully lead worship and care for you in this time. Many of our leaders are offering recorded services on the internet. We are using Zoom technology and conference calling to bring our communities together as best we can. We also know that some of our congregations do not have a pastor at this time and rely on our lay worship leaders to provide services. For these congregations, I would first encourage you to see what your local sister congregations are offering. Please feel free to take part in the prayer and worship offerings that any of our congregations are making available. The Synod staff also is posting a weekly Sunday worship service which is posted on the Allegheny Synod 8C Facebook page. In Christ, +Bishop Michael L. Rhyne

Colleagues, I have asked our Synod Attorney, Mrs. Megan Will, to write to us about the importance of following this shutdown. I am sharing this with you for your information and so that you may share this with you members. Please see what Mrs. Will writes below. I think it is important to note that in addition to being in private practice, Mrs. Will is an Assistant District Attorney for Somerset county. She understands this order from many different perspectives. Mrs. Will has also sent the order from Governor Wolf. Please note that Mrs. Will says that we should not expose ourselves or the Synod to liability. The same holds true for our congregations. We don’t want to do anything which could lead to fines or penalties for our people. Please know you continue to be in my prayers. May the peace of Christ be with you as you care for your people. In Christ, +Bishop Michael Rhyne From: Megan Will Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 12:50 PM To: Bishop Michael Rhyne Subject: Governor's Order Bishop, I've received numerous calls, messages, and emails about Governor Wolf's order. The Governor has statutory authority to declare what he did, as cited in the order (attached). More importantly, he has been guided by a team of health officials in making these decisions in order to keep us safe. I know no one likes this order, but we must abide by it. I am not a doctor and if our medical professionals are saying this is what needs done in order to help stop this virus from spreading, I'm going to follow that advice. I've ordered my staff to stay home and shuttered my office for 2 weeks. This isn't about politics or religion -- these are experts asking us to stay home and avoid people. I'm going to listen to them. Perhaps even more important than the above, businesses (the church included) find themselves substantially at risk if they refuse to comply. They face criminal charges, loss of funding, loss of licenses, etc. The PA District Attorney's Association has given each county's DA office a list of what to cite businesses with and why for failure to comply with this order. ANY CONGREGATION WHO THINKS THEY CAN IGNORE THIS ORDER IS PLACING THEIR FUTURE AND LIVELIHOOD AT RISK. This is serious; this is not a media thing. This is science and we have to comply. Shepherd your people through this crisis but please emphasize that now is not the time for resistance. I'm not willing to expose myself or this Synod to liability because someone else refuses to listen to a team of experts and comply with a Governor's Order. I am certain you feel the same. Megan

March 19, 2020. 6:38pm We just received word that Governor Wolf has called for the closing of all non-life sustaining businesses effective at 8:00 pm this evening (3/19/20). Our Synod Attorney, Megan Will, has informed me that this means that we should close our church offices and doors until this shutdown is lifted. Staff should remain home until this passes. The Synod Office will be closing this evening. However, Pastor Paula, Pastor Becca, and I are available via email if you need anything. Please reach out to us if you need any assistance: Pastor Paula: Paula.Schmitt@alleghenysynod.com Pastor Becca: Becca.Ehrilich@alleghenysynod.com Bishop Michael: bishopmichael@alleghenysynod.com Mrs. Will informs us that pastors can be in the church building if there is a need. However neither the office, or the congregation is to be ‘open’ until this shutdown ends. Mrs. Will writes, “Truly, please stay home if you can. Sanctions, including civil and criminal sanctions, can and will be levied by the Governor's office for failure to comply. We must take this seriously.” There is a document that has come from the Governor’s Office that does say that Religious Organizations are allowed to function at this time. Mrs. Will explains that is to allow rostered ministers to continue their functions as pastors and deacons and carry out those duties in situations of emergency pastoral care for the people of God. Church offices should be closed until we receive word to re-open them. We are still following the Governor’s order for suspension of in-person worship. As I said earlier this week, this is a unique time in the church. None of us have experienced a series of events like this before. I thank God for all of you who are caring for God’s people. I pray that you will be strengthened by the presence of our Lord Jesus who will lead and guide you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or the members of our Synod team. We are here for you. We are walking with you. Let us know what you need. Please contact us if you have questions. In Christ +Bishop Michael Rhyne Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for this world and all who are effected by this outbreak. We find ourselves in a place that we have not been before. We ask you Lord to give us the peace of your presence. Still our anxious hearts. Lead us to take those precautions which will protect us and our families. Show us how to care for our neighbor and all those in need. Most of all Lord, heal those who are ill, comfort those who have lost loved ones, and lead us through this uncertainty. We place our hope and trust in you, and pray that you will show us how extend your love and care to each other. In your name we pray. Amen

Due to the restrictions in place due to the Covis-19 virus outbreak, the Allegheny Synod Women's Organization board has canceled the April 18, 2020 convention.

As you know Governor Wolf ordered that as of midnight on Monday (Tuesday morning) all non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania need to close for the next two weeks. This order is to attempt to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. I asked our Synod Attorney, Mrs. Megan Will, to explain how this order affects our congregations. Mrs. Will informs us that churches are, in the eyes of the law, considered to be non-essential businesses. That means that we should not have in person worship and in person meetings for the duration of this order from the Governor. I know that some congregations were considering if you would have worship in spite of the recommendation from the Synod Office. However, the Governor’s order changes things. All of our churches should be closed for in person worship through the end of March. If we do not do that we are violating the Governor’s order. In addition the White House task force has requested that all meetings over 10 persons be suspended for the next two weeks. Please share this information with your Council. Please let me know if I can assist you. Mrs. Will also points out that ministers and staff can still be in the building and can still do our work in the next two weeks under this order. We just can’t hold in person corporate worship until this ban is lifted. Mrs. Will also tells us that we should postpone weddings and funerals if at all possible. If that is not possible please be in contact with our office, there are some guidelines we can follow to help make this safe for everyone. If you must have meetings over the next two weeks. I would strongly recommend using Zoom. Zoom is an online meeting platform which we use in the Synod Office, and will be utilizing for our upcoming meetings. +Bishop Michael Rhyne

Please click here for a letter from Bishop Rhyne concerning stewardship during the Covid-19 outbreak and suspension of worship

Please click here for a pastoral letter from Bishop Rhyne regarding the Coronavirus. This information should be shared in congregations.