29 August 2020
TO: Bishops, Branch Presidents and Stake Leaders
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
It appears there is still some confusion as to what are the guidelines for gatherings in our stake.
I’m confident I’m the source of some of that confusion. Please forgive me. I’ll try to sort out some things in this email.
Church’s Extra-Cautious Guidelines
Part of the confusion, I”m sure, is that the Church and the State of Oregon have different guidelines. In fact, everyone (federal, state, county, Church, temple, etc.) it seems has a set of “Phases” and guidelines and none of them are aligned.
Number one, the Brethren want us to always keep within state/local government guidelines. That’s typically not a problem because the Church asks us to be extra-conservative and cautious in staying within those government guidelines.
For instance, even though the state’s faith gathering limit—with social distancing—right now is 50 people, the Area Presidency’s guidance is even more restrictive due to concerns of what they call “optics”—what it looks like to neighbors and passersby. As example:
1) We are not to use church buildings for any gatherings other than sacrament meetings (right now restricted to those on the program and operating the webcasting; eventually there will be limited attendance by members);
2) While the buildings can be used for an occasional interview, setting apart, baptismal service, presidency meeting (all of which are well within the 50 gathering limit), the Area Presidency is asking us to still hold most of these meetings via Zoom or other video conferencing and not the buildings;
3) While we are being encouraged to gather the youth for in-person activities, we are asked NOT to use the church buildings for these gatherings, but to meet in homes or in parks or other outdoor venues (this, of course, will likely change as winter approaches);
4) While most, if not all, of our youth activities would be well within the 50-person gathering limit, the Area Presidency continues to hear bishops expressing how difficult it is to get the youth to comply with social distancing guidelines (wearing masks, physical distancing, etc.) so they’re asking us to give emphasis to teaching quorum and class presidencies on how to strengthen the youth for whom they have stewardship through individual ministering or even groups as small as 2 to 4 people—and not the big gatherings.
As you can see, the Church is being far more conservative than state and local governments with guidelines for our gatherings. I’m sure that has caused some confusion.
What about social gatherings?
There is a question about one other state limit: social gatherings. The state has a gathering limit of 10 people for social gatherings.
• When members gather on their own for a study group or FHE, that would be a social gathering—with a limit of 10 people indoors, according to the state.
• When we gather in an “official” meeting or activity under the direction of stake or ward leaders, that is a faith gathering—then the limit is 50 people indoors and outdoors.
No Enforcement
When we have guidelines with numbers attached to them, it naturally creates pressure or a worry that we’ll be turned in if we’re unintentionally slightly over the limit.
This past week, I had a wonderful phone visit with with Maria Waters, the Faith Community Liaison for the Oregon Health Authority, which works directly under the governor. I took notes as quickly as possible and then drafted them into the attached document. There’s nothing new there, but it will give you additional information and context as to the “spirit” of what the OHA is trying to accomplish and what they expect of churches.
Please review it and feel free to ask me any additional questions.
I felt one of the most important nuggets I gleaned from our conversation is that the OHA does not work with the police, they are not trying to “catch” churches. There are no OHA agents or authorities dropping in on churches and counting attendance. They do respond to neighbors and others who contact them with concerns about what may appear to be infractions of the gathering limits.
Maria said they do follow up on complaints and contact the Church leaders Their first approach for addressing such issues is education. If that doesn’t resolve the matter, they will then consider enforcement (not clear exactly what they would do). But the most important thing is that they aren’t looking to crack down on churches, but educate them.
Bottom line
Hopefully you can see now why the Church is concerned about the “optics”—a lot of cars in the parking lot, a large group of youth playing on the lawn, etc.
The greater concern, of course, is not optics but preventing an outbreak among our members.We’re following extra-cautious guidelines not just to avoid the “optics,” but much more importantly to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak—to protect and keep our ward and branch members safe!
Thank you for all that you’re doing to help encourage compliance to the guidelines we’ve received. This will pass, as the Brethren consistently say, and we will return to a more normal life…some day. Thank you for your prayers that it might be soon.
President Lewis
