Bishops Martin & Mike
Thank you for all that you have been doing in these difficult and unprecedented days to steer the Diocese through the Coronavirus crisis. The complexity of the decisions facing those at all levels of leadership are breathtaking and exhausting. And the accumulative effect of leading through such a time as this can be costly. You both remain in our prayers week by week. At MIE we have found the clarity of guidance helpful as we have worked to keep our congregations in touch with the ministry and mission of Church life.
I am however writing to express my concern at proposals that all acts of corporate worship must again cease from Thursday 5th November. I have also written to my MP (Tom Hunt) as I understand that the draft legislation will be placed before the House of Commons tomorrow.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has issued a statement asking the Government to produce evidence to justify such a ban on public and corporate worship. Would it be possible that Anglican Bishops might also challenge the Government's guidance? Such discussion may already be under way, in which case it would be of great comfort to many in our congregations to know that our Bishops are contending for our freedom to gather in corporate worship.
In the previous lockdown, when almost all of society was 'closed', the arguments for closing Churches for corporate worship was, perhaps, sustainable. But in the current guidance, it is far from clear that this remains the case.
If Churches are able to stay open for socially distanced prayer, on what grounds are services banned, which follow identical health and safety precautions (including social distancing, sanitisation, wearing of face coverings, restrictions on aspects of worship such as Holy Communion and singing). When a family is able to take their child to school, but not to Church; when people are able to meet in Church buildings for a support group but not for corporate prayer; when Church buildings are open for 'formal child care' but not for formal worship, questions are bound to be asked on what grounds such distinctions are made. The message being sent out by the Government is that while some gatherings are deemed 'essential', gathering for worship isn't one of them. As a parish priest, I must register my dissent.
How is this not relegating religious belief to the category of an optional social activity? Such a categorisation of an essential expression of their faith is not one many Christians will find it easy to accept, and indeed will find more difficult as lockdowns are repeated, and/or prolonged.
Whilst 'online' worship is helpful in so far as it goes (and for some may be the only option), I for one am reluctant to rely on that phenomena to the exclusion of the physical gathering of the people of God. Such gnostic disregard for the physical means of grace, and the 'incarnation' of the Church (if I might be allowed to use such a phrase!) doesn't sit easily with Christian theology or spirituality. Indeed it directly undermines it.
The announcement that our Churches will be closed again for public worship has already caused significant anguish in our congregations. More than one person at MIE this morning was in tears at the prospect. Many of us see the gathering of God's people for corporate worship as an integral aspect of our faith, a precious privilege to be safeguarded at all costs.
At the very least, can we have some explanation for the decisions that are made, and some guidance as to what to say to our congregations, who are already wearied, fragile and vulnerable in the face of the sacrifices they are being asked to make. People's mental and spiritual health is suffering; there is such anxiety and fear about the future; they are concerned for their jobs, their income and their children. For many, Church is a place of refuge, where they meet with God and find in Him strength and assurance. It is being taken from them, and it is far from clear that there is any evidence that such restriction will have any benefit. Please can our Bishops take the lead in restoring the full experience of public worship to the people of God.
Thank you for your consideration of these matters, and I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Sincerely,
Rev. Mark Prentice