wfn.org | ELCA Worship Director Issues Statement on 'SARS'

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 8, 2003

ELCA WORSHIP DIRECTOR ISSUES STATEMENT ON 'SARS'
03-097-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a statement addressing severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS) and its implication for worship, the Rev.
Michael L. Burk, director for worship, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, wrote April 23 that concerns about the disease and worship
practices "should be met with respect and calm."
     Recent reports about churches in Toronto changing worship
practices, especially related to drinking from a common Communion cup
and restricting the means by which "the peace" is shared, contribute to
questions among the faithful in the United States, wrote Burk.
     "It is important to note that the Toronto area church guidelines
were issued in response to actions by local health officials in light of
that city's recent outbreak of SARS and with an eye toward the then-
upcoming Easter weekend," said the statement. "Recommendations to
withhold the cup or to exchange 'the peace' without touch, were
described as measures intended for an indefinite time period."
     At this point, according to Burk, any changes in worship practices
in the United States "are more likely to be driven by pastoral concern
than by health issues.	With that in mind, it is important to remember
and remind others that coming into any public gathering, including
worship, involves some risk.  As simple as it seems, that risk is
diminished when the gathered people have clean hands.
     "At a time when people can cite any number of reasons to be
anxious, it is important to balance full participation in worship with
concerns that certain practices might become obstacles to experiencing
God's mercy and grace," wrote Burk.  "In most places, that balance is
achieved by sharing the peace and the cup in the same manner as has been
the custom, while providing the opportunity and the freedom for people
to participate in other ways."
     At present, the greater risk may be in withholding the cup or the
touch of others in the worshiping assembly, potentially contributing to
a host of anxieties and to the sense that SARS and other health concerns
are themselves obstacles to experiencing God's mercy and grace, wrote
Burk.
-- -- --
     For the complete ELCA statement addressing "SARS and Worship,"
visit http://www.elca.org/dcm/worship/sars.html on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html