April 25th 2020 Diocesan Directives

To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the West:

 

Christ is Risen!

I would like to thank you all once more for your cooperation during these last few weeks.

I am sure you are all anxious to regain some semblance of normalcy. Sadly, it would appear we may all be waiting quite some time for normalcy to happen. While the governors of several states in our territory have made headlines by “opening things up”, I am afraid they are not the ones who closed our churches nor are they going to be the ones to open them again. That burden falls to me as your bishop. And I would ask you all to maintain things as they are for the time being. The Holy Synod will be meeting next week to discuss the matter of how we might move forward while the threat of the virus remains.

No matter what, we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable among us, both laity and even clergy. I hope to have some guidance for you by about this time next week. I ask for your patience as we sort through various options and alternatives. Plainly, a one size fits all approach will not work given the diversity of the communities we serve, even within the same state. I ask you not to be resourceful as to ways to find ways around the limitations I have mandated.

I also hope to have some guidance for you with regard to weddings, baptisms and funerals as well.

Finally, if you have not applied for the PPP loans available from the federal government through your local banks, I encourage you to apply immediately as more funding has been made available. This is especially important for the smaller parishes with limited financial resources. Matushka Theodora I am sure is willing to help.

Asking God’s blessing, I am,

†Benjamin; Archbishop of San Francisco