Dear Ontario Conference Pastors, Head Elders, Clerks, and Communication Leaders:
Our provincial government believes that key public health and health system indicators continue to remain stable or are showing improvements and, as such, is cautiously and gradually easing public health and workplace safety measures. As a result, on March 21, 2022, general masking requirements were lifted in most indoor settings, including places of worship.
Notwithstanding, the Ontario Conference believes that physical distancing and community masking have improved public health, reduced COVID cases and helped lower incidences of the flu and other respiratory viruses. While not mandated, the Ontario Conference strongly recommends that members continue to be encouraged to physically distance themselves and wear their masks while in our spaces.
As we press forward, please exercise great care and understanding as many members and guests may be uncomfortable being around and directly interacting with unmasked persons. It is crucial that you, with your church board, determine the best way to relax the masking requirement for your local congregation and, based on your local context and member needs and desires, may choose to keep the mask requirement in place. Please note that Landlords may ask those worshiping in rented spaces to keep in force the masking mandate.
Members and guests should continue to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms and be asked not to enter the building should they be experiencing any of the COVID-19 indicators. Local churches may, at their discretion, continue to ask pre-screening questions as part of their safety protocols. The Ontario Conference will maintain the requirement that each church keeps a public health and safety plan in place.
All other guidelines will remain as the Ontario Conference continues to monitor the landscape and map out how we will further cautiously and gradually ease our public health safety measures.
May the God of all hope and comfort abide with you as you carry out His mission, remain committed to connecting with and like Jesus.
Blessings,
- Mansfield Edwards (President)
- Jakov Bibulovic (Executive Secretary)
- Virene Meikle (Treasurer)