This blog post originally appeared as a letter from Fr. Steve Hoskins to the parish family at Christ Our Hope Anglican Church. It was written as a pastoral encouragement to the congregation before COVID-19 escalated to a global pandemic. In light of new information becoming available since it was written, some portions may be out of date.
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Dear brothers and sisters,
On a day when the news cycle is flooded with words like "global pandemic" and statistics like "confirmed cases in 17 states" and "11 US deaths,” I feel it is a pastoral duty to address the concerns that many may be carrying at this time head on. As these facts and figures begin to raise questions for some about how this outbreak may affect the Church as she gathers and as we share the Cup of Christ, I want to share some facts, some practical pointers for our common life as a parish, and some perspective.
First, the facts regarding transmission of diseases in the church and particularly through the Communion Cup.
Already I have read today of some churches and even dioceses advising their clergy to move away from using the common cup in worship during this pandemic. It is not my place to tell any other body what to do or not do. But I will simply observe that this proposed course of action strikes me as more fear-based than fact-based. This morning I found myself Googling to find a study from the Anglican Church of Canada which I read in seminary that was conducted and authored in the mid 80's in the midst of the AIDS pandemic. You can find a summary of the Church's findings here. But, suffice to say, they concluded that there was zero risk of contracting AIDS and very low risk of any other infectious disease from the common cup. They go on to qualify this affirmation as providing that the common practices of using a metal chalice, a wine with a high alcohol content (such as port) and the sanitary practice of wiping the inner and outer rim of the chalice with clean linen (all practices we incorporate here) were followed.
Furthermore, our own CDC released a 1998 study which has formed their own position that "no documented transmission of any infectious disease has ever been traced to the use of a common communion cup." They reported that a study of "... 681 persons found that people who receive Communion as often as daily are not at higher risk of infection compared with persons who do not receive communion or persons who do not attend Christian church services at all."
The bottom line: if we all follow the basic dictates of common sense and common courtesy, the risk of contracting COVID-19 or any other infectious disease at church is astronomically small.
That leads me secondly to address some practical pointers.
In addition to the liturgical conventions that are a part of our distribution of communion, there are some other basic hygienic practices that will help us all stay healthy during this time:
First, if you are acutely ill, please stay home. The basic rule of thumb that businesses, schools and other institutions employ applies here - if you have had a fever stay home until it has been at least 24 hours since the fever passed.
Second, as my wife reminded me, there is a little sign in the women's restroom here at the church which reads, "Wash your hands and say your prayers, Jesus and germs are everywhere." Wash your hands. Frequently. With soap. Additionally, we have hand sanitizer in various locations around the building and even in the sanctuary. Each Sunday I use hand sanitizer in addition to the traditional water ablutions before I handle the communion bread. Use hand sanitizer before and after exchanging the peace.
Third, as we come to communion, if you have the sniffles or a fever or any sort of cold sore, please don't partake of the cup. And parents of children 8 and younger should help their little ones dip their bread.
One final practical note on that topic: we believe, as the Church has taught for centuries that to receive one element of Communion is just as efficacious to commune as receiving both kinds. So, if you have been or are ill, please consider simply taking the bread and passing on the cup. Likewise, for those among us who are immuno-compromised, you may wish to do the same. You might consider still reverently pausing before the chalice, even touching it at the base before consuming your bread, but please do not drink if you are ill or are concerned.
Finally, I would like to offer some perspective, both on a human as well as on a Kingdom level.
Remember that the news media is a business. Sadly, they sell their product very often by preying on the public's fears. We hear global statistics like 93,000 cases and 3,200 deaths, but these are often given without context or perspective. Here is some context to consider: some numbers from the 2018-19 cold and flu season. Last year, the ordinary old flu affected an estimated 35.5 million people IN THE U.S. ALONE, it lead to 490,600 hospitalizations and sadly 34,200 U.S. deaths (ten times as many as the running global total for Coronavirus thus far).
I do not wish to minimize the suffering of those who have come into contact with COVID-19, nor do I want anyone to conclude that we should start a new panic over the flu. But what proper context shows us is that despite the media hype, we are not at much greater risk than we already were before we knew about this new contagion.
Beyond that, in an excellent article put out by the Gospel Coalition, Texas based pastor, Todd Wagner reminds us,
“Worry is not our friend, and panic is not our way. Solomon reminds us, ‘If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Prov. 24:10). May it never be said that God’s people are governed more by fear than faith."
Wagner writes to remind believers of our heritage: Christians throughout the centuries have witnessed to our faith by being among those who ran toward the danger, in order to help in the name of Christ, rather than those who ran away from it in the name of self-preservation. As the people of God it is our birthright to live no longer in fear of death and therefore to live in freedom from anxiety over anything: disease, disaster or violence that might lead to it.
Wagner urges those of us who are well to model Christlike behavior by looking for ways to help those who are unwell. I would add that our own Archbishop Beach has urged the entire Church to be praying for those who are suffering, those who are seeking to aid, study and subdue the outbreak and ultimately to take up our spiritual authority and pray against the spread of this virus. Prayer and serving those who are suffering (while observing safe practices and not wantonly exposing ourselves or others to preventable infection) are the Kingdom response.
As we sing on Sundays, "I am no longer a slave to fear, but I am a child of God." Walk in the freedom of that sonship or daughterhood and do not fear Coronavirus, the Cup or any other thing in this mortal life.
Header image credit James Colman on Unsplash