A Letter from the Oregon Synod Disaster Response Team
March 16, 2020
Little did we expect that our new Oregon Synod Disaster Response Initiative would be engaged in full-on response mode so soon!
Today, we are writing to you to underscore the seriousness of the COVID19 Coronavirus health emergency and to ask you to act now to protect the health and safety of your communities by adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Oregon Health Authority guidance.
- CDC recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S. More Information on Mass Gatherings.
- Oregon Health Authority/the Governor’s Office recommends that individuals in high risk populations (those over 60 years of age, or those with an underlying health condition) should avoid social and community gatherings of more than 10 people, for four weeks (through April 8, 2020).
- Today, President Trump issued guidelines that called for Americans to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people and to limit discretionary travel.
The bottom line for us, this means cancelling all in-person worship services and group activities for the next 4-8 weeks or until we hear otherwise. We know that with situations changing so rapidly, these sites may not always be in sync so we will try to bring you the most recent developments as we get them.
If you need help creating alternatives to worship, study, and prayer, please call the synod office at (503) 413-4191 or our team via Jan Wierima at (503) 318-8145.
We will be sending you accurate, practical resources, information pages in English and Spanish, and CDC and OHA updates, so please watch for emails from both the synod office and the Oregon Synod Disaster Response Team.
It is vital that we take strong measures now to help stem the spread of this virus. Please contact us with your questions and we will get you answers!
Your leadership is vital—thank you for taking these strong measures now. Watch for regular updates!
In Faith, With You,
Jan Wierima, Charlene Larsen, and John Core
Oregon Synod Disaster Response Team
Synod Office: (503) 413-4191 Jan Wierima (503) 413-4191
