From here:
Worship services
If all participants are vaccinated as determined by the worship service leader, there are no capacity restrictions on worship services and choirs.
If participants are not all vaccinated, worship services and choirs are limited to 50% seated capacity.
Masks are required but can be temporarily removed for ceremonial eating and drinking, and by officiants, readers or for singing a solo where physical distancing is observed.
This, of course, has no effect on the Anglican Diocese of BC, since they struggle to fill their churches to 25% capacity at the best of times.
It does place great responsibility in the hands of “the worship service leader”, though. Who inspects the vaccine passports? The greeters (good morning, welcome to St. Elgiebetea’s, show me your papers)? If the church becomes half full, do you ask only the latecomers for papers, or do you throw everyone out and, in your egalitarian zeal, start again? Must masks be N95? Will an old scarf do? A pair of my wife’s pantyhose? Must churches hire bouncers to eject unclean interlopers?
In comparison to this, the mystery of the Trinity is simplicity itself.
An update from the Diocese of BC as of December 21st:
Unvaccinated individuals over the age of 12 will be asked to participate in worship virtually only for the next few months, while vaccination rates continue to improve, and the threat of the new variant is assessed.
“St. Elgiebetea” – my hand was halfway to my reference work on saints when the penny dropped.
Very funny, even if so snarky as to be uncharitable. Will probably use it myself, with or without permission.
Currently, people with three doses of the vaccine may have a better protection than others if they continue to observe all public health measures. There is no silver bullet that can prevent the spread of the virus anytime soon. Living with COVID-19 may remain a new normal for a long time, provided we can trust all reliable and accurate information from the scientists and health authorities. It does not really matter what positions or opinions we may hold about the pandemic, the number of active cases is rising very quickly by the hour right now in Canada. This is not a hopeful message for the Christmas season, or for any other season. As a Christian believer, I will continue to trust God who sees the past, the present and the future at a single moment.
That’s the spirit. I’m grateful for my booster shot yesterday. I’m now safer both passively and actively.
I believe that rule was set by the provincial government, not the diocese. It may change anyway: there are more restrictions coming in a few hours.
Yes, it’s the provincial government that has set the rules.
Manitoba has announced something similar:
And Quebec is permitting only the vaccinated to attend worship.
I see the Diocese of BC posted this today:
That’s fair criticism. BC’s announcement today is as clear as mud, however. Organised indoor gatherings and events are banned until January 18, but private parties for up to 10 are allowed.
Can someone please explain how producing a meal for 10 does nor require organisation or how it’s neither a gathering nor an event?
I think we’ve been shut down for a month, but I’m really not sure.
At least everything is consistently confusing.
Indeed. Now the BC government has updated its website, it appears that Churches can still hold services within these limits. Since my parish was below half capacity due to our livestreaming of services, which allows those with health concerns to participate remotely, it seems it is still open to everyone.