ELCA Worship Director Issues Statement on 'SARS'

Chicago (ELCA)-MR — In a statement addressing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and its implication for worship, the Rev. Michael L. Burk, director for worship, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, wrote April 23 that concerns about the disease and worship practices "should be met with respect and calm."

Recent reports about churches in Toronto changing worship practices, especially related to drinking from a common Communion cup and restricting the means by which "the peace" is shared, contribute to questions among the faithful in the United States, wrote Burk.

"It is important to note that the Toronto area church guidelines were issued in response to actions by local health officials in light of that city's recent outbreak of SARS and with an eye toward the then- upcoming Easter weekend," said the statement. "Recommendations to withhold the cup or to exchange 'the peace' without touch, were described as measures intended for an indefinite time period."

At this point, according to Burk, any changes in worship practices in the United States "are more likely to be driven by pastoral concern than by health issues. With that in mind, it is important to remember and remind others that coming into any public gathering, including worship, involves some risk. As simple as it seems, that risk is diminished when the gathered people have clean hands.

"At a time when people can cite any number of reasons to be anxious, it is important to balance full participation in worship with concerns that certain practices might become obstacles to experiencing God's mercy and grace," wrote Burk. "In most places, that balance is achieved by sharing the peace and the cup in the same manner as has been the custom, while providing the opportunity and the freedom for people to participate in other ways."

At present, the greater risk may be in withholding the cup or the touch of others in the worshiping assembly, potentially contributing to a host of anxieties and to the sense that SARS and other health concerns are themselves obstacles to experiencing God's mercy and grace, wrote Burk.