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Good morning and welcome to COVID Communiqué 11. It was great to gather virtually with 190 wardens and clergy for the July 15 briefing on our In this Together COVID-19 plan. Thanks to you all for your interest, dedication and care in this very difficult time—and for your hope and enthusiasm at the prospect of moving toward re-opening on September 1. If you’d like to go over the presentation portion of the meeting, or share it with others, you can find it here: https://bit.ly/3fPmQGq

We received 88 questions in response to the presentation. Most of them, however, are answered in the plan, so please start there with a careful read, and then if you still need information, get back in touch. Several other questions are answered in documents posted on the COVID-19 pages of the diocesan website, found here: https://bit.ly/3eNXbfV

There were a few very specific concerns that we’ll respond to individually. If anything new comes up or you can’t find an answer in the plan or on the website, feel free to contact C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca if you have further questions.

Just a reminder: although the provinces continue to expand openings, the Diocese of Ottawa is still operating under the RED restrictions and all church buildings are closed until September. Please take this time to focus your attention on becoming familiar with operating in AMBER and doing what’s necessary to reopen with restrictions on September 1.

Finally, be assured you’re not in this alone. Although each parish has its own context, much of what we face is common to us all, so collaborate and share ideas and resources with your neighbouring parishes. And please, don’t stop there—if you and your neighbours have a bright idea, or identify something you think will be a common stumbling block, or notice something we haven’t thought of and should have—get in touch and let us know. We’re much stronger when we all work together as a diocesan church.

COVID Communiqué is produced by the senior staff of the diocese:
Shane Parker, Bishop
Linda Hill, Executive Archdeacon
Sanjay Grover, Director of Financial Ministry
Peter John Hobbs, Director of Community Ministries
Jane Scanlon, Director of Stewardship Development
Carol Sinclair, Director of Human Resources