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Last spring, Bishop Hollingsworth posted a letter on this website about precautions for the Swine flu and Communion practices. We are reprinting it here, since many people in our diocese have asked about best practices.
Dear colleagues,
I write to offer a word in response to concerns about Swine Flu and public gatherings, especially for worship. The most important encouragement I can give you is to be sensible and responsible. If one is feeling ill or experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is best to remain at home and inform your health-care provider. The single most effective way to protect yourself and others from spreading any virus is to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is very effective, and I suggest that Eucharistic ministers use it after the Peace and before handling the elements at Communion.
In some congregations it is already the practice to provide a pump
dispenser for communicants on the way to the communion rail. Much
current information holds that intinction spreads bacteria more readily
than drinking from the common cup, as it allows so many hands near the
chalice and the intincted host has been handled by the communicant. The
sacrament is complete and efficacious in one kind, and if one is
concerned about either spreading or receiving an illness, it is
perfectly appropriate to refrain from partaking of the wine.
An article at Episcopal Life online provides additional information:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_107136_ENG_HTM.htm.
More instructions can be found on the front page of our website. With a
non-anxious recognition of both the Swine Flu's presence in this
country and the concern people have about it, we may help keep it from
being a distraction to our sacramental and community life, as well as
encourage responsible practices that will keep us all healthy.
Gratefully,
The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr.
Bishop of Ohio
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The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
