Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As part of our United Methodist Connection, you are my family, just as you are through the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If there’s one thing I know about family, it’s that they stick together. They look out for one another. They take care of one another. (Not always, but I believe that was God’s design for creating families.)
In that vein, I have seen you stick together as the Connection, teaming up to serve your local communities. You are caring for one another as pastors as you tend to your flocks. And you have looked out for those in your churches by not physically getting together, difficult as I know that has been.
The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Indiana has declined notably over the past two weeks. It is still being reported that, despite the decline in new cases, the state’s positivity rate (both for all tests and unique individuals) remains high.
There is a light at the end of our proverbial tunnel, but it is still too early to take our guard down. Experts continue to worry about a renewed surge in cases.
Thank you, dear brothers and sisters, for doing your part in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in your areas by continuing to not meet together. In doing so, you are “doing no harm” by not putting others in your church at risk.
I pray for you regularly and appreciate you and all that you are continuing to do to love your congregations well, even amid this global pandemic.
We encourage you—and your congregants—to get vaccinated as you are eligible. (If you need help doing so, you can receive assistance by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone.)
Be encouraged,
Julius C. Trimble
Resident Bishop
Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church