News & Messages

Way Forward Task Force Update (July 23, 2020)

Greeting as we continue in these challenging times!

The Way Forward Task Force continues to review COVID-19 data and reports to update our response to the crisis. We also continue to update our resources and respond to the questions that are posed to us.

This week we have updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to add a guide to the approved plans and responded to a question on Mask Exemptions. These are found in questions #9 and #10.

We have also updated the Reference List to include information and webcasts from Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) on pandemic response; American Medical Association (AMA), US Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Legal Review on Exemptions; and provided other sites on return to worship. 

The following are the links to those two updated documents on diocesan website:

• Frequently Asked Questions (updated 7/23/2020)
• Reference List (updated 7/23/2020)

If you have any questions, are planning to return to worship in some form other than online, or have a special event coming up, please contact us by emailing Bishop Miller ( ); Deacon Bill Dunlop ( ), and Patty Jaffke ( ).

Thanks and Peace.

Rev. Bill Dunlop

July 16 | Way Forward Task Force Updates

Update from the way forward task force

July 16, 2020
 
 
To all the beloved in Christ in the Diocese of Milwaukee:
 
Dear Friends in Christ,
 
To keep pace with these changing times and to incorporate the creative to solutions that you all have presented to serve our communities during this time in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Way Forward Task Force has updated the diocesan Returning to Public Worship Guidelines (Guidelines) and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). I am writing today to provide those updated documents.

Though many of you have submitted your plans and had them approved, please keep in mind that permission to meet in-person is not encouragement and may be rescinded. The Diocese of Milwaukee Regathering Risk Assessment Dashboard (Dashboard) and county evaluation criteria ultimately determine whether you can consider meeting and, if so, how many people can be present. As of now, in most places within the diocese, it is still not in the best interest of our communities to meet in person.

The updates to the Guidelines and FAQs include:

• Guideline Requirements and Recommendations were streamlined, and new guidelines provided in the FAQs have been incorporated into the Guidelines.
• Guidelines for other parish meetings have been added.
• We have made it a requirement to provide information to persons at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 to better inform their decisions about attending in-person events.
• Other minor clarifications and edits of the Guidelines have been made.

I would like to stress the requirement to provide the CDC information on the personal, informed decision-making process. Those websites should be a part of your communications to the members of the diocese and those who visit or use our facilities. The recent spikes in COVID-19 place a great number of us at greater risk. Poor decision-making by many are having a disastrous and deadly effect on us all. Stressing this information is important and required.

As you continue to submit plans or revisions to existing plans, please use the updated Guidelines to develop those plans. Also, any new requirement should be incorporated into your day-to-day operations. Please continue to check the Regathering Risk Assessment Dashboard and county health departments.

The following are links to the updated Guidelines and FAQs:

• Guidelines
• FAQs

The Task Force will continue to monitor the events around us related to COVID-19 and respond to your questions. We will also update the FAQs frequently and the Guidelines as required.

As always, if you have questions about these guidelines, please feel free to contact us. Questions specifically pertaining to the Regathering Risk Assessment Dashboard, its methodology, or its underlying data may be sent directly to the Rev. Dave Mowers ( ). All other questions and plan submittal should be sent to me ( ) with a copy to Rev. Bill Dunlop ( ) and Patty Jaffke ( ).

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Steven Andrew Miller
Bishop of Milwaukee

Creating a Digital Space

In this new pandemic world, all of us have been struggling to find new ways for our parishioners to worship and engage in fellowship. From our conversations with you, it has become apparent that these formats will become a permanent feature of our ministry, even after the COVID contingencies are over.

 We think that this is a good time to step back and consider what the range of options are for creating a digital space for your parish. Whatever it is that you are doing now, we would like to offer you an in-depth guide from folks who are experts not only in the technical aspects, but also the areas of worship and pastoral leadership. The Rev. Don Fleischman and John Washbush, who have produced our diocesan Sunday worship services, will be your guides through this wilderness. They also have used the equipment suggested and can help with specific questions you may have.

Full Cover Letter
Our Digital Parish: Conversation Questions

You may fill out a paper application for aid, scan it, and email it to Canon Peggy Bean or you may fill out an application online.

Here's an idea for a grant request:

St. Luke’s, Milwaukee was a recent recipient of a technology grant from COMD that is helping us expand our reach into our parish and larger community! One of the most exciting upgrades the grant allowed us to make was the purchase of a Mesh WiFi system. Mesh WiFi consists of a main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, placed around your building for full WiFi coverage. They are all part of a single wireless network and share the same SSID and password, unlike traditional WiFi routers. For a little over $200, we were able to wirelessly provide a strong signal to our entire complex, which is large and has plenty of concrete walls. If you are looking for a fairly inexpensive and easy way to add WiFi to your church building, I would strongly recommend considering a Mesh WiFi system.

~Fr. Jason Lavann

If you have any questions about the mesh system that St. Luke's is using, please contact us at  and we'll put you in touch with Fr. Jason Lavann.