COVID-19
UPDATES

As our elders and pastors have been discussing the complex topic of masks, our lead pastor, Rick Dunn, wanted to share a little bit of his heart as he has walked through this over the past few weeks:

First, thank you for engaging with us even through this highly controversial subject of wearing masks in the church building on Sunday mornings. Recently, in the process of countless hours invested in discerning our path forward, I shared this text from Philippians 2:1-4 with our elders and pastors:⠀
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"Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."⠀
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While this text cannot instruct us on mask policies, it is clear how we are to work together as a leadership community and a church. I can, with great confidence, assure you that we are committed to living in this way in all matters.⠀
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No single approach to wearing masks could represent the full spectrum of valuable and differing opinions our Elders and pastoral leaders offer. I can, therefore, highly appreciate many views—our people's thoughts matter. No opinion is discounted. We continue to weigh all perspectives as we discern how to respond to the ever-changing conditions in our community. ⠀
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If you would like to email me for a more extended dialogue, I will make myself available. Feel free to reach out to me at rdunn@fellowshipknox.org. Due to the number of diverse opinions and concerns expressed, it may take a few days before I can connect. ⠀
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Finally, my deeply held conviction is that when it is difficult to reach clarity due to diverse opinions, it is critical to love one another. We will continue to live and lead in this manner. I pray that you will join us as we grow in patience and resilience as His people. ⠀
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Entrusted by Grace, ⠀
Rick Dunn

While our policies are not changing at this time (masks are still optional to wear during our Sunday gatherings), our lead pastor, Rick Dunn, and our elders wanted to put this letter before you.

Last Sunday morning, I challenged all of us to join our leadership community of Elders and Directional Team Pastors to first “remember who we are as God’s people” and love one another. And, second, “reconsider how to best respond” to the current steep rise in infectious diseases in our community. These illnesses include, but are not limited to, Covid-19, the flu, and RSV. In response to the reality of an increasingly rapid rate of rising illness, our Elder Board and our Directional Team are choosing voluntarily to wear facial coverings at our weekly Sunday gatherings for the time being.

While our leadership community’s personal perspectives still vary on how to best lead through the complexities we all face in this moment, we are unified in our hearts. Through that unity, we have made two decisions. First, we are voluntarily choosing as Elders and Directional Team Pastors in to wear a facial covering for Sunday gatherings. Second, we are asking each of you to weigh all the factors of our current reality and prayerfully consider making the voluntary choice to wear a facial covering at our Sunday gatherings.

Regardless of what each individual chooses to do at this time, it is our conviction that, we are to love one another, to avoid passing spiritual judgement on one another, and to guard against allowing these choices to divide us.

On a personal note, within my very close set of personal friends, I literally have every conceivable perspective on issues related to facial coverings—and other matters connected to this pandemic. I have found not only possible but desirable to continue in these relationships with love and respect for one another. Let’s do the same in our church for the sake of the name of Jesus.

—Rick Dunn

As always, if you are at-risk or if you have any of these symptoms, please worship with us online at live.fellowshipknox.org. All guidelines are subject to change as our circumstances develop. If you have any questions, email us at inquiry@fellowshipknox.org.