Faith and the Pandemic: Clergy Urge Everyone Who is Medically Able to Get Vaccinated

The last fourteen months have been extremely difficult for everyone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rhythms and routines have been upset. Isolation has created depression and despair for many. So many loved ones have gotten sick, and far too many of our friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances have died of COVID-19. Thus, as faith leaders we implore everyone who is medically able to seek a vaccination to help us all move beyond the struggles of these past months to a return to life that allows for those familiar rhythms and routines to return, bring us together again, and provides protection so that life may continue and flourish.

While some may be reticent to receive a vaccination, we cannot recommend receiving a vaccination any more strongly. To begin, our traditions teach a great deal about the sacredness of each person and the importance of community. Vaccinations help us live more fully into the lives God has given us, as well as to help us to enjoy our communities and keep them safe. Furthermore, the past year has been hard on all of us, and the suffering that we have seen due to COVID-19, as well as the funerals that we have had to officiate, make us acutely aware of the need to work together to get beyond the pandemic. Vaccines help us do this. Finally, faith and science are not at odds, and in this case they are very much aligned for us to move forward. Science, in this case and in the particularity of a vaccine, allows our faiths to return to safe, vibrant, and salutary in-person worship and prayer.

We the undersigned clergy urge everyone who is medically able to get vaccinated. Our lives and the lives of those whom we love depend on it.

Chris Altrock, Senior Minister, Stamford Church of Christ

Dave Buchan, Interim Minister Union Memorial Church, UCC

Rev. Dr. Michael Christie, Union Baptist Church

Rev. Shelley Donaldson, First Presbyterian Church

Rev. Dr. Joseph G. Ford, Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El

Rev. Dr. Robert Jackson, Bethel AME Church

The Rev. Mark Lingle, St. Francis Episcopal Church

Father Harry Pappas, Archangels Greek Orthodox Church

Dale Pauls, Minister Emeritus, Stamford Church of Christ

The Rev. Duane Pederson, St. John’s Lutheran Church

ReBecca Sala, Chaplain, Stamford Health

Rabbi Jay TelRav, Temple Sinai

Mary Marple Thies, Parish Associate, First Presbyterian Church, New Canaan

Rev. David Van Dyke, First Presbyterian Church

 

203-570-6226 marklingle.pastor@gmail.com