Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania Suspends In-Person Services through Year’s End

HARRISBURG, PA – The Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania has announced that in-person church services have been suspended until next year. The statement came recently from Bishop Audrey Scanlan as COVID-19 is again surging throughout the state.

The Central Pennsylvania Diocese has 71 congregations, including St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lock Haven.

The Bishop’s statement read in part:

The Coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in our country and across the world. Infection rates are as high- and higher- now than ever and they show no sign of decreasing. Pennsylvania’s rates of infection are now four times what they were from our summer’s lowest ebb, and two of the counties in our diocese are among the top ten counties for virus transmission in the Commonwealth. While there is hope of an effective and widely distributed vaccine within months, we are not there yet. It has become increasingly clear that we must respond to this surge in infections with, again, a shift in our practices as worshipping communities.

All indoor worship in parishes will be suspended beginning Nov.21 and remain in effect until the end of the calendar year.