The following is an excerpt from Part I of the Bishop's Charge to Synod, delivered Oct 16th.

Flu season is almost upon us and there are many precautions we should all be taking to avoid contracting and transmitting seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu virus.  Many people have expressed concerns about the risk of certain practices within Church.  Hand shaking is a certain way of transmitting infection and every Church should have a bottle or other dispenser of hand sanitizer near the door.  Frequent hand washing is one of the most effective ways of avoiding getting and passing on the flu. 

            In light of specific fears about the flu and the common cup, I am issuing the following guidelines.

-          Hand washing:  Anyone administering Communion (priests, deacons or lay readers) should wash their hands thoroughly before the service and use a hand sanitizer prior to handling the elements.  

-          Receiving in one kind:  Those who are sick with the flu, cold or cold sores should be asked to not receive from the cup.  Receiving in one kind only (the consecrated bread) is neither ideal or normal but it is still full participation in the Holy Communion and is the best practice for those who are sick or who have compromised immune systems. 

-          Intinction (dipping the consecrated bread into the wine):   Intinction, by either the communicant or minister, is to be strongly discouraged.  This is a high risk activity. 

-          In the case of a flu pandemic in our Province, Diocese or Communities, certain steps may have to be taken with the advice of Health Officials.  If the flu season is as serious as many anticipate, I will issue a total and permanent ban on the practice of intinction.  If there are outbreaks of the flu in our area, I will, after consultation with the local priest and Health Officials, direct that Communion be administered in one kind only on a temporary basis.  If there is a full blown emergency in our area, we will need to provide alternatives for public worship which may include the use of the local radio, the internet and mailings.  We will also need to respond to heightened pastoral and liturgical needs in the case of greater sickness and mortality in our communities.  It will be important for the Church to respond to any pandemic first of all in prayer and that we are a responsible member of our communities in providing leadership and in passing on accurate information and proper advice. 

I commend to all of you an article by Dr. David Gould on the safety of the common cup which is available here.