The Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace, Co-Moderator of the 225th General Assembly (2022) Photo by Rich Copley
The Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace, Co-Moderator of the 225th General Assembly (2022). Photo by Rich Copley
The Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace, newly elected Co-Moderator of the 225th General Assembly, informed the Office of the General Assembly Tuesday afternoon that she has tested positive for Covid. Santana-Grace, along with Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis, was elected during the first day of the hybrid General Assembly on Saturday. She notified OGA staff during the second day of committee meetings in Louisville.
In a statement to the committees, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), assured attendees that Santana-Grace is healthy.
“She is home, feeling fine and wants everyone to know that. We continue to pray for her and her family in these anxious days and that God will hold her in God’s care and keep her safe and healthy,” the statement reads. “At this time, we do not believe it is necessary to change our current course of action as it relates to our ongoing committee meetings here at the Center. We also believe that Ruth’s interactions with so many during and after her election, make contact tracing impossible.”
In the statement, Nelson urged attendees to continually monitor themselves and visit the onsite Covid clinic if they have symptoms. He also emphasized the need to continue taking precautions during the remainder of their time in Louisville.
“We also want to assure you that this facility is thoroughly cleaned each night and we are confident in all steps being taken to keep you as safe as possible. We continue to urge everyone attending the General Assembly to wear masks at all times when interacting with the public,” the statement reads.
For the past several months, PC(USA) staff have been monitoring trends with the Omicron variant as well as working with health experts to map out precautions to be taken by assembly participants.
Among the measures taken:
- Those attending in person must be up to date on all vaccinations as required in their own communities and provide proof at registration.
- Participants are required to wear high-quality N95 or KN95 masks during committee meetings and other gatherings indoors.
- Only a limited number of people who are not on the committee presently meeting is allowed in conference rooms.
- Meal and snack times for committees are staggered to avoid large gatherings.
- Each commissioner and advisory delegate have their own hotel room.
For more information on the assembly’s health and safety precautions, visit the GA225 website.
Read the Stated Clerk’s entire statement to committee members below:
From the Stated Clerk:
We have received word today that Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace, our newly elected Co-Moderator of the 225th General Assembly, has tested positive for COVID-19. Let me also emphasize that she is home, feeling fine and wants everyone to know that. We continue to pray for her and her family in these anxious days and that God will hold her in God’s care and keep her safe and healthy.
At this time, we do not believe it is necessary to change our current course of action as it relates to our ongoing committee meetings here at the Center. We also believe that Ruth’s interactions with so many during and after her election, make contact tracing impossible.
We wanted to alert everyone so that you can determine whether you had close contact with Ruth in recent days for an extended period of time, and whether you were masked during those interactions.
We believe the best course of action is to monitor your own health and if you believe you might be exhibiting new symptoms, such as cough, fever, body aches, sore throat, headache, chills, please visit the Covid Health Clinic onsite in Room 1601, where you can be tested.
We also want to assure you that this facility is thoroughly cleaned each night and we are confident in all steps being taken to keep you as safe as possible. We continue to urge everyone attending the General Assembly to wear masks at all times when interacting with the public, including the times you are away from Presbyterian Center.
It is my belief that God is in control even during these uncertain and frustrating times and we will continue on with this assembly as God has laid on our hearts to do. Let us take this time to re-commit ourselves to the task ahead.
God Bless each and every one of you.
Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)