Faith Community Statements regarding COVID-19 Vaccination

Below is a listing of statements and positions from faith communities represented on the Council regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. For more information, please contact the faith community directly. 

Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago

June 9, 2021 | We, the members of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, urge every eligible person in our faith communities and in our region to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and to ensure that it is available to all. 
Read the full statement here

ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO
Archdiocesan Vaccination Policy

CHICAGO BOARD OF RABBIS
Opinion of the Executive Committee

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
General Handbook Section 38.7.13 : "Vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life. Members of the Church are encouraged to safeguard themselves, their children, and their communities through vaccination. Ultimately, individuals are responsible to make their own decisions about vaccination. If members have concerns, they should counsel with competent medical professionals and also seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Prospective missionaries who have not been vaccinated will likely be limited to assignments in their home country." 
First Presidency urges Latter-day Saints to wear masks, be vaccinated (August 12, 2021)

GREEK ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF AMERICA
https://www.chicago.goarch.org/-/metropolitan-nathanael-covid-19-vaccinations​
"Although some may be exempt from the vaccination for clear medical reasons, there is no exemption in the Orthodox Church for Her faithful from any vaccination for religious reasons, including the coronavirus vaccine. For this reason, letters of exemption for the vaccination against the coronavirus for religious purposes issued by priests of the Archdiocese of America have no validity, and furthermore, no clergy are to issue such religious exemption letters for any reason." https://www.goarch.org/-/goa-policy-for-religious-exemption-from-vaccination?inheritRedirect=true

NORTHERN ILLINOIS CONFERENCE, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Talk About Vaccines: https://www.umcnic.org/talkvaccines
Don't Throw Away Your Shot: https://www.umcnic.org/news/dont-throw-away-your-shot 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.S.A)
https://www.pcusa.org/news/2021/9/27/vaccination-and-faithfulness-time-pandemic/

ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO 
"Zoroastrians seek no religious exemption. They wholeheartedly support all members to be vaccinated and follow guidelines provided for assembly."