Are There Lessons from the Coronavirus Pandemic?

Crisis Watch Oct. 9, 2020

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A United Methodist Insight Column

The Pew Research Center for Religion and Public Life this week published a major report on what lessons people see from the coronavirus pandemic. It’s fascinating to see how people can go through essentially the same experiences and come away with such vastly difference conclusions about the meaning of their experience.

In essence, people who believe in God see the pandemic as God’s way of getting our attention so that we can review our lifestyles and make more compassionate, loving choices. Beyond that common revelation, however, some folks see the end times apocalypse from Revelation in the coronavirus and other worldwide events. Others just don’t.

Whatever your own views, the latest Pew report, “What Lessons Do Americans See for Humanity in the Pandemic?”, is a fascinating read.

No compassion for prisoners

Methodists have been committed to ministry with the incarcerated since John Wesley began the movement. Unfortunately our prison ministries have been curtailed this year because America's prisoners have been hotbeds of coronavirus infection. That's not speculation on my part; one of my relatives, a prison guard in Florida. contracted COVID-19 in early summer. Fortunately, he recovered after a fairly mild bout.

The same isn't true for hundreds of inmates, guards and other staff around the country. The Marshall Project reports on the particular risk to prisoners:

“'Jailers gonna jail.'” Even before the pandemic, Marie Neba was worried about dying in federal prison. In March, Neba applied for a program that sends sick and dying prisoners home early, known as compassionate release. But prison officials never responded to her request, and Neba died after contracting the virus at FMC Carswell in Texas. She’s just one of more than 10,000 federal prisoners who applied for compassionate release in the hopes of escaping COVID-19. Officials granted a mere 156 requests, and ignored thousands more. By early October, nearly 15,600 federal prisoners have contracted coronavirus and 133 have died. TMP’s Joseph Neff and Keri Blakinger have our story. THE MARSHALL PROJECT

I recommend that all United Methodists serving in prison ministry read The Marshall Project's report.

Iowa Conference starts 'Abiding in Exile'

Leaders in the Iowa Annual Conference, which has had more than its share of crises this year, are starting a new resource to help United Methodists tend to their souls during these difficult times.

Called The Exile Project, it's a collaboration between Bishop Laurie Haller’s Mental Health Task Force and the Office of Clergy and Leadership Excellence. Says the announcement: "A diverse team of writers, along with guest writers from time to time, will be distributing an 'Abiding in Exile' e-newsletter each week, to support the mental health and wellness of lay and clergy leaders living through the pandemic."

If this interests you, sign up here.

8 Ways to serve during a pandemic

Michigan Conference’s communications staffers sure know good content when they see it. That’s why they picked up an article by Ryan Dunn of Rethink Church on “8 Ways to Serve During a Pandemic.” The article highlights creative ways that congregations and individuals have adapted their ministries to meet people’s needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Check out the story on the Michigan Conference website.

New Webinar Series from Path 1 Starts Oct. 22nd

In many ways, poverty is the world’s ongoing catastrophe that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Now Discipleship Ministries plans to train United Methodists in addressing the plight of those who live in poverty.

“Blessed are the Poor” is a webinar series designed to help church leaders engage with the people in their communities and reflect on the different ways in which people experience poverty, according to news from Discipleship Ministries. Taking place once a month for five months, these two-hour sessions will cover five topics of poverty:

  • Economic poverty
  • Cultural poverty
  • Physical poverty
  • Spiritual poverty
  • Political poverty

Knowledgeable panelists will offer perspectives on a national and global level while sharing experiences, learnings, and best practices to help leaders in local church settings. Learn More and Register.

Media Mentions as of Oct. 8, 2020

Politics and the pulpit: Learn, pray, then vote, pastors tell parishoners – TribDem.com

Trump says catching COVID-19 was a ‘blessing from God’ – Reuters

The top three faith moments in the Harris-Pence vice presidential debate – Religion News Service

In Central Florida, Latino evangelicals could give Trump a boost – The Washington Post*

After Trump tweets about hymn singers’ arrest, church plans another event – Religion News Service

New York needs the faithful to help stop the coronavirus – The New York Times*

*Paid subscription required.

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.