United Methodists' worldwide missions are reaching out to help strengthen health-care systems while following recommended practices to stem the spread of novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 respiratory illness, according to a release issued March 17 by the General Board of Global Ministries in Atlanta, Ga.
Microscopic Coronavirus
Electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19. United Methodist churches in the Seattle area have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak there. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
Global Ministries' Global Health unit and the United Methodist Committee on Relief UMCOR are in touch with United Methodist and community partners around the world and "will continue to respond to efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus," the release said. "With its network of over 300 hospitals and clinics, the Global Health unit is in a unique position to strengthen health-care systems," the release continued. "Many of these facilities provide the only health care available to poor and isolated populations. At this time, Global Health and UMCOR are focusing attention on countries where there are active cases of the coronavirus. They are preparing training materials and providing financial support for church, school, orphanage and health-care leaders in three annual conferences in the Philippines and the Central Congo Annual Conference. Similar efforts are underway for Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Liberia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe."
"Church leaders have a unique role to play in preparation and response as they are trusted leaders with platforms for communicating important health information," said the release. "To this end, the Global Health unit continues to add resources for prevention and preparation to this webpage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have the most updated information regarding preparedness and prevention of the COVID-19."
The health of more than 350 missionaries based in 70 countries is being monitored by the Rev. Dr. Judy Y. Chung, Executive Director of Missionary Service; wellness coordinator, Bernadine Smith, RN; and wellness consultant, Dr. Ted Winneberg. Nurse Smith said the agency keeps in touch with missionaries via "newsletters, WhatsApp, direct phone calls and conference calls." Missionary Town Halls, held periodically by video conference, will continue.
"At any given time, any number of missionaries are traveling for itineration, home visits or work-related meetings," said the release. "Global Ministries is responding to each situation, including travel disruptions, to ensure the safety of our mission personnel. Every effort is being made to assist them in returning to their placements or another safe location as quickly as possible."
In-person operations have been suspended at Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., home to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s supply center. "Staff will work remotely as best they can for the indefinite future," the media release said. Visits from volunteer teams are also postponed indefinitely. Sager Brown normally hosts 3,500 volunteers each year.
Other volunteer sites are also now closed to prevent the spread of the disease. For example, The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico (MCPR) has cancelled all visits by mission teams through the end of April. A recent press release states, “The MCPR and REHACE value the mission trip volunteer program, which has seen more than 2,500 volunteers travel to Puerto Rico and help repair more than 800 homes to date.”
Global Ministries has offered agency staff the opportunity to work remotely through March 27, noting that this offer may well be extended beyond March. The building remains open for those wanting or needing to work from the Atlanta office.
Global Ministries' board of directors will meet by video conferencing March 20-21, according to an announcement by board president Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and general secretary Thomas Kemper. The 37-member board represents 9 countries and 21 states and U.S. territories. The agenda and committee meetings will be abbreviated to address key business matters. Global Ministries board by-laws allow meetings conducted through video conferencing to be considered in-person meetings so that important decisions can be made by the directors.
In an email to the board, Kemper said “I personally very much regret that we will not be able to meet in person for a final time in this quadrennium. We continue to be united in prayer as we believe there is no ‘foreign’ virus but one shared humanity and responsibility for the human family. It is also a unique opportunity to stand by our deep conviction that the body of Christ truly spans the globe from everywhere to everywhere.”
This article has been edited from Global Ministries' media release.