COVID What Churches Can Do
Poster Courtesy of General Commission on Religion and Race.
More than a year into the global coronavirus pandemic, we’re taking stock of the “COVID carnage” of the past 13 months. As of this writing, Johns Hopkins University’s Daily COVID-19 Data in Motion reports close to 565,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. That’s approaching the 675,000 people who died in the last great global pandemic, the Spanish flu, in 1918.
Historian Heather Cox Richardson commented in her April 9 “Letters from an American” post: “Remembering the nation’s suffering under the pandemic matters because the contrast between the disastrous last year and our hope this spring is a snapshot of what is at stake in the fight over control of the nation’s government.”
The contrast between what occurred during the Trump Administration and what is happening now under the Biden Administration couldn’t be clearer. Again from Richardson:
“Infections surged terrifyingly after November until by late January, when Trump left the White House, new infections had reached about 250,000 a day and about 3,000 people were dying of Covid-19 daily. According to the BBC, with 170 deaths for every 100,000 Americans, the U.S. has one of the highest death rates in the world for the disease (the UK’s rate is 190 per 100,000 and Italy’s is 184 per 100,000).
“….In contrast to Trump, President Biden has used the pandemic to show what the federal government can do right.
“The night before he took office, he held a memorial for the Americans who had died in the pandemic. Once in the White House, he dedicated the federal government to ending the scourge. On January 21, he issued a national strategy for responding to the crisis that began by declaring ‘the federal government should be the source of truth for the public to get clear, accessible, and scientifically accurate information about COVID-19.’
“He begged Americans to wear masks, used the federal Defense Production Act to get supplies, got money to states and cities, bought vaccines, and poured money into the infrastructure that would get the vaccines into arms. As of today, the U.S. is averaging 3 million shots a day, and a third of the population has received at least one dose of a vaccine. Twenty percent of us are fully vaccinated, including 60% of those 65 and older.”
Faith communities have significant roles to play in overcoming the coronavirus. For example, Hollywood UMC has produced video encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations that features popular actor Pauley Perrette, a church member, whose beloved father Paul died earlier this year from COVID.
The United Methodist General Commission on Religion and Race has issued an infographic (pictured) on how churches can respond to the intersections of racial disparities in health care and COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to its newsletter, The National Council of Churches and many faith leaders have answered the call of the Biden-Harris Administration to become founding members of the COVID-19 Community Corps, a new program to encourage people to get vaccinated. United Methodists involved include Bishop Sally Dyck, ecumenical officer for the Council of Bishops, and UMC-related Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, one of the 13 schools supported by the church-wide Black College Fund.
The official website says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Community Corps “to share science-based information directly with community leaders and organizations across the country, empowering them as trusted messengers in the fight against COVID-19. … Community Corps members receive weekly toolkits and resources on the latest scientific and medical developments, FAQs about the vaccine, social media suggestions, infographics, factsheets with timely, accurate information, and tools on ways to help people get registered and vaccinated." Community Corps members are also encouraged to host social media conversations with doctors and write op-eds.
Individuals and faith organizations can join the COVID-19 Community Corps and participate by getting fully vaccinated and encouraging everyone to do the same. Find out more.
Many United Methodist congregations are struggling with when and how to resume in-person gatherings as the coronavirus pandemic lingers despite increased vaccinations. Experts say now is not the time to drop the public health practices that have proven effective thus far. For church leaders considering how to re-open congregational activities, I recommend an article, “Do You Need a Mission Statement for Your Post-Pandemic Transition Plan?” by Lovett Weems at the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Keep your masks on and stay six feet away from each other. We’re not there yet.
Take Action: Support Free and Fair Elections
The assault on voting rights in the United States is taking on frightening proportions in the wake of suppression laws enacted in Georgia and proposed in states such as Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Arizona. The General Board of Church and Society reminds us that as United Methodists, we “hold governments responsible for the protection of the rights of the people to free and fair elections” believing that “the form and the leaders of all governments should be determined by exercise of the right to vote guaranteed to all adult citizens.” (2016 Book of Discipline, ¶164A)
From a recent Church and Society post:
“VOTING RIGHTS
“In the United States, generations of advocates fought to expand the right to vote beyond the original electorate of land-owning white men. And despite constitutional guarantees, this right to vote continues to be under attack by ever-shifting tactics that suppress voter turnout and disenfranchise communities of color. In response to the continued systemic racism that undermines the guarantee of the right to vote to all citizens, The United Methodist Church specifically calls for re-instating and strengthening voting rights protections. (2016 Book of Resolutions 3378: Racism and Economic Justice Against People of Color)
“CAMPAIGN FINANCE
“Further, the United Methodist Church supports campaign finance reform that makes sure that policies respond to the needs of the people and not special interests.
“Campaign finance reform is a moral matter for the religious community. The temptation to buy favors is an ancient and unjust one addressed often in Scripture. The prophet Amos thundered against those merchants in Israel who ‘have sold the innocent for silver, and those in need for a pair of sandals…and push the afflicted out of the way…’ (Amos 2:6-7).
“We commend those politicians of all parties who are working to achieve real campaign financing reform.
“We call upon all United Methodists to work within their own countries to build support for measures that would end the flood of special-interest monies to political campaigns and restore integrity to decision making.” (2016 Book of Resolutions 5071: Electoral Campaign Finance Reform)
Church and Society urges United Methodists to contact their U.S. Senators and urge them to support legislation that upholds the right to vote for all, including black and brown communities, persons with disabilities, Native Americans, and the elderly.
Media Mentions as of April 9, 2021
Why leaving the pew empty may be the best way for churches to serve God amid COVID – The Courier-Journal *
5 Ways Churches Can Play a Critical Role in Vaccination Efforts – Lewis Center for Church Leadership
New photography exhibit examines faith during the pandemic – Religion News Service
Texas faith leaders condemn new election bills as Jim Crow dressed up in a 'tuxedo' – Religion News Service
How the church can be a better evangelical witness to displaced people – Religion News Service
Kewanee's United Methodist caught in middle of national theological debate – Kewanee Star Courier
Indiana legislature OKs religious activities as essential – The Associated Press
Why is U.S. church membership at a new low? There’s a ‘perfect storm’ of reasons for it – Lexington Herald-Leader *
Can churches earn the trust of young racial justice activists? – Sojourners
*Paid subscription required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.