Editor's note: The following statement was released late Monday, March 9:
Siblings in Christ across the Pacific Northwest Conference,
On Sunday evening, PNW Conference Treasurer Brant Henshaw emailed our staff with the news that one of our team members has been directly exposed to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). To ensure the safety of our staff, leaders, and other visitors, we are closing the conference office through March 27, 2020. While it is closed our staff will work remotely, and the office will be professionally cleaned.
With their permission we share that Assistant Treasurer Rik Jamieson’s wife Patty tested positive for COVID-19, receiving those results Sunday evening. She had been home ill with what they thought was pneumonia since February 25. We are thankful that Patty is doing better, under self-care at their home. Rik isn’t exhibiting any symptoms at this time and is currently in isolation.
As we make decisions about reopening the office, we’ll continue to follow the recommendations of public health. Per the guidance from King County last week, we’ve already been working to reschedule or move meetings planned at the office to Zoom.
In this trying moment, we take some inspiration from the many United Methodist Churches in and around Seattle that quickly adapted their worship plans on Sunday due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the Health Department’s guidance. Like them, our primary concern is the good health and wellbeing of the people we work alongside.
Please keep both Rik and Patty in your prayers and keep all of your conference staff and their families in them as well. These are anxious moments especially for those in categories identified as at-risk.
We are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak closely and hope that you are doing the same. Please check the resource page on the Greater Northwest Area website for resources to support your response. Be sure to monitor the progress of the virus and public health recommendations in your local area, as this disease continues to spread and affect more people in more communities.
Brant Henshaw, Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services
Rev. David Valera, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries