Let’s start this “Crisis Watch” with a tribute to a great American leader, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whose death from COVID-19 complications was announced Oct. 18 on social media by his family.
Colin Powell
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell died of COVID-19 complications. He was 84. (Photo Courtesy of World Justice Project)
Secretary Powell, 84, although vaccinated, succumbed to COVID-19’s effects because of a comprised immune system due to blood cancer and Parkinson’s disease. His death underscores the higher coronavirus risks to African Americans and people with underlying medical conditions. The fact that America has lost such a statesman, first Black man to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as Secretary of State, heightens the loss that the 19-month-long pandemic continues to create.
People's vulnerability to coronavirus are among the complexities involved in churches' resuming in-person worship and other gatherings. The consolation we have in Secretary Powell's passing is that he told news outlets that even with his end-of-life infirmities, he felt "blessed by God." May we all have such assurances at the end of our lives.
Speaking of medical conditions, Dr. David W. Scott of UM & Global recommends reading a report from NPR’s “Goats and Soda” blog about the impact of the pandemic on short-term medical missions, in which teams of medical professionals go to a developing nation to provide health care for a week or two. He writes:
“While there are negative outcomes to such disruptions, they also provide a space for rethinking mission practice. A recent post on NPR's Goats and Soda blog titled "COVID is changing medical fly-in missions — and it might be for the better" shares examples of how that rethinking of short-term medical missions is happening. In brief, the pandemic has accelerated pre-existing trends towards focusing on developing local medical expertise and capacity, rather than focusing on provision of services by Western experts. New communication technologies have made such capacity-building work possible even without Western travel, though the article notes that travel can still play a role in the work of building relationships across contexts. Focusing on the growth of local expertise and capacity provides for a more sustainable and equitable long-term approach to the provision of medical services. While the article's main examples come from secular work, those involved in church-related short-term medical mission projects would do well to consider the implications for their own work.”
Webinar examines pandemic and Black churches
From UM News:
ATLANTA — Gammon Theological Seminary plans to have a webinar at 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Nov. 4 on its recent study of how COVID-19 affected Black United Methodist congregations. The study, on matters such as digital discipleship, online giving and pastors' well-being, was conducted in partnership with multiple United Methodist organizations.
Annual conference organizing for creation care impact
UM Creation Justice Movement will offer a free,online seven-part series of workshops “to build and strengthen annual conference creation justice impact.
According to an announcement, here are the first two session plans:
Session One: Why is this our Mission? Creation Care and Wesleyan Theology - Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 at 12:00 noon CT | 1:00 pm ET. Led by Rev. Pat Watkins. Register HERE.
Session Two: What is our Mission Context for Creation Care? - Monday, Nov. 15, 2021 at 12:00 noon CT | 1:00 pm ET. Led by Daniel Joranko and Pat Watkins. Register HERE.
- What is our vision for Creation Care?
- Who and How Do We Recruit for Our Ministry?
- How Do We Structure Our Ministry?
- Moving to Mission: Activities on the Ground
- How Might We Restore Ourselves in Mission?
The announcement continued: These workshops are designed to focus on the particulars of each annual conference’s context. They are open to anyone currently or hoping to be on a UMC Conference Creation Care Ministry team. The workshops are designed both as a series and as stand-alone workshops.
For more information contact Dan Joranko at NashvilleCreationCare@gmail.com or online here.
Media Mentions as of Oct. 19, 2021
Christian nationalism and social media: Believers skirt the power of Big Tech –The Washington Post
Critics Wonder If a New $10 Million UN-Philippines Human-Rights Project Will Work – PassBlue
We're Not There...Yet: Taking a Look at LGBTQ+ Representation in Media – Boston University
Seven Things White Christians Can Do to Address White Supremacy at Church – White Too Long Newsletter