United Methodists Prepare for Coronavirus with Health Habits and Hope

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UPDATED 7 AM March 6, 2020

Washing your hands frequently? Check. Hand sanitizer readily available? Check. Elbow bumps instead of handshakes and hugs when passing the peace? Check.

Wearing food service gloves while distributing communion? Well, um, maybe.

Those are some of the options being recommended for United Methodist churches as the novel coronavirus that causes respiratory illness COVID-19 spreads rapidly around the world. Because The United Methodist Church is a worldwide denomination whose leaders travel frequently, attention to coronavirus and COVID-19 has increased since the disease began to migrate outside China earlier this year.

Its complicated transmission and higher death rate makes this illness scarier than influenza or other seasonal viruses. Public health officials calculate the death rate for COVID-19 at around 3.4 percent of confirmed cases. Typical seasonal influenza has a death rate less than 1 percent of infected patients, according to the World Health Organization.  And while flu kills more people per year than COVID-19 has, coronavirus seems harder to contain, because people can have mild cases or lack obvious symptoms while passing on the disease. At this point there is no vaccine against COVID-10.

UPDATED: As of March 6, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported 225 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 16 states, with 11 deaths. COVID-19 has been found in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The most cases were reported in Washington and California, with 10 deaths in Washington, and 1 in California.

Globally, the World Health Organization reported coronavirus in 77 nations on every continent except Antarctica. As of March 5, WHO found 95,000 cases of COVID-19, more than 80,000 of which were in China resulting in some 3,000 deaths. Coronavirus’ origin has been traced to Wuhan, China.

Outside China, WHO has confirmed some 11,000 cases resulting in 267 deaths. Of the countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases, The United Methodist Church can be found in 18 infected regions, including places such as Nigeria, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Philippines. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has been helping with the crisis in China since early February. UMCOR sent an emergency grant to the Amity Foundation, a local partner that is working to limit coronavirus spread. Contributions for ongoing assistance can be sent to UMCOR’s Global Health fund, Advance #3021770.

Like everyone else, United Methodist pastors and members seesaw between fears of a devastating world pandemic like “Spanish flu” epidemic of 1917-18, and the desire to be spiritually hospitable while practicing good health habits. To get a snapshot of church response, United Methodist Insight contacted communicators in several U.S. annual conferences where public health testing has confirmed coronavirus present. Responses from those who replied and from conference websites follow.

Pacific Northwest Conference

Seattle, Wash, a major gateway to China where COVID-19 originated, has been a hot spot for coronavirus’ rapid spread in the United States. Ten deaths have been reported in the area, with several clustered in a nursing home where sanitation practices are being scrutinized.

Patrick Scriven, Pacific Northwest communications director, told Insight that he wasn’t aware of any reports of COVID-19 cases among United Methodists churches there. A resource page has been set up on the Greater Northwest Area website.

A group of United Methodist pastors met with public health officials March 3 at Queen Anne United Methodist Church/The Well. The Rev. Jeremy Smith, pastor of First UMC – Seattle, reported about the event on his blog, Hacking Christianity. Scriven also said, “We had staff on site to capture video which we hope to make available over the next day or so.”

On March 5, the Seattle Times' coronavirus newsletter advised people to stay home as much as possible. From the newsletter:

"If you can work from home, do it. If you're over 60 or have an underlying health condition, stay home. That's the message from local officials, and major companies like Microsoft and Amazon are taking it seriously as coronavirus cases spread. (Find today's news updates here. ) There are lessons to heed from what happened in China, but experts are cautioning against extreme measures in Seattle."

On March 5, Greater Northwest Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky announced:

"Yesterday the City of Seattle and King County issued temporary public health guidelines meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of exposure. Describing the situation as 'a shifting landscape,' King County Executive, Dow Constantine, discouraged large group gatherings of 10 or more people. This was later adjusted to 50 persons.

"... As your Bishop, I am strongly requesting that pastors of churches and other ministries within Seattle & King County follow the recommendations of Public Health.

"... Currently, Public Health’s guidance means that churches are being asked not to gather large groups of people for worship, concerts or shared meals. Additionally, the serious nature of the situation means we should postpone celebrating communion through the end of the month and give special care to the cleanliness of our facilities. For many congregations in King and Snohomish Counties, these recommendations are an invitation to find other ways of being in prayer and relationship with one another."

Oregon-Idaho Conference

Communications director Kristen Caldwell said that two COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Oregon, one each in Lake Oswego and the Weston area across the Columbia River from Walla Walla, Wash. Neither involved United Methodist churches.

Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky, who oversees both Oregon-Idaho and Pacific-Northwest conferences, wrote a Feb. 28 blog post, “Keeping Our Communities Healthy during the Season of Lent,” emphasizing good health practices and caution.

“The spread of COVID-19 is a situation that we’ll be watching closely,” she wrote. “I’ve asked our Directors of Connectional Ministries (DCMs) to be in conversation with our UMVIM/Disaster Response Teams to review plans and assess potential resources as these persons regularly network with community and governmental agencies.”

California-Nevada Conference

The Sacramento-based conference's disaster-response ministry has posted a COVID-19 page on the conference website. In addition to personal health habits such as handwashing, Cal-Nevada encourages United Methodists to have a family emergency action plan in case of a local outbreak, including laying in supplies in the event of business closures. The conference recommends reviewing and following the CDC's action plan to prepare.

Saying "people come first," California-Nevada Bishop Minerva G. Carcano announced the conference office would be closed through the end of the week for "bold preparations" against coronavirus. "Work will continue via remote processes and procedures during which time the office will be thoroughly cleaned by a professional team. Meetings that were scheduled for the week will now be conducted by zoom."

According to the conference website: "News came Wednesday that one of the conference staff may have come in contact with the Corona Virus (COVID-19). While the case is not confirmed, Bishop Carcaño insisted that every possible precaution be taken."

California-Pacific Annual Conference

Bishop Grant Hagiya counseled United Methodists in Southern California to "expect the best and prepare for the worst'" regarding the coronavirus epidemic. In addition to CDC and WHO resources, Bishop Hagiya reported the conference staff is working with Cal-Pac's disaster response team to prepare a disaster plan based in part on "an excellent Emergency Plan from the United Church of Canada as well as a Pandemic Preparedness Guide from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that we are studying."

Desert Southwest Conference

Although coronavirus has been reported in Arizona, no Desert Southwest churches have yet reported any COVID-19 cases. The conference has issued a resource, COVID-19 Guidelines for Local Churches.

In addition to good health practices, Phoenix Area Bishop Bob Hoshibata urged United Methodists to resist stigmatizing Asians and Asian-Americans as carriers of coronavirus.

“First and foremost, we cannot blame any ethnic group, particularly Asians, for the advent of COVID-19. Such targeting or racial profiling, such as instances of verbal and physical assault, on those who are from countries where the virus has appeared is unacceptable behavior by Christ-followers,” the bishop wrote in a March 2 pastoral letter, “A Faith Response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)”.

Great Plains Annual Conference

Great Plains Conference includes Kansas and Nebraska. The conference has posted a coronavirus/COVID-19 page that includes recommendations for personal health habits and guidelines for churches regarding sanitizing buildings, rescheduling events and encouraging people to stay home if they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms of fever, coughing and difficulty breathing.

Iowa Annual Conference

Although not yet among the states with confirmed COVID-19 cases, Iowa Area Bishop Laurie Haller urged  congregations to be prepared, a conference newsletter said.

“Let’s all be calm here in Iowa,” Bishop Laurie said, “even as we receive reports of the spread of the coronavirus disease in regions across the world. We pray for recovery for those who have fallen ill.  We also pray for the medical teams who are working to contain the outbreak.”

The Iowa newsletter continued: "It’s suggested that leaders of Iowa United Methodist faith communities would do well to talk, in advance, about the impact upon their churches and develop a plan if the coronavirus does spread to their communities." The conference suggested have on hand plenty of hand sanitizer, had soap, tissues and wastebaskets.   

Wisconsin Annual Conference

Wisconsin Conference has a coronavirus resource page on its website, “Response to the Coronavirus – Offering Prayers, Precautions, and Resources.” In addition to several common health recommendations, the conference notes that The Wisconsin Council of Churches has posted a Flu Season, the Coronavirus, and the Church document. “They have also scheduled a webinar on March 10 at 1:00 pm, focused on epidemic preparedness directed at clergy and key lay leaders to help churches prepare for the spread of the novel coronavirus,” says the website.

Northern Illinois Annual Conference

With coronavirus reported in Illinois, the conference has issued precaution resources similar to those in other areas.

In her pastoral letter titled “We Live in a Coronavirus World,” Bishop Sally Dyck remarked: “All of us are undoubtedly watching the news about the coronavirus, wondering how complacent or hypervigilant we should be. … How do I live as a person of faith in such a climate? I think Jesus would want me to be as kind and courteous as I can to my neighbor in the next seat or standing in line...just like Jesus always wants me to be.”

Michigan Annual Conference

Although Michigan isn’t among states where coronavirus has been confirmed, Michigan Area Bishop David Bard is getting lots of attention from other conferences for his early recommendations in an article “Bishop Urges Calm and Preparation for Coronavirus.” Bishop Bard is quoted: “There is no need for immediate action. But now is a good time to calmly assess the possible impact on our local churches if an outbreak occurs in Michigan.”

Among other resources, the Michigan article suggests churches complete a 2016 CDC document,  Faith-based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist. “While this check-list was developed in 2016 to combat the spread of influenza, it will function well to plan for COVID-19,” the article says.  

New England Annual Conference

New England Conference, which includes Massachusetts and New Hampshire where coronavirus has been confirmed, posted a compilation of information and resources prepared by conference staff and Mid-Maine District Superintendent Karen Munson on its website, reported communicator Beth DiCocco. The page includes some specific suggestions for Holy Communion:

  1. Anyone administering Communion should wash their hands, preferably with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  2. Those who will administer communion should refrain from shaking hands during passing of the peace.
  3. A good practice for serving communion during times of heightened contagion is for a server (with clean hands!) to hold a piece of bread toward the person receiving the elements, then turn and dip it into the cup for them before actually giving it to them.  This limits contact with the elements and is actually more “controlled” than distribution via individual cups.

New England Conference’s website also offers counsel on the worship act of “passing the peace:” “Consider inviting participants during this season to exchange verbal rather than physical greetings.  If touch is very important in your setting, consider introducing the ‘elbow bump’ as an alternative. It would be thoughtful and show foresight to provide hand sanitizer and tissues in seating and gathering areas.”

What’s your annual conference or local church doing to prepare for a possible coronavirus outbreak in your area? Send your responses to United Methodist Insight.

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