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A United Methodist Insight Column
April 30 is a big day for United Methodist online meetings on various social justice and future planning topics as the world continues to adapt to the massive social changes wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Let’s Talk! Native American Communities and COVID-19” Challenges Faced by Health Care Agencies on Facebook 2pm ET, Thursday, April 30: The General Commission on Religion and Race has invited Dr. Billy Beets and Mr. Shawn Terry of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health for a discussion on how CODIV-19 has impacted Native American communities and its healthcare agencies.
The State of the Church: You're Not Alone, 2PM CST Thursday, April 30, via ZOOM, sponsored by Ministry Matters. This episode is the first installment in a webinar series MM has named “Now and Next: How the Church is Changing for Good.” Researcher Mark McPeak will go over findings with a focus on the top concerns that most leaders identified in a recent, 1,000-church survey. Host Rev. Lisa Yebuah and pastors Justin Coleman, Mary Louise McCullough, and DJ del Rosario will discuss these challenges with Mark and give hope and ideas for thriving through them. Registration is limited, so sign up quickly.
PRO-sponding™ Amid COVID-19, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30, via ZOOM, sponsored by the North Texas Conference Center for Church Development. Rev. John Thornburg of Texas Methodist Foundation and The Unstuck Group’s Mark Meyer bring their experience of working with thousands of churches across the nation to assist the churches of the North Texas Conference to strategize as we what is next. North Texas clergy and lay leaders sign up on Facebook event.
Is your church or conference holding a COVID-19 related webinar, ZOOM meeting or Facebook Live event that’s open to the public? Send details to United Methodist Insight.
Still doing no harm
United Methodist bishops continue to hold John Wesley’s First General Rule, “Do No Harm,” as their standard for keeping churches closed to in-person worship as “re-open” forces push for a “return to normalcy.”
Bishop Laurie Haller, Iowa Conference: “In light of the expectation that positive cases of COVID-19 will peak in Iowa in the next few weeks, I am strongly encouraging all United Methodist churches in Iowa to refrain from in-person worship until June 1, when I will reassess. I am going beyond the Governor’s recommendations despite my previously stated intention of following Governor Reynolds' guidelines around worship.
“My reasoning is that our first priority as disciples of Jesus Christ is to protect those who are most vulnerable, which includes the elderly, the very young, and those with underlying health conditions. Even though we all want to return to our churches and be a part of the body of Christ in person, I believe that it is more important to assure the safety of our communities from further infections.”
Bishop Mike McKee, Dallas Area (North Texas Conference): Laity and clergy alike have begun to ask questions about when we can return to our churches and worship together in person. The answer is “not yet.” To set a date at this time would be premature because of the ever-changing spread of COVID-19. There are areas of the North Texas Conference that have very few COVID-19 cases, but the Dallas area continues to be significantly affected. It’s best to plan that congregations will not gather face-to-face through May 31. It is my hope and prayer that we will be able to re-open our churches at some point in June.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky, Greater Northwest Area (Oregon-Idaho, Pacific Northwest, Alaska conferences): “As bishop of the Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church, I am extending the suspension of in-person worship in United Methodist Churches and other ministries and the closure of church facilities to all but essential services throughout the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences through May 30, 2020, despite the loosening of restrictions in some or all of the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. This date may be reconsidered as circumstances change.
“DO NO HARM. Protect Public Health As Christians and citizens committed to protecting public health, we are responsible both to abide by the guidance of government and health officials, and to assess whether the Church holds itself to a higher standard of caution than the states direct.”
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, Atlanta Area (North Georgia Conference): “We, your bishop and cabinet, greatly appreciate how you have followed the guidance we have shared regarding in-person worship. We know how much you miss each other and long to be together. After talking with medical experts and reviewing data today, we are asking you not to gather before June 22, 2020. This is the date current models predict that we in Georgia can begin safely relaxing our shelter-at-home strategies. … We encourage you to take this time to prepare to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 when we do gather again for in-person worship. The cabinet will continue to meet weekly and will offer regular updates to our guidance.”
Notes from all over
The following notes come from a newsletter, WTF Just Happened, created by journalist Matt Kiser of Seattle, Wash., shortly after Donald Trump was elected president. Matt’s intention was to track the Trump presidency, but his efforts have blossomed into a regular compendium on the state of the world. Yes, the newsletter’s title is vulgar, but its content can be vital to seeing what the world needs that the church can provide. It’s a good source to debunk rumors that scare congregations.
- “The World Health Organization warned that there is ‘no evidence’ that people who have had COVID-19 are immune from getting the virus again. The WHO also recommended that countries refrain from issuing ‘immunity passports’ to people who have been infected with the coronavirus. (NPR / CNN / Vox)”
- “The death toll from coronavirus could be 60% higher than reported in official counts. Mortality statistics show 122,000 deaths in excess of normal levels across 14 countries analyzed. In the early weeks of the coronavirus epidemic, the U.S. recorded an estimated 15,400 excess deaths – nearly twice as many as were attributed to COVID-19 at the time.” (Financial Times / Washington Post)
Media Mentions as of April 29, 2020
In Europe, closing church can mean opening to others – UM News
Connectting with the unplugged – Resource UMC
United Methodist
AU unveils hand sanitizer – The Herald
How religious leaders are keeping the faith during COVID-19
PBS Newshour
Seven ways in which religious leaders can help tackle Covid-19 – Church Times
Evangelical church sues California governor over coronavirus restrictions – Los Angeles Times *
Iowa religious leaders call on churches to avoid gatherings despite state loosening rules on services – The Des Moines Register *
Harlem pastor increases focus on church’s mental health as COVID-19 takes toll
– The Wall Street Journal *
More than $400,000 so far raised for small churches at risk during COVID-19 – Religion News Service
Religious freedom attorneys pick their battles amid pandemic – The Associated Press
A Virginia preacher believed ‘God can heal anything.’ Then he caught coronavirus – The Washington Post *
Always on the front lines, Tampa Bay chaplains find new ways to connect – Tampa Bay Times *
Churches, places of worship allowed to expand occupancy beginning Friday, Texas governor says – CLICK2HOUSTON
Pastor defends Massachusetts church service that drew 56 worshippers – Telegram And Gazette *
Lowry: Social distancing isn't a religion – AberdeenNews.com
Through glass or from a distance, Orlando Health chaplains comfort COVID-19 patients – Orlando Sentinel *
* Paid subscription may be required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.