Iowa Catie Newman
The Rev. Catie Newman prays with John Wm. Weaver in front of a neighbor’s wind-damaged home while a United Methodist volunteer team makes emergency repairs to his roof in Marion, Iowa. Weaver’s mobile home was severely damaged during a derecho windstorm in August. Newman is the disaster response coordinator for the Iowa Conference. (Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.)
A United Methodist Insight Column
April is Disaster Preparedness Month, and Pastor Catie Newman, disaster response coordinator for the Iowa Annual Conference, has the topic covered.
Sadly, Iowa has been one of the states that has suffered extreme weather episodes in the past few years, especially from tornadoes and straight-line winds that have decimated Iowa’s notable corn crops. Pastor Newman offers a detailed post on how to prepare for a disaster, which is a situation that’s not “if,” but “when.”
We may not be able to adopt all the recommended practices, but some of them are key to surviving a disaster. We especially recommend talking with family, friends and neighbors about a preparedness plan, making a “go bag,” and learning what the various levels of alerts mean to get ready adequately. Read Pastor Newman’s full post on the Iowa Conference website.
Say ‘no’ to easing up on the ‘Rona
From an Axios/Ipsos poll comes sobering news: “Fewer than one in 10 Americans now describes COVID as a crisis — with one in six saying it's no problem at all, managing editor Margaret Talev writes from a new installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index." Ms. Talev writes that these opinions pose “significant hurdles” to public health efforts to manage new surges of the disease.
Fortunately, some public officials still take the coronvirus pandemic seriously.
President Biden has extended the masking requirement on public transportation through May 3. NPR reports that Philadelphia has become the first city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate as the city sees another rise in COVID infections. The Washington Post’s “The 7” newsletter also reports that “coronavirus cases are rising again in the Northeast. The region recorded at least 126 new infections per 100,000 people last week — double the rate of a month ago but far short of the January peak.” The BA.2 omicron subvariant is blamed for the surge, so churches beware and don’t relax those masking requirements too soon.
Meanwhile, we’re still experiencing the concurrent pandemic of grief over our pandemic losses. The Associated Press poignantly documents the breadth of coronavirus devastation in A million empty spaces: Chronicling COVID's cruel US toll. Churches have an opportunity address this massive wave of grief that underlies many of the social outbreaks of violence we’re seeing around the country and the world. What is your church doing to comfort the COVID-19 bereaved?
Action on the gun violence epidemic
We can think of no better way to document the ongoing scourge of gun violence in the United States than this verbatim quote from The Marshall Project’s “Opening Statement” newsletter:
“'Thoughts and prayers alone are not enough.' The Biden administration proposed new federal rules to ban the online sale of 'ghost guns,' untraceable firearms without serial numbers assembled from components bought online. USA TODAY The White House also nominated Steven Dettelbach, a former U.S. Attorney, to run the beleaguered Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. POLITICO The moves generated a mixed response from gun control advocates. THE NEW YORK TIMES What are ghost guns? THE ASSOCIATED PRESS More: How the feds announced the news. THE WHITE HOUSE”
Now is the time for congregations to address gun violence in our neighborhoods.
Trans families terrorized in Texas
From NBC News comes this heartbreaking story:
“More Texas families with transgender children say they are fleeing the state to keep their kids safe. Her son's initial loss of gender-affirming care was the turning point for Katie and her family. Katie decided that after her son finishes 10th grade this summer, the family would move to Denver.
“Her son, N., told NBC News last month that things have been 'awful' since the governor’s directive. 'It was hard to stay in one piece and not break down on everything,' he said.
“Katie said that since the family decided to move, N. has been doing the best he can to stay positive about it.
“’But his heart is broken,’ she said. ‘We’re leaving Texas temporarily on our terms with the hope and prayer that come November, we’re going to get to come back home and it will be a joyous homecoming.’”
We know of at least one Texas church that is standing up to the oppression of families with transgender children, and we’re proud to say that it’s our own sponsoring congregation, St. Stephen UMC in Mesquite, TX.
Protecting Trans Kids
St. Stephen will sponsor a gathering on Tuesday, April 19 for trans families and their allies to learn more about how to protect themselves from the onslaught of discriminatory policies being enact by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his cohorts. “Protecting Our Children” will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 19 at the church, 2520 Oates Drive, Mesquite. All who care about the welfare of transgender youngsters are welcome.
‘Weathering the Storm’ explores climate resilience
The ecumenical movement Creation Justice Ministries is focusing on “climate resilience” this for its Earth Day observances. It has set up a website, EarthDaySunday.org, as the central location for resources on how individual Christians and their congregations can engage their communities to become “hubs of resiliency.” Read Stories of Resilience Here
The organization also schedules two events around Earth Day:
- April 22 at 12PM ET: Ecumenical Earth Day Service: Weathering the Storm
- April 28 at 6PM ET: Climate Disasters, Faithful Resilience: Preparing Your Congregation for Climate Disasters
More on climate
From The New Yorker magazine: “A Lake in Florida Suing to Protect Itself: Lake Mary Jane, in central Florida, could be harmed by development. A first-of-its-kind lawsuit asks whether nature should have legal rights.”
Personally, I don’t see how this could work, but if corporations can become people for the purpose of free speech according to the Supreme Court, then I suppose a lake could sue developers to protect itself. Deep down in the story we find that Lake Mary Jane and her other wild counterparts have a human co-plaintiff, Chuck O’Neal, who’s bringing the suit based on a 50-year-old legal precedent from the late Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, a fervent environmentalist. It will be interesting to see how the case proceeds.
For a distinctly United Methodist take on the environment, read Ken Sloane’s article on the Discipleship Ministries website, What Can I Do About the Climate Crisis? For a sense of what’s happening in your state, see Climate Central’s interactive feature on solar and wind energy, Weather Power Year in Review.
Media Mentions as of April 14, 2022
West Lawn UMC holds fundraiser dinner to benefit Ukraine | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com
Methodists focus on Easter amid denominational schism and the tough decisions ahead – The Tennessean
Church leaders call for peace in Pilsen - Chicago Sun-Times
South Africa: Flood victims search for shelter after losing everything – The Africa Report.com
Toll in South Africa's deadliest floods on record tops 300 - The Sun daily
Photos: Deadly floods wreak havoc in South Africa - CNN
Help for Ukrainian displaced persons - Tri-County News
Stand with Ukraine: Prayers for Peace & Resources to Help – Discipleship Ministries
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email for permission.