With news that the Coronavirus outbreak is now classified as a pandemic, and public health officials in Washington State elevating their guidance and requirements for social distancing, we are anticipating that more local churches will need to explore new online options for worship. Rev. David Valera and Patrick Scriven offer advice in this video for churches as they contemplate this move, identifying some of the challenges along the way.
Live Streaming Platforms mentioned Facebook Live Information page: LINK YouTube Live Streaming Information Page: LINK
If you have time and haven’t done so already, setting up a non-profit account will give you additional features to control your “brand” and minimize the invasiveness of YouTube advertising. You can find directions for doing this here: http://www.umcom.org/learn/free-access-to-google-products-for-nonprofits
Additional Options
There are a number of streaming services available under monthly or yearly contracts, some designed specifically for churches. Reach out to colleagues who are using a service you like and see what they have to say about it before you invest.
If you are wanting an option that might be more conversational, consider a platform like Zoom (https://zoom.us). At the free level, you can host a conversation with up to 100 participants for 40 minutes. For $15 a month, you have no time limits, and for $20 you can host up to $300 of your closest friends. 🙂
Licensing
We are working on some ways to try to make the addition of the CCLI streaming license easier for local churches. Give us a day or two to see what might be possible.
Questions?
David can be reached at dvalera@pnwumc.org; Patrick at pscriven@pnwumc.org.
We’ll do the best we can to answer questions from United Methodist churches but please be sure to reach out to your Annual Conference Communicator, especially if you aren’t based in the Northwest. They are likely waiting by the phone right now to answer your questions!
RENTON, Wash. — Like many churches in the Seattle area, Fairwood Community United Methodist Church had to adjust worship plans last weekend. With King County discouraging large group gatherings and encouraging persons vulnerable to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to stay home through the end of March, it would have been easy to focus on what they couldn’t do.
Instead,
in addition to moving some worship elements online, Fairwood Community UMC
continued the work of applying disaster response practices to their planning
for whatever might come next. Training developed by UMCOR called Connecting
Neighbors helped to inform these efforts.
According
to lay member Jim Truitt, the need to accelerate the church’s response got real
when an active family shared that they were under self-quarantine, concerned
that they might have COVID-19.
Truitt,
who also serves as Disaster Response Coordinator for the Greater Northwest
Area, shared some of what they are doing to implement Connecting
Neighbors curriculum in the church’s response. Both Truitt and
Associate Pastor Carrie Bland have received training in the program, which is
offered in both the Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences.
Responding
to the immediate concern, the church has been in contact with the family under
quarantine, offering support and meals as requested. Truitt shared that they
“performed a contact search of everyone the family has been in contact
with since exhibiting symptoms,” notifying those they identified and
sharing the news with the congregation with a letter. They also cleaned every
room of the church that the family visited.
As
encouraged by public health officials and United Methodist Bishop Elaine
Stanovsky, the church has adopted new hygiene protocols for those entering and
using their facility. Truitt shares that they are utilizing “the expertise
of the infection control and medical personnel” in the congregation to
define these protocols and to respond safely to requests for help.
Fairwood
Community UMC is also compiling a list of its at-risk parishioners. That list
includes members who are immunocompromised, are 60+ years old, have chosen not
to venture out, live alone, and those we know who have traveled out of the
country recently. They are using a phone tree to do wellness checks with those
identified and have tasked their Congregational Care Committee to coordinate
meals and needed transportation.
“For
our congregation, it is becoming a pretty long list,” offered Rev. Bland.
Because so many members meet one or more of the at-risk criteria, they are
working to divide the list into groupings representing different levels of
potential risk and need.
Bland
shared that the Congregational Care Committee has been at work for two years
now, activating previously to support members during moments like last year’s
“Snowpocalypse.” To adapt to the challenges posed by sheer numbers
and the reality that some members don’t use or have access to email, they are
looking at creating a “buddy system” to engage more members in care
for one another.
Fairwood
Community UMC is relying on Truitt to monitor emerging information about
COVID-19 from trusted sources like the CDC, WHO, and their state and county
health departments. He reviews any COVID-19-related communication the church
issues, supporting church leadership, and ensuring that the church is following
agreed-upon protocols.
“A
lot that comes out about the Coronavirus is physical,” shared Bland.
“How are we as a society addressing the spiritual and emotional components
of this situation?”
For
Bland, making sure that a holistic approach to health is addressed is one role
she sees for the church in this situation, one it is well-positioned to take
on.
“We hope the congregation will realize there are great ways to care for each other in times like these that might carry forward.”
Patrick Scriven serves as Director of Communications and Young People’s Ministry for the Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Giving to your local church means giving to your local communities. Passing the offering plate in church on Sunday mornings is a physical and symbolic reminder of Jesus’ commitment to ministering to all those around us.
When church attendance is slowed or completely stopped, though, to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, offering online giving is a way to continue to feel connected to your local church and its many ministries.
There are several easy steps churches can implement right
now to create an online giving platform.
United Methodist
Communications offers these
suggested resources for online/electronic giving options.
Here are some examples of church “Donate” or “Give” web pages
across the Greater Northwest Area of The UMC:
Some churches use the “Giving” app from the Planning Center group.
Stewardship and finance experts from across the Greater Northwest Area recommend churches use direct bank transfers – electronic funds transferring – so that churches experience fewer fees than using a platform based solely on credit card donations. However, they acknowledge that credit card apps are sometimes easier for those who give.
Management of online donations may seem like a daunting new process for churches, but many who have already implemented such changes said churchgoers appreciate the convenience of online giving. Connect with Dan Wilson-Fey in the Oregon-Idaho Conference at dan@umoi.org or Rik Jamieson for the Alaska or Pacific Northwest Conferences at rjamieson@pnwumc.org if you have questions.
This is an opportune moment for the Church, called to serve
in God’s world in new ways. After the Coronavirus is long gone, churches will
have established a sustainable, flexible way to continue supporting God’s kin-dom.
The following local churches have communicated that they are canceling worship, or including a special online component this week, in response to concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Some will be livestreaming a special service at a set time; others are uploading prerecorded content.
Please note that in addition to COVID-19, we all lose an
hour this Sunday due to Daylight Savings Time this week.
A general note to churches. Please make sure that your plan for this week is clear on the homepage of your website in addition to your primary social media accounts.
This page will be updated as information comes in. Please send additions or corrections to communications@greaternw.org.
Patrick Scriven serves as Director of Communications, Young People’s Ministry for the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.
The local church is a place where people connect — with God, with each other and in the community. People naturally turn to the church in times of a crisis seeking meaning, peace, and healing. A church that is prepared can help mitigate the emotional and spiritual impact of a disaster and may be a place of hospitality and sanctuary in times of critical need. A plan can speed the immediate response and help lessen those feelings of confusion, loneliness, and isolation that are so common after disasters.
Here are some suggestions to stay “Church Connected”:
Congregation Checks Prepare a method of checking on the congregation of the church when a disaster strikes. i.e. developing a “telephone tree” or utilizing “prayer chains” communications. Develop an “Outreach Committee.” Update and make church directories available.
Click to see full-size Phone Tree Template
Check on shut-ins and most vulnerable church members first Call, visit, reach out to family members to make contact with church members. Notify the local rescue squad if there is a call for concern or evacuation, giving all pertinent details.
Companions Arrange for people (volunteers) to serve as companions for vulnerable or disaster-affected people. Companions should be prepared to listen, run errands, make phone calls; anything to help church members feel more comfortable and ease the anxiety. If possible, arrange for persons with skills in signing for the hearing impaired, and translators for non-English speaking people.
Make contingencies for providing services as soon as possible after the disaster Consider identifying an alternate location in case the church is damaged, perhaps including a reciprocal agreement with another church. Be open to alternative ways of holding service — videotape service, use website, and online capabilities. Be prepared in the event that the pastor is affected by the disaster.
Determine ways existing ministries can continue in the event the church is damaged Develop a plan in case in-church ministries, such as child care, bible study, AA meetings, etc. need to be canceled. Identify and plan for ministries your church will engage in during a disaster, such as feeding, donations distribution, information center, etc.
Larry Johnson serves as Disaster Preparedness and Response Coordinator for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Along with her husband Dana, Kathy Bryson serves as Disaster Response Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference.
Dios es nuestro amparo y nuestra fortaleza, nuestra ayuda segura en momentos de angustia. Por eso, no temeremos… Salmo 46:1,2
Metodistas Unidos del Gran Noroeste Area,
La noticia de la propagación del Coronavirus (COVID-19) dentro de los Estados Unidos está causando gran preocupación. Si bien esto es particularmente grave en el área de Seattle, los miembros de las comunidades religiosas de todo el país están haciendo preguntas sobre cómo esto podría afectar las formas en que adoran y practican su fe tanto dentro como fuera de sus edificios.
Cada vez es más claro que el virus COVID-19 es un peligro para las personas y nuestras comunidades en el area Gran Noroeste y especialmente en el Condado de King, Washington, donde se propagó sin ser detectado por algún tiempo. La capacidad de evaluar a todas las personas con síntomas continúa rezagada con respecto a la necesidad de esta prueba.
Debido a esto, reunirse como comunidades de fe puede poner a las personas en riesgo de exposición al COVID-19. Estoy animando a seguir una gran cantidad de precauciónes en nuestras iglesias, siguiendo la sabiduría y los consejos del Departamento de Salud del condado de King.
Recomendaciones del departamento de salud pública para residentes e iglesias en los condados de King y Snohomish, en el estado de Washington.
Ayer, la ciudad de Seattle y el condado de King emitieron pautas temporales de salud pública destinadas a frenar la propagación de COVID-19 y reducir el riesgo de exposición. Al describir la situación como “un paisaje cambiante”, el Ejecutivo del Condado de King, Dow Constantine, expreso que se deben evitar las reuniones de grupos grandes de 10 o más personas. Esto luego se ajustó a 50 personas.
Esta mañana, el Distrito de Salud de Snohomish siguió al condado de King al anunciar que también está recomendando evitar las reuniones innecesarias de grupos grandes de más de 50.
Como su Obispa, solicito encarecidamente que los pastores de iglesias y otros ministerios dentro del condado de Seattle y King sigan las recomendaciones del Departamento de Salud Pública. Estas pautas, sujetas a cambios a medida que la situación evoluciona, definen las poblaciones vulnerables, fomentan las prácticas seguras en nuestros entornos de trabajo, limitan el tamaño de las reuniones públicas, ofrecen orientación para las escuelas y las personas enfermas, y dan consejos a quienes buscan mantenerse saludables.
Actualmente, la orientación del Departamento de Salud Pública significa que se les pide a las iglesias que no reúnan a grandes grupos de personas para adoración, conciertos o comidas compartidas. Además, la gravedad de la situación significa que deberiamos posponer la celebración de la comunión hasta fin de mes y prestar especial atención a la limpieza de nuestras instalaciones. Para muchas congregaciones en los condados de King y Snohomish, estas recomendaciones son una invitación a encontrar otras formas de estar en oración y relacionarse entre ellos.
Recomendaciones del Departmento de salud pública para iglesias fuera de los condados de King y Snohomish, Washington.
Si vive o trabaja, o está involucrado en una iglesia fuera del condado de King o Snohomish, le recomiendo que comience ahora a desarrollar planes para identificar y preservar los ministerios de su iglesia local cuando COVID-19, o algún otro desastre , llega a su pueblo.
La Guía Provisional para Comunidades de Fe del CDC se publicó esta semana y cada líder debe tomarse el tiempo de revisarla. Una lista de producida hace varios años para preparar a las comunidades religiosas para una pandemia de gripe puede ser una guía útil.
Aquellos que hayan recibido el programa Conectando Vecinos producido por UMCOR pueden ser un recurso para las iglesias que son nuevas en este tipo de trabajo. Una lista de personas capacitadas estará disponible pronto junto con otros recursos en el sitio web del Gran Noroeste area.
Palabra de aliento para todas las Iglesias en el area del Gran Noroeste
Es natural que las personas se pongan ansiosas ante una enfermedad desconocida que no muestra síntomas durante muchos días después de haber infectado a una persona. Este es sin duda un momento de preocupación, y para tomar precauciones, pero no es el momento del pánico
Cuando la salud y la vida están en juego, las organizaciones deben cooperar con la última información recibida y deben recibir direccion de los departamentos de salud estatales y del condado y los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) y la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS).
Hemos creado una página en el sitio web del Gran Noroeste area que proporciona un fácil acceso a estos sitios y hemos creados enlaces de varios recursos específicos que estaran disponibles para las iglesias en los próximos días.
Es en momentos como estos que las personas de fe se llenan de coraje de persistencia y confianza en Dios. Es hora de hacer todo lo posible para promover la salud y el bienestar y asegurarnos de que nosotros y las personas en los círculos de nuestro cuidado estén seguros y tengan lo que necesitan mientras vivimos esta temporada de enfermedad.
Cambios en Practicas para la Oficina de la Conferencia del PNW
En respuesta a la recomendación de Seattle y el departamento del salud del condado King, los empleados que trabajan en la Oficina de la Conferencia del Noroeste del Pacífico tienen la facultad discreta de trabajar desde sus casas hasta finales de marzo. La oficina no se está cerrando, pero el número de empleados que trabajaran desde la oficina de la conferencia será menor.
Esperamos que esto nos permita ayudar y asistir a las iglesias locales según sea necesario, le pedimos su gracia mientras nos adaptamos a esta medida.
Tenemos la intención de seguir esta guía para el mes de marzo, pero evaluaremos semanalmente y realizaremos ajustes a medida que sigamos vigilando de cerca la situación. Si tiene previsto asistir a una reunión en la Oficina de la Conferencia de PNW durante este período de tiempo, póngase en contacto con la persona encargada de la reunion. Cuando sea práctico, trasladaremos las reuniones a Zoom para limitar el viaje de las personas al condado de King. Algunas reuniones también pueden posponerse o cancelarse.
Many faith communities are considering alternative ways of worshiping this weekend after guidance from both King and Snohomish Counties recommended canceling or postponing large gatherings of more than 50 people.
Faith communities with a practice of sharing parts or all of their worship online may feel less stressed by this, but there are still gaps that online worship can’t fill. Others may recognize this as an excellent time to experiment or jump right into some new form of online engagement.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for faith communities when it comes to connecting with people in meaningful ways. As you make decisions, consider what would work best for the people in your community and use this as an opportunity to stretch into a new practice, perhaps one that you will embrace even after some semblance of normalcy returns.
As you move to consider new ways of worship, don’t forget that the most important contact is still person to person, even if that may need to happen in smaller groups or over the phone. Keep in mind those who may be experiencing isolation and anxiety, and consider an audit of your congregation so that those who may be especially vulnerable to this virus have the support they need.
Worship Online?
If you have access to a recent smartphone and a decent wifi connection, you have most everything you need to facilitate rudimentary streaming. While specialized gear may get you better results, most smartphones are capable of more than most people realize.
If you are going online, you have some decisions to make, which we’ve broken into four basic parts:
What do you want to stream?
Will it be live?
What platform will you use?
Do I need to think about licensing?
What do you want to stream?
Even for churches that already stream their entire service, what to stream is still a relevant question. There is a difference between recording worship in front of a congregation and trying to produce something for a web audience with no one else in the room with you. You’ve got the equipment and platform, take some time to adapt to this new situation creatively.
For churches who only share a sermon or special music currently, how will you embrace this opportunity to up your game? Is there a way to make it more interactive than just hearing a message or piece of music? We’ll get into this a bit more when we talk about platforms.
For churches who haven’t yet waded into these digital waters, this may be the perfect moment to stretch into something new. Start small. Try recording a short homily and share it on your church’s Facebook page or another social media platform you have available to you.
Will it be live?
If this isn’t something you do regularly, why make it harder? Platforms like Facebook and YouTube allow you to upload content with relative ease. Facebook even permits you to schedule and release prerecorded material as if it is live.
Unless you are planning to do something interactive, like verbally responding to questions in chat as you speak, there isn’t much to gain from working without a proverbial net. Prerecording your content allows you to do multiple takes and even a little postproduction of what you have filmed.
In any case, check out the recording tips, which you’ll find on this page.
Tips for making good online videos using just a smartphone
Inside a church or building:
Camera – Smartphone with a good camera and lens.
Make sure the lens is clean.
Stabilize your phone/camera – make sure you don’t block your microphone.
Keep the lens at eye level.
Lighting – make sure you have adequate lighting. Find the best location in the sanctuary.
Avoid harsh, direct lighting especially on faces.
Try not to be constrained to the pulpit.
It’s a great opportunity to be creative.
Sound – test your audio by making a few short recordings, before you go live. Avoid echoes.
Know where the mic in your camera is. You may have to remove protective casing.
Stay within 2-4 feet from your mic/phone.
If you have a headphone/mic for your smartphone, use it. This option can produce very good quality audio.
Audio quality is just as important as your video. The goal is to make sure your viewers clearly understand your message.
Bonus tip to Pastor/worship leaders – Don’t take too long to introduce what you are doing.
Write down your opening and closing spiel. Make your endings smart and connected to your message. Open well and end best!
What platform will you use?
Facebook Live, Zoom, YouTube. There are dozens of possibilities. My best advice is to choose the platform you are most comfortable with that is also accessible to the majority of your congregants.
For most churches, the Facebook Live option is a good one to consider. The majority of churches already have a Facebook page and may find themselves just a couple steps away from being able to go live. It also has a flexible definition of the word “live,” allowing you to upload a message and watch along with congregation members, interacting with them and even answering questions they might pose. Contrary to what some believe, Facebook videos are available to view by people without an account, and you can embed them on a church website.
YouTube might be the platform of choice if there is a preference for something other than Facebook. It is often easier to place YouTube videos as content in other places, but social engagement might take a hit.
A compelling option if you want to do something creative and interactive is Zoom. While there are other video-conferencing platforms, Zoom is the easiest to use in my experience. The basic free account will allow you to host up to 100 participants for up to 40 minutes. The same features are available for $14.99 per month with no time limits. For a few dollars more, you can host up to 300 people.
Do I need to think about licensing?
It depends on what you intend to stream, but the short answer is yes if you are planning to include live or prerecorded music.
In the U.S., churches have a copyright exemption that allows the performance and display of copywritten work of a religious nature during religious services. If you read that carefully, the exemption is pretty narrow, and it is understood that it does not permit the broadcast of those works online live or recorded. Stanford University is one excellent resource for additional info on copyright.
If you intend to stream music, and you don’t want to limit yourself to the greatest hits of the 19th century, the solution is a streaming license. The WorshipCast Streaming license offered by CCS covers a range of songs, CCLI offers a solution as well as an add-on to their basic licensing. Each covers some things that the other doesn’t as far as the use of content goes. This document captures some of the differences.
Got questions?
We hope that you find this resource helpful as you adapt to the situation we are facing. As you discern the best practices for you, remember that there is a wealth of information on many of these topics, just a short Google-search away. If you’ve got questions, send them to communications@greaternw.org, and we’ll try to answer them.
Finally, remember that you are a part of a connectional church. If pulling off an online service isn’t going to work for you, reach out to one of your colleagues, and encourage your congregants to join you online at their church.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear… Psalm 46 1,2
United Methodists across the Greater Northwest Area,
News of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) within the United States is causing no small amount of concern. While this is particularly acute in the Seattle area, members of faith communities across the country are asking questions about how this might impact the ways they worship and practice their faith both inside and outside of their buildings.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the COVID-19 virus is a danger to individuals and our communities across the Greater Northwest and especially in King County, Washington, where it spread undetected for some time. The capacity to test everyone with symptoms continues to lag behind the need for this testing.
Because of this, gathering as communities of faith may put people at risk of exposure to COVID-19. I am encouraging an abundance of caution in our churches, following the wisdom and advice of Seattle & King County Public Health.
Public Health Recommendations for Residents and Churches in King and Snohomish Counties, Washington
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.
This morning, the Snohomish Health District followed King County in announcing that it is also discouraging unnecessary large group gatherings of more than 50.
Please read these guidelines as they are available online here:
As your Bishop, I am strongly requesting that pastors of churches and other ministries within Seattle & King County follow the recommendations of Public Health. These guidelines — subject to change as the situation evolves — define vulnerable populations, encourage adaptive practices in our work environments, limit the size of public gatherings, offer guidance for schools and those who are sick, and give advice to those seeking to remain healthy.
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.
Public Health Recommendations for Churches outside King & Snohomish Counties, Washington
If you live or work, or are involved in a church outside King or Snohomish County, I recommend that you begin now to develop plans for how you will identify and preserve the critical ministries of your local church when COVID-19, or some other disaster, arrives in your town.
Interim Guidance for Faith Communities from the CDC was released this week which every leader should take the time to review. A checklist produced several years ago to prepare faith communities for a flu pandemic should still be a helpful guide. Those who have received the Connecting Neighbors program produced by UMCOR may be a resource for churches who are new to this sort of work. A list of trained individuals will be made available soon along with other resources on the Greater Northwest website.
Encouragement for all churches across the Greater Northwest Area
It is natural for people to become anxious in the face of an unknown disease that shows no symptoms for many days after it has infected a person. This is undeniably a time of concern, and for taking precautions, but it is not the time for panic.
We’ve set up a page on the Greater Northwest website providing easy access to these sites and links to several church specific resources which we’ll add to in the coming days.
It’s in times like these that people of faith dip into the well of their courage and persistence and trust in God. It’s time to do what we can to promote health and wellness and to make sure that we and the people in the circles of our care are safe and have what they need as we live through this season of illness.
In response to the recommendation of Seattle & King County Public Health, employees working out of the Pacific Northwest Conference Office have been given the discretion to telecommute through the end of March. The office is not being closed but the number of employees working out of the conference center will be lower. While we hope this will still allow us to aide and assist local churches as needed, we ask for your grace as we adjust to this measure.
We intend to follow this guidance for the month of March, but we will evaluate on a weekly basis and make adjustments as we go keeping a close watch on the situation.
If you are scheduled to attend a meeting at the PNW Conference Office over this period of time, please be in touch with your staff liaison. Where practical, we will be moving meetings to Zoom to limit persons travel into King County. Some meetings may also be postponed or canceled.
Over the weekend, local church, district, and conference lay leaders from the three conferences of the Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church gathered at Des Moines United Methodist Church, 30 minutes south of Seattle.
The 24-hour Lay Leader’s Retreat was initiated by the Conference Lay Leaders with the intent of bringing voices together from across the area to identify common challenges and opportunities to learn and work with one another. The event took place just a week after the Alaska Conference took steps toward becoming a mission district of the Pacific Northwest Conference (PNW).
An open forum encouraging questions and making room for common concerns was led by Directors of Connectional Ministries (DCM) Laurie Day and Rev. David Valera. Two sessions with the DCMs also served as an opportunity for lay leaders to know how to utilize them as resources for mission.
PNW DCM Valera shared that the task of a director of connectional ministry is one of alignment, adding that they strive to be advocates for the work of the laity. Day, a layperson herself, described the role as including “a lot of networking,” as they work to keep people connected to the many ministries across the conferences, area, and global church. Valera described it as one of “telephone operator” facilitating conversations between separate groups which have similar visions and conversations.
Directors of Connectional Ministries Rev. David Valera (PNW) and Laurie Day (OR-ID) field questions from the lay leaders.
Participants also received a preview of the Greater Northwest Area’s Shared Annual Conference Session being held June 11-14, 2020 in Puyallup, Wash. The DCMs fielded a number of questions about the session while also providing insights into the legislative process and goals. The session will happen a few weeks after the 2020 General Conference takes place in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Developing healthy working relationships with pastors was an undercurrent in several table and group conversations throughout the gathering. Day encouraged the laity saying, “don’t wait for the clergy, they are not the keepers of the church.” Several participants acknowledged that the consumer-model of lay participation, where laity receive a product the clergy deliver, was a self-imposed barrier to lay empowerment.
Multi-generational engagement in lay leadership was a theme that arose on several occasions as well. “How do we help our young people feel that they are called to action,” provoked Teri Tobey who works in the PNW Conference as Program Associate for Ministries with Young People. Laity discussed the importance of training people of all ages so they can be successful, in addition to inviting them into meaningful leadership work.
Lydia Henry spoke on Saturday morning to some of the challenges of the lay speaking/servant program, unearthing a desire for more training and some areas that need development. Along with Emilie Kroen, they shared efforts underway in the Oregon-Idaho Conference to try to envision how to provide coursework and a framework to make lay education more interesting, inspiring, and accessible.
Lydia Henry sharing conversations underway in the Oregon-Idaho Conference on lay leadership development opportunities.
PNW Lay Leader Nancy Tam Davis and SeaTac District Lay Leader Andy O’Donnell led a session on strengthening relationships between district lay leaders and district superintendents. Davis noted how impressed she was with the collaborative presence O’Donnell had with SeaTac District Superintendent Derek Nakano during district events. Good, bi-directional partnerships were named as a strong gift when present. The need for a shared vision and good communication at each level of the church was essential to missional alignment.
The event concluded with group work at tables facilitated by Davis strategizing on priorities for next steps. During the conversation, PNW United Methodist Women President Ja net’ Crouse offered the anecdote, “we develop leaders, we train dogs” capturing the hunger for meaningful, smart resourcing that laity in the room named as necessary for a vital church moving forward.
Networking, leadership development, and building a culture of gratitude were identified with participants when asked to consider what they would personally consider organizing around. Davis closed the day with words of gratitude and encouragement of Sabbath for all those who attended. She lifted up in thanks Angelina Goldwell, the PNW Associate Conference Lay Leader for her work in providing some of the logistical support that made the event possible.
Patrick Scriven is a husband who married well, a father of three amazing girls, and a seminary educated layperson working professionally in the church. Scriven serves the Pacific Northwest Conference as Director of Communications and Young People’s Ministries.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, who came so that we all might live life to the fullest. We know that life depends on spiritual health, and also on physical well-being.
As we enter the season of Lent, the world is watching a dangerous disease spread. We don’t know how widely or quickly the Coronavirus (COVID-19) will spread. I do know that United Methodists want to help limit its spread for the health of one another and the whole world.
Churches are places where people gather and care for one another. We welcome strangers, sit close to one another, join hands in prayer, give hugs of encouragement, and sometimes even weep together. This is a season when it is important for us to be careful and to develop intentional habits that can prevent the spread of this disease.
So, as Lenten practices, I encourage all United Methodists, wherever you gather, to take these reasonable precautions, consistent with the advice of the World Health Organization:
Stay home when you don’t feel well. Model this behavior and encourage others to do the same.
Download and post the hygiene advice (linked below) in all restrooms and kitchens.
Be sure alcohol-based hand sanitizer is readily available throughout your facilities, for example, alongside boxes of tissue in sanctuary pews, and in every room. Encourage people to take the hand sanitizer with them when they leave. Then make sure it is replenished. Invite a church member to volunteer to monitor this throughout the Lenten season as a gift to the health of the church.
Encourage everyone to observe a 4 ft distance from others. Maybe suggest a new gesture of greeting, like folding your hands over your heart and then opening them palms out and down toward another person — in a sign of connection, rather than palms out and up, which might indicate separation.
Check the World Health Organization website, and local health sites for new public notices, publicize them.
The spread of COVID-19 is a situation that we’ll be watching closely. 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.
The way John Wesley held spiritual and social holiness together is a mark of Methodist distinction. He studied and wrote extensively about medicine and the importance of maintaining a healthful life both spiritually and physically. Let’s follow his example. Let’s work for holiness of body as well as spirit this holy season.
