Our lives have changed. The Covid pandemic is taking its toll physically, economically, emotionally and socially. It will also affect us spiritually.
A “Vaccine Spring” will be upon us quicker than we realize it as millions become part of the “protected population.” President Biden promises 100 million doses in 100 days.
Start taking action now. Prepare your church and your church leaders for what comes next. True, you’ve shifted resources, learned how to live stream and spent many hours working from home. But personal visitations have suffered, important church meetings moved to Zoom and the regular habit of “being the church” in fellowship, worship and other gatherings has suffered.
Now comes the urgent question:
“How can we rebuild our congregations
as a place of vital interaction for faith, ministry,
fellowship and kingdom building?
What is the “New Normal” for the church in our society?
Will it include the Repentance, Redemption, Forgiveness
and Renewal of faith that the Christian movemen has to offer?
It’s clear that the trajectory of most churches was heading downward toward smaller congregations with fewer financial resources and greater “asset liabilities”. (High cost of facility maintance) This trend was happening before the Pandemic.
The Pandemic has forced us into a more isolated way of living with these major effects.
• For those used to the meaning and community that a church provides, their struggle with its loss has intensified.
(Last April, 2020, Pew research discovered an average of 35% of Christians report their faith had become stronger, led by historic Black churches (56%) and Evangelicals (42%) and trailed by Mainline (22%) and Catholic (27). 24% of U.S. population overall said that their faith had strengthen during the Pandemic so far. www.pewrsr.ch/3bQLhUA)
PLEASE NOTE: this survey was 9 months ago.
• For those already lonely and separated, (largely the “unchurched” but many “church folk” as well) report the pandemic has deepened their isolation and distance from the church. (http://bit.ly/2LZFvVR) isolation and loneliness during the pandemic may present specific mental health risks for households with adolescents and for older adults.
In addition, job loss leads to depression and substance abuse.
• It’s also noted that differences in age will reflect different responses.
The “New Normal” has given us an opportunity to “begin again” and do some major course corrections on the life and ministry of the church.
However, we are facing a bewildering array of major issues coming together in ways that we have never before seen in our lifetime.
Briefly, they are:
• Pandemic disaster and it’s spiritual/physical/emotional/financial/social ramifications
• Angry Political Division & Racism in our society (The last Civil War battle?)
• Greed/Consumerism & Income inequality
• Global Climate Change that challenges our very existence
• Rapid Technological Change that’s changed/changing work and relationships
• Meaning of Life, Human Identity and Sexuality
And underlying ALL of these has been a massive erosion of Trust at every level of society.
Three Critical Aspects: Mission, Capacity, Strategy
I. What to do immediately: Clarify Your Mission / Renew your Vision
Clearly, if we do nothing, we are assuring the further withering and eventual death of our local churches, and by extension, our denomination. We are not alone in this. All the other “old mainline” churches are in the same boat.
The newer, evangelical churches (many of whom are larger and have more resources) are likewise facing the coming “calm after the storm” with similar uneasiness about a “new normal.”
(In addition, they will likely have the legacy of being tied to a political movement as well that will surely effect their future.)
A few “missional” guidelines are in order.....
• Above all, the church must be a place of spiritual vitality as well as “ministry. Too often ministry has devolved into “busy activity” with no intentional spiritual component. People get burned out and church becomes more a duty, a “chore” rather than a calling.
• Networking and Teamwork not only gives a seat at the table for various viewpoints but assures that they come to the table to work together, and not to simply disrupt or dominate. Such horizontal connections (as opposed to vertical) catch the spirit of the times and return us to the deeper social character of the Christian movement.
• The pastor will need to develop the role of the “mid-wife” in many areas, if they have not done so already.
From Personal Spiritual journey/Faith Building, to shared leadership in the congregation, to communicating an environment of humble wisdom and knowledge, the pastor needs to beckon the faithful forward, out of their comfort zone and not be a standard bearer expecting followers to fall in line.
a. Gather your leaders and lay out the timeline / vision of the next few months:
We've given a golden opportunity to get everyone on the same page regarding the purpose and mission of the church. The World is hungry for meaning and exceptionally lonely after this time of enforced isolation.
What can we say to them about the Gospel that will transform their lives?
In Mark 1:15 Jesus says: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God/Heaven has come near!..." Heaven then becomes a reality for us with the Resurrection. We are all invited to the banquet, RIGHT NOW! We are given Citizenship in Heaven. (Phil 3:20)
The Church, the "body of Christ", is the physical presence of heaven in our world. Granted, it's not a prefect representation, more like the "porch" of Heaven. But God's gracious, forgiving and unconditional love has granted us "citizenship" even now.
Everything we now do is shaped by that awareness that we are living with one foot in heaven even as we continue living with one foot in our world.
So, gather your leadership and go over the core values of the church and remind them that they are already Citizens of Heaven (Phil. 3:20) so that no matter what fears and dangers they face, we belong to a higher reality than our physical world around us.
A time of shared Visioning is essential guided by theological ideas and processes. This can be a time of challenge to all church leaders and a time of rebuilding the faithful covenant community around the core strengths of the Christian faith.
b. Implement a Congregational Phone Calling Campaign TODAY
As the Vaccine becomes more available to those 65 and older, their desire to gather again will grow. What are you doing to remind them that you are there for them and will be there to help them in the near future?
Begin calling your whole church directory / contact list with as many volunteers as you can muster! Emphasize that this is a an upbeat, "we're with you" type of call
• Call EVERYONE you have a phone number for, using a simple script, make a connection:
“Hi, I’m _____________ from the ____(church name)_____ United Methodist Church.
How are you today?
I see you’ve been connected to our church and I’m calling to offer our help in ending this pandemic.
Are you needing any food or other help? Perhaps transportation to the doctor?
Are you planning to get a vaccination? Do you know how to schedule an appointment to get one?
By the way, the websites have been swamped with requests so it may take some time.
Do you need a safe and socially distanced ride?…..
{Take down any pertinent information, needs, concerns, report to calling captain.}
May we call your again in the future?”
[NOTE: Keep a careful log of all the information shared with you. We’ll be calling them again in a few weeks and will want to know what you discovered.]
• Make plans to call and check in with ALL your calling and contact list often (WEEKLY?) just to make sure they are all ok. (We know that many of you have and are continuning to call the elderly and shut in.
Now is the time to start calling and renewing your connection with ALL your contacts. It will be the foundation for future invitations such as a “Post Covid Grand Re-opening” Event, as well as encouragement them to rejoin the faithful community of Christ.
You will also discover the needs and concerns of your community to revise and restructure your ministries around.
c. Start planning a "Welcome Home " Event:
Stores will be having "Grand Re-Opening Events" as opportunities to rebuild their loyal customers. What are you planning?
• Bring together a team of your most "radical hospitality" oriented people and identify at least one, and perhaps two or three events as celebrations of Spirituality, Fellowship and Renewal.
• Celebrate the Gospel/Good News of Christ’s “Heaven with us” and all the ministries and people who have kept the “doors” of the congregation open.
• Lift up opportunities for growth, action and love within your congregation
• Have plenty of time to mingle, renew old friendships and make new ones.
• Easter, Mother’s Day and Pentecost are, of course, easily identifiable, but don’t forget Dinners (with seating arranged by neighborhoods?), “Talent” nights, Picnics and Sing alongs. We have a role in rebuilding the community.
• Don’t over schedule the agenda, leave lots of time for socializing!
d. Lay the foundations for a renewed Small Group Transformation:
The small group has been at the core of the Early Christian movement and inspired the “Wesleyan reformation” of the last 300 years.
You can begin to train Small group leaders right now via a ZOOM training class and discussion.
Discover the various “callings” God has placed on the hearts of lay leaders. Challenge them to think of birthing new groups once the pandemic shut down has lifted. Give them the tools and ongoing support to help them grow, nurture and birth new small groups from their efforts.
e. Evaluate your efforts:
Churches that can adapt, be informed of evolving resources and help people be connected to God will see a rebirth of spirit, unconditional love and faithfulness..
Virtual Worship, Prayer Groups, Studies will likely continue in some form, but will never replace the need for face to face, physical presence learning that is for the faithful as well as an entry point for newcomers.
Always think of what your follow up steps will be for both groups. Have a specific invitation for everyone you will be meeting. Make sure your church leaders are offering such invitations regularly to all they meet as well.
Questions:
Has your church council reorganized in the face of the many crisis’ we have before us and is it operating in “faith based”, led by Christ mode?
Have you invited newly motivated members of your congregation to join in the leadership discussion?
[NOTE: please watch this space and Pastor Terry for continuing ideas that will be posted in the near future.]
III. Follow up:
In Early Recovery, the affected population is in a more stable period of a "New Normal". They have a place to get food and water and as they "Shelter in Place." They can go about their daily lives, but are beginning to resume some kind of normal existence.
It may be very difficuly in that jobs may be lost, family stress can grow and isolation become unbearable.
Unemployment may grow and last months. Schools are disrupted. Children are also isolated. Mental Health and Spiritual Questioning begins to be significant.
It is important to continue to assess the community's continuing vulnerability, evolving access to resources, adaptability, and other considerations.
Your ministry team needs to evaluate and plan around what is working and what is missing in it's efforts.
Question: Who can you invite in to help your leadership? (Inside the church /outside the church?) Who is starting to get burned out from the stress? How are you caring for them?
IV. MEDIUM TO LONG-TERM RECOVERY
During medium to long-term pandemic recovery, the work of building long term changes to the social fabric continues. When can children return to school? Will Adults have renewed opportunities to improve their livelihoods and restore their family economies? Can life begin to feel stable once more?
Multiplying Small groups can be a critical part of medium to long term recovery. Leaders can be trained, new "issue oriented" small groups can be formed, all on line. "Seed groups" can reach out to new people as they can gather in groups of 10-25..
Question: Can the church contribute a sense of spiritual insight and interpretation to the events that have effected so many people? How can the church mentor new leadership in the midst of the recovery?
V. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Community development is a means of improving on the “normal.” Traditionally, this phase is not considered part of emergency response. But development is a priority for UMCOR, and remaining in an area after a disaster provides opportunities for important long-term engagement. Local churches are that long term presence that can "fill the void" the disease leaves behind.
Now that the population is back to a relatively stable daily life, we can begin to address some of the root causes of circumstances that pose significant challenges to the community.
Community development is simply learning from the past and preparing for a future event.
This may include hunger and poverty programming, livelihood strengthening, and education and empowerment initiatives.
Vision and capacity strengthening are core elements in achieving these goals—training and empowering people to see Hope even in the midst of devastation, to take greater ownership of their lives and their environments. The goal is to put communities that have already suffered in a position where, in the event of another disaster or in the face of persistent challenges, they won’t fall back quite as far.
VI. DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
A relatively new part of a relief-to-development process is Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). In order for this model to work, community action needs to happen before a disaster strikes.
A community needs to reduce its vulnerabilities by taking concrete action and adopting specific behaviors.
Disaster Risk Reduction isn’t only about individuals’ being prepared—it's about reducing the risks throughout a whole community—removing the hazards that would compound a community’s distress in an emergency.
What are you doing to prepare for the next disaster as well as for long term renewal and development?
