The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is recalling many of its overseas mission co-workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sara Lisherness, the PC(USA)’s interim director of World Mission, posted an announcement on World Mission’s Facebook page March 21 stating that “the PC(USA) has requested that all mission co-workers with the United States as home-base (U.S. Citizens and U.S. permanent residents) return to the U.S. as recommended by the State Department.” World Mission’s crisis team is coordinating individually with each mission co-worker to determine the best approach, the message from Lisherness states. “In some cases, borders and airports are closed and in other cases our mission co-workers are making the decision to shelter-in-place. Those that are sheltering-in-place have submitted detailed plans for how to remain safe or be evacuated if necessary. “This was a very difficult decision, arrived at after much prayer and discernment, but considering the unpredictable … [Read more...]

Day by day, First Presbyterian Church of Snohomish, in Washington state, is figuring out what it means to live with COVID-19 – and how to build community. Snohomish is some 30 miles north of Seattle — a region in the United States hit hard early by the coronavirus, so people there have had a bit more time to take in what’s happening and begin to react, perhaps providing some guidance for others not far behind. Snohomish is close enough to Seattle for a long commute, but with a separate small-town identity as well, surrounded by farms and houses on acreage. This congregation of about 250 is filled with people who are mostly well-educated and generally affluent, said Ann Lewis, who is co-pastor of the congregation along with her husband, Charlie. Initially, “it just seemed very limited,” Ann said — with one person falling ill, a man who had traveled to China and who was hospitalized in Everett, about four miles from her home. “He was in his 30s, he responded to the … [Read more...]

It feels like Tilt-A-Whirl time. With the coronavirus upending life around the globe, people of faith are working to create new ways of gathering and connecting for their congregations, and of caring for their communities. The questions may be coming more quickly than the answers. People have ideas, but aren’t always sure what’s possible or smart or might even make things worse. But along with all the uncertainty has come creativity in ministry — and a commitment to be mindful of those who might be particularly vulnerable. Here are some points of conversation and places of attention where Presbyterians are trying to figure out how to be faithful in this tumultuous time. Not surprisingly, the ideas are morphing day by day. This list may too. Partnerships. Many congregations who have canceled in-person services, are moving toward worshipping via livestream. But it can be challenging for congregational leaders to figure out in short order all the technical challenges involved. … [Read more...]

The Office of the General Assembly has posted an advisory opinion from stated clerk J. Herbert Nelson on the “Church in an Emergency/Pandemic” – an effort to address some of the polity questions that congregations or mid councils might have as the coronavirus epidemic widens. Some congregations are trying to figure out how to conduct both worship and business virtually – and the advisory opinion, dated March 12, speaks to what’s permitted and what’s not. It also addresses questions such as whether a congregation can celebrate the Lord’s Supper during an electronic meeting; what happens if a session needs to take emergency action without giving the required notice of that special meeting; or whether a presbytery could meet electronically or virtually. The resource is also available in Spanish and Korean. Here’s the text of the advisory opinion in English. Advisory Opinion Church in an Emergency/Pandemic Events in early 2020 around Covid-19 (coronavirus) have prompted … [Read more...]