March 17, 2020
Dear Conference Family, We are living in an unprecedented time, and as Christ followers, we have new opportunities to consider how to care for those around you in your church and in your community. The landscape has changed so rapidly and continues to, daily. Yesterday, there was a teleconference for members of the faith community with Dr. Anne Zink, Chief Medical Officer for the state of Alaska. Here is a summary of the information that she shared. Please feel free to share this with your local church or ministry leadership. Key points • •
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These measures and efforts are aimed to flatten the curve for the sake of not overwhelming the capacity of health care system. There is potential to overrun our hospitals if we do not respond with urgency. This is critical to understand. As the faith community, we were encouraged to lead the way in modeling and demonstrating care for one another, especially the most vulnerable in our communities. The elderly, those with preexisting health conditions, as well as those being impacted from the economic realities, those who suffer from domestic violence. Let us be attentive and respond with the compassion of Christ. We need to help people understand their behavior matters and we have a platform to do this. We need to take this seriously. Things change rapidly, so regularly monitor information that is provided through the state of Alaska and CDC. (see below) The medical community is concerned. They know they have to go to work every day and are susceptible to the virus. Do you have medical care givers in your community? Be mindful to give them care as they serve.
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Dr. Zink said that if she were leading a congregation, she would move toward services being online or some kind of digital platform. With what she knows now, her best estimation for how long this could last is three months. During the call, she received a text with the information that the CDC recommendation on limiting group sizes went from 50 to 10 today. She emphasized there is not some magic number, but this measure is being put into place to limit individuals contacting individuals, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. My recommendation is that each local congregation follow the guidelines the state is providing. This is the loving, compassionate thing to do as a good neighbor in our communities.
ALASKA CONFERENCE P.O. BOX 200446 ANCHORAGE, AK CURTIS@ALASKACOVENANT.ORG PHONE: 907-222-6348 FAX: 907-222-6390
99520 WWW.ALASKACOVENANT.ORG
Resources Dr. Zink mentioned three online sources that provide sound information: 1. State of Alaska webpage, for state guidelines and directives. 2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has comprehensive information. 3. World Health Organization website.
It has been pointed out that maybe the last sporting event going on in our country is the Iditarod, a race that commemorates the delivery of a serum to fight a diptheria outbreak in Nome. Today, we are not facing diptheria outbreak, and we don’t have a serum. But we are the body of Christ, that means we have hope and the presence of Christ in our midst. Let us love our neighbors well and care for each other. Many feel vulnerable. Let us be attentive how we can be serving our community, in the most tangible of ways. As you have ideas for how your church is going to carry on ministry, please share those. You can go to the Alaska Conference Ministry Leaders Facebook page to share what you are doing. This is an opportunity for the church to step up and give witness to Christ’s compassion. It also puts us into a space where there is necessity to change things up. Who knows what the Holy Spirit could do during this time! I want to encourage you to not hesitate to get creative. Our conference executive board meets tomorrow night to discuss our annual meeting and what we may do. Given the CDC guidelines that have been released, it is going to be very different. I will send out a communication following our board meeting. Give us this day our daily bread, Lord Jesus, and let your kingdom come. Grace and peace,
ALASKA CONFERENCE P.O. BOX 200446 ANCHORAGE, AK CURTIS@ALASKACOVENANT.ORG PHONE: 907-222-6348 FAX: 907-222-6390
99520 WWW.ALASKACOVENANT.ORG