Diocesan News
Church and Covid–19 – answers to your FAQs
We have had many enquiries in the last week so the diocese has put together some guidance relating to the most frequently asked questions.
What about Vestry business?
Current vestries and office holders should continue until such time as a new Easter Vestry can meet to elect new ones. However, a certain amount of business can still be conducted on–line. Although there are various computer applications that can be used to create a virtual meeting (such as “Zoom”) my advice would be to only use a method that most, if not all, of your vestry can engage with such as e–mail or a group text service (relying on mobile numbers) such as WhatsApp. Advice on how to set up a WhatsApp group is will follow shortly.
What about other types of ministry support teams?
As churches will now have to change considerably how they operate for this period it may be advisable to create a small ministry team or teams to help with continuity of ministry and to implement new responses going forward. You may find it helpful to form an online group to discuss ongoing responses. Regular contact with those tea members by phone is encourage and again opportunities to pray with and for each other through virtual means may be possible in some places.
What if a clergy person becomes ill?
If you become sick or have to self–isolate, please inform the diocesan office as soon as possible and let us know who will be taking a lead in your absence.
If you need someone to help with a digital service in your absence who is not licensed, please inform the Diocesan Office. After you have chosen someone capable of reading the scriptures, preaching, teaching from the same and leading intercessions.
What about contact with the diocesan office?
The office will remain open (with hygiene precautions) until we are advised otherwise but staff will also be working from home. Therefore, please communicate with them via e–mail and mobile phone as you would normally. The staff will be available and will do all they can to assist you and can be contacted on their usual telephone number even when working from home
What about pastoral care at a physical distance?
Given this new complexity and the scale of the pastoral support that may be needed I would advise the creation of a team of people who will help to provide pastoral support under your leadership. These should be people who are willing to contact people via telephone, email, social media and doorstep calls, for as long as they are permitted, who feed back to you issues and progress. Many parishes already have this ministry underway.
What about vulnerable adults?
At this time, you may want to create a separate list of those most vulnerable that need extra care and attention. You will all have your own ways of doing this, but a checklist template is available that may be of use to you. Remember that the safety of parishioners and others in our care is the top priority and other policies, such as GDPR, should not prevent you from exercising your ministry at this time.
What about doorstep visits?
Pastoral visitation in the home should cease until further notice. However, providing that a safe distance is kept, I am recommending that, where necessary, ‘doorstep visits’ take place with those most vulnerable for as long as the health authorities tell us this is appropriate. A home doorstep visit should be at a distance of at least 3m to maintain social distancing.
What about shopping and other practical support?
While following guidelines from the health authorities an offer to collect shopping, prescriptions, post mail and other practical help might be invaluable. Select Vestries may be able and willing to create a small fund that would allow pastoral visitors to purchase receipted items (perhaps up to the value of £20 per household) to help support people that cannot access cash for purchasing items. This would alleviate any worries about being offered cash or cards to get shopping. I will soon be able to advise regarding small grants for families in need that will be managed from the Diocesan Office.
What about pastoral support teams?
Where not already in place I would advise the creation of a team of people who will help to provide pastoral support under your leadership. I am aware that in several parishes this is already in place.
What about phone calls?
Due to issues of self–isolation and also the increased level of contact that may be required I would suggest use of phone calls be made. Again, you may find that a pastoral support team could assist in this and a sample phone contact template is available for pastoral helpers to use that may be of use. The current need is to ensure people’s mental well–being, physical well–being and spiritual life are supported by the church and that this takes priority over GDPR concerns.
What about recording services online and numbers present?
An officiant and no more than 3 others should be present at any time when recordings are being made.
What about the church building opening for prayer?
Parishes, where possible, can provide access to Churches for private prayer and reflection, for as long as public health guidelines permit. Should this be the case then hygiene and physical distancing guidance must be observed.
Digital services
See guidance already issued. Numbers need to be restricted to 3 or less at any time with safe physical distancing.
What about baptisms?
Until further notice baptisms should be suspended and parents offered a new date as soon as restrictions are lifted. In the case of emergency baptisms being requested, these may proceed after seeking clear medical guidance in that context.
What about weddings?
Weddings can take place under very restrictive circumstances in accordance with Government guidance. Therefore, some couples may prefer to postpone their weddings and renewal of marriage vows services should be made available for others. Further Government restrictions if introduced will need to be adhered to.
What about funerals?
Funerals should ideally be attended by family members and close friends only in order to keep numbers in attendance low, it is advisable that funerals are not publicly advertised in order to avoid large gatherings. Congregational singing should be avoided, hygiene advice and physical distancing should be adhered to, physical contact, including handshaking, and funeral teas should not take place. Copies of prayers for the sick and the dying and also a copy of the funeral service could be helpfully sent to those unable to attend the funeral of a friend or relative. Thanksgiving Services should be offered to those bereaved for a future date when possible. These guidelines may change with the introduction of any further Government instructions.
What about Holy Week and Easter services?
Resources will be available shortly to help you plan for creative ways in which we can worship and pray in new ways within current guidelines at this most important time of the year.
What about resources for prayer at this time of crisis?
See previous posts on the Diocesan website. Please use the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer and other resources will become available.
What about other online communication?
If you cannot use modern social media. Please contact Tim or Julie at the Diocesan Office for assistance. People in other local parishes may also be willing to help.
What about youth and children’s ministry?
A number of resources and ideas are already available in regard to this and are being posted up on the DDYC Facebook page. Others key resources will be emailed to you in regular updates. Among them are faith at home ideas, sample daily schedules for children and young people, games, bible activities and interactive learning websites. We also have a number of ‘Family Time’ books that have around 100 ‘at home’ ideas that can be used with children. Contact the Diocesan Office in order to obtain these books which are free and could be given to families with children at home for an extended period. Until further notice all regular children’s and youth programmes that involve people meeting together should not be held.
What else can the church do to take a lead at this time?
– Mobilising parishioners to ‘love their neighbour’ in practical ways through conversation, offers of help and advice and building relationships.
– Producing cards/leaflets that can be left with those self–isolating to offer help, prayer, information and a point of contact to your church.
– Making contact with other community organisations to see what help can be co–ordinated.
– Asking church volunteers to report back to you any concerns regarding health and well–being that they have regarding people contacted.
– Supporting, or even creating, a Food Bank to provide for those that cannot get out to shop.
– Providing a hardship fund to support families in dire situations with help to get shopping, heating oil and so on.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Down & Dromore
07840 006899
Mrs Annette McGrath
dco@downdromorediocese.org
– The old–fashioned method of writing letters and sending greeting cards.