The Church During The Coronavirus
Greetings ECO Family,
This week we had our annual ECO Synod staff retreat from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday morning. It is a great time for us to connect, pray, plan, and process what God is doing in our lives and within our denomination. During that time, we continued to stay updated as news unfolded regarding the coronavirus. It was amazing to see such a change in perspective across the country, even in those 48 hours. When we began Tuesday afternoon, it seemed as if there was some small and necessary concern exhibited by older adults and those who are immunocompromised. By the end of the retreat, universities had made moves to go fully online for the rest of the year, travel from Europe was banned, sporting events and entire seasons were canceled or postponed. Our attitude went from “business as usual” on Tuesday to making major shifts on Thursday. We canceled trainings that required airline travel for the next two weeks and talked about how we would handle some future events if conditions worsened.

We also took time to pray for you all as you have had to make and continue to make hard decisions related to life of the local church. We know each situation is different depending on the size of the church and its geographic location. I also know there are many resources that have been produced to help navigate this season. One that I thought was particularly helpful was from Wheaton College’s Humanitarian Disaster Institute.
Coronavirus Resources
for the Church
- Wheaton College
In the midst of many complex and logistical decisions, I believe there also lies an opportunity for the gospel. Rodney Stark in his book, The Rise of Christianity writes about what happened in the early centuries when disease hit. He says, “Thus, at a time when all other faiths were called to question, Christianity offered explanation and comfort. Even more important, Christian doctrine provided a prescription for action. That is, the Christian way appeared to work.” 

When I was a pastor in Florida, I remember a few times when worship service had to be canceled because a hurricane was coming (or had come). Ironically, when we didn’t have church, I saw our church behave most like The Church. People inside and outside the church were assisted with preparations or repairs. Single adults, older or younger, stayed with others to ride out to the storm so they were not alone. People with power served those that didn’t have power. Individuals in a state of panic were comforted by the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
This is all to say - church is not canceled even if your worship service has been. People need the gospel in word and in deed, and this coronavirus situation may bring that need more prominently to the surface. There is a natural fear that arises with an unknown future and the short and long term physical and economic challenges that might occur on a macro or micro scale. However, in the midst of it all, we have an amazing opportunity to really be a light for Jesus Christ as we live out what it looks like to be The Church in our communities, right here, right now.

I pray that along with taking necessary precautions and considering logistics, that we might also consider how the Lord might use us individually and corporately for His glory. We are grateful for each of you and your ministries and pray for you all this weekend and in the rest of this month as you seek to be the church in our world.
  
In Christ,
 
Dana Allin
Synod Executive
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