Leadership During the Pandemic |
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Reflections from Bishop Bob Humphrey: Time For a "Halftime Speech" |
I believe this moment in our history is filled with both peril and promise. Our emotions are running high. Our energy low. We see the daily number of people infected with the novel coronavirus reach all-time highs. We await the results of very important national, state and local elections, and once again we feel the violent reaction to injustice across our beloved country. Add to these deep concerns news of raging fires and fierce storms and it can lead us into fear and fatigue.
But, no matter how weary, anxious or concerned we may be, we have reason for hope. Instead of getting caught up in and frozen by these understandable uncertainties, now is the time for the church to step forward and be a bold, clear voice of reassurance and inspiration to our congregations and communities. In other words, now is the time for a half-time speech!
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Responding to 'Caution Fatigue,' 'Pandemic Anger,' and Cold Weather |
In many places around our Synod and country, COVID-19 is spreading at an increasing rate and yet in many of those same places individuals seem eager to gather again in-person and indoors for worship.
It can be difficult to reconcile these two facts, but “Jacqueline Gollan, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has coined a name for this phenomenon based on her 15 years of research into depression, anxiety and decision-making: ‘caution fatigue.’ Gollan likens social-distancing motivation to a battery. When lockdowns were first announced, many people were charged with energy and desire to flatten the curve. Now, many [months] in, the prolonged cocktail of stress, anxiety, isolation and disrupted routines has left many people feeling drained. As motivation dips, people are growing more lax about social-distancing guidelines—and potentially putting themselves and others in harm’s way, Gollan says.
When you combine ‘caution fatigue’ with those who are experiencing “Pandemic Anger,” those who don’t believe the virus is as dangerous as described or that it is politically motivated, with neighboring congregations returning to in-person indoor worship and with the impending cold weather that will make it difficult to worship outdoors, one can begin to understand why a number of congregations are considering or making the decision to resume in-person and indoor worship.
While the Office of the Bishop continues to encourage digital worship as the safest option (see statement from June 25, 2020), there is no doubt that many congregation leaders are now asking “How do we respond to the desire to gather again in-person and indoors?” and/or “How do we respond now that the congregation has made the decision to move indoors for worship?” You can access 10 suggestions for responding to “Caution Fatigue,” “Pandemic Anger” and Cold Weather using the button below.
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Expansion of Rebuild VA Grants |
The grants are available to small businesses and non-profits. Unlike the last time round of Rebuild Virginia grants, the expansion specifically says that an organization can receive funding even if the organization received CARES Act Funding. Qualified recipients can receive a grant of up to three months worth of expenses to help with salaries, mortgage, utilities, etc.
The FAQs aren't as entirely clear, but when you combine the FAQs with the application guide (pg 4 in particular addresses what is excluded for those with CARES Act funding), it appears that most organizations in Virginia are eligible. This funding may prove particularly helpful for child care and preschool ministries that had issues with part-time employees and PPP Loan calculations.
One potential hurdle for an application is the requirement for a DUNS number. The DUNS numbers appear to be standard practice in the for-profit world and almost unheard of in the non-profit world. It is possible for a church or non-profit to apply for a DUNS number, but the online process to get the number can be confusing.
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Resource Page for Congregational Meetings |
There is a new page on the vasynod.org/covid-19 resource page focused specifically on Congregational Meetings. The page has guidance for remote meetings and guidance if you are not able to meet.
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Thanks to the leaders at Muhlenberg Lutheran for sharing the following tip for Zoom Worship.
Consider using a Breakout Room for your Zoom Worship Service. By moving worship to a breakout room, you can create a Virtual Gathering Area in the main meeting to welcome individuals coming to worship and then your worship host can send assign people to the breakout room for worship.
This approach allows people the chance to say "Hello" before and after worship and creates an opportunity for you to share your Zoom link more widely without worrying about having the main service Zoom bombed. '
Using breakout rooms on Sunday morning also means that you can use the same Zoom link whether you are inviting people to worship or a Sunday morning Bible Study or Sunday School class.
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Virginia Synod Office of the Bishop Providing Sermon Series |
The Virginia Synod Office of the Bishop will provide recorded sermons for each Sunday through the Christmas season for use in congregations. We are particularly lifting up the gifts of all women in ministry, of women of color, and of rostered ministers who are LGBTQIA+, in celebration of the 50+ 40 + 10 ordination anniversaries
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Organ Accompaniments for Hymns for Upcoming Sundays |
Below are links to downloadable mp3 audio files providing organ accompaniments for hymns for upcoming Sundays. All tunes are either in the public domain or copyrighted by Augsburg-Fortress, so there are no restrictions on playing the mp3 for your streaming worship or posting the words on your video feed or an accompanying bulletin. (Thanks to Nancy Delaney and Christ Lutheran Church in Roanoke for providing these.) |
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Update on Synod Staff Availability for Supply Preaching |
As you plan for the coming months, the Synod Staff would like to remind everyone that our rostered staff are available to serve as Digital Supply Pastors for your Zoom or other digital worship service. In addition, a recorded sermon will be available each week for use in worship. Sermons are typically posted by Thursday and are available at: vasynod.org/resources/pulpit-supply
As of right now, we are following our guidance to avoid in-person gatherings until the State of Virginia reaches Forward Virginia Phase 4. The state is currently in Phase 3, so the Synod Staff is not currently available to serve as an in-person supply pastor or guest preacher for Sunday worship services.
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Facemasks for congregation |
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Equity, will be providing cloth face masks to faith and interfaith communities (places of worship) for the Commonwealth of Virginia through our Virginia Partners in Prayer and Prevention programming.
There is no cost for these masks. Please complete your request using the link in the button below.
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Free Masks for Congregations in Virginia Department of Emergency Management Region 6 |
Nonprofit Roanoke is distributing FREE PROTECTIVE MASKS for nonprofit organization staff and volunteers in Virginia Department of Emergency Management's REGION 6*, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and VA Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VA VOAD). As federally mandated, these masks MUST BE USED IN DISASTER RESPONSE ACTIVITIES ONLY, so these masks cannot be used for worship, but could be used to feeding or helping ministries.
The masks are 100% cotton and contain silver and copper to help prevent the growth of viruses and germs. Mask Size: Adult one-size fits all. Fabric is 100% cotton, white in color and loops over the ears.
To request masks, click here.
(*VDEM Region 6 includes: Alleghany County, Bath County, Bedford County, Botetourt County, City of Buena Vista, Town of Blacksburg, Town of Christiansburg, City of Covington, Craig County, City of Danville, Floyd County, Franklin County, Henry County, Highland County, City of Lexington, City of Martinsville, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Rockbridge County, City of Salem, Town of Vinton)
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Opportunities to Gather and Learn |
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Virginia Synod Rostered Minister Prayer Service Gathering November 4, 2020
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The Virginia Synod Ministerium will gather by Zoom for a Service of Word and Prayer on Wednesday, November 4th at 1 PM and following that a time of conversation with the Synod staff at 1:30 PM. In this time of physical distancing, we look forward to gathering rostered ministers together to hear God's Word and join in prayer for one another and for the world.
The link below will work for Wednesday's service as well as all future Wednesday prayer services and gatherings.
- Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 541 796 597
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Password: 719750
- Dial in by location:
- +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
- +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
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ELCA Coaching Weekly Zoom Conversations |
You are invited to join this weekly online gathering designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders across the church which takes place each Wednesday at 2 PM. Participants will hear topical presentations related to how we are called to be Church in times of crisis, as well as an opportunity to be in small group discussions with an ELCA group coach facilitating the conversation.
All of this is designed to help us process our feelings in this strange and fearful time and to create a space where we can each name our next most faithful step forward in our unique context. You are welcome to share this invitation with any other ELCA leader, rostered or lay. Go to: www.elcacoaching.org for more information.
Meeting ID: 180 439 412
Password: 648160
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
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Synod Office Contact Information |
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A reminder that the Virginia Synod Office of the Bishop has asked its staff to work remotely from their homes in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. We ask at this time should you need to contact our staff to do so directly via email (you can find all staff persons email contacts on our website).
Should you need to phone either our offices, please know the Eastern Office of the Bishop plans to have phone calls received during office hours (8:00 AM- 4:30 PM) forwarded directly to Lenae Osmondson.
The Salem Office of the Bishop phone will have a voicemail message recorded directing callers to leave a message, or to call a separate phone number during office hours (8:00 AM- 4:30 PM). The number is 540-855-7455 and will be answered by Tammy Kasper. Messages left on the Salem Office of the Bishop phone will be checked as we are able to do so.
In addition, please do not plan to visit either the Salem or Eastern offices in person. Messages and mail will be checked regularly, but please be patient during this time.
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We continues to update the Virginia Synod COVID-19 web page with information from the ELCA, CDC, and covering a number of prepardness and response resources, as well as liturgical resources.
If you have suggestions for needed resources, please contact Pastor John Wertz at wertz@vasynod.org. |
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