Jon Singletary leads a panel discussion on Zoom on how churches are navigating the coronavirus. Over the past two weeks, the CAIRN (Clergy Affiliate Information & Resource Network) leadership team has been hosting spaces for clergy to share best practices during these unprecedented times.
You can view the panel discussion here.
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Voices...
A Word from the Balcony
By Mahan Siler
Mahan Siler has a message to share to those of you serving during these unprecedented times...
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Justice and Advocacy...
Faith and God in the Time of COVID-19
By Jeffrey Vickery
Sure, everyone’s a theologian. I get that. Yet not all theological statements are considered carefully. “I’m not worried. God will protect me,” said a well-meaning Christian this week about COVID-19. I was certain she made the comment because she knows Tonya and I are pastors, and to her it must have seemed like a profession of faith. I am notoriously bad at quick quips, so I said nothing. It was not the time and place for a theology lesson—we were there to feed school children after all.
Her comment made me think of the story of “The Fiery Furnace” in Daniel 3. Three Hebrew friends refused to pray to the king’s statue and were sentenced to death by fire. Their version of “God will protect me” included an important confession - “But if not….” Here’s what they said, “
If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us.
But if not
, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.
” Daniel 3:17-18
Since that encounter in the school cafeteria news from our global
Active Hope Partners
show they too have to offer a narrative of faith different from some Christians in their region. It is worrisome when communion and Christian worship are misunderstood as providing immunity to illness or misused as a method of healthcare. Prayer is praise, not prophylaxis. This is true in the US and in Africa, in the state of Georgia and in the country of Georgia.
In response to the lunchroom theology, social media misstatements, and outright theological heresy, I have been considering faith and God in the time of this pandemic.
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Around the Alliance...
Tips For Effective Virtual Worship
By Tim Schaefer
As the COVID-19 pandemic escalates, increasing numbers of churches are forced to adapt their worship experiences amidst new social distancing, lockdown, and shelter-in-place orders. In the face of this new normal, we have a rare opportunity to reimagine how we connect with each other and create space for community.
Over the past several weeks, I have scoured the internet for resources and watched dozens of livestreams and virtual worship services from across the country—some were far better than others. I brought what I observed and learned through this process to my own church leaders, and it has greatly transformed how we now engage in worship.
I offer these tips to create more effective and meaningful virtual worship in hopes that they may spur the same creativity for your virtual worship that it has for ours. These recommendations come solely from my own experiences, research, and observations.
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Seeking to stand in solidarity with our partners, we share with you the updates we are receiving from our ministry partners around the world. We are calling these
Field Notes
.
And most importantly, in these unprecedented times, we are giving priority to our partners who are ministering among the most vulnerable communities.
Please consider making a contribution to the Alliance designated for our partners as we stand in solidarity with them in this time of crisis.
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Please note that your gift is designated for our Ministry Partners.
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Today is Census Day, the official launch of the 2020 Census.
It has never been easier to complete your census form on your own, whether
online
, over the
phone
or by mail!
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The
Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington
is going digital! On
June 20
, we will hold the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in this nation’s history. A global pandemic is exposing even more the already existing crisis of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. On June 20, the 140 million poor and low-wealth people across this nation will be heard! Join the Poor People's Campaign on June 20!
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Nominating Committee Report
Thanks to the diligent work of the nominating committee, there is a slate of nominees ready and willing to be elected to guide the mission and ministry of the Alliance. The
attached report
is offered by the committee chaired by Paul Hayes, Groton, Conn., and submitted to the membership for consideration. The board of directors, scheduled to meet April 22, will confirm these nominees. Prior to then, the board is open to receiving objections or comments as we undertake the essential business of the Alliance.
Please send your comments in writing to
[email protected]
no later than April 17.
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Calendar
April 1
8p EDT/7p CDT
April 2
1p EDT/12p CDT
April 22
Board of Directors Meeting
April 25
Alliance Online Gathering
9a PDT/12p EDT
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The Alliance of Baptists is a vibrant movement of people, faith communities and ministry partners who are deeply passionate about ecumenism, partnership in mission, relentless hospitality and racial and social justice.
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