Pastor Friends, many of us, if not all of us, are struggling to determine the best way for us to lead our flocks in the COVID-19 Pandemic. I’ve struggled with where to begin. I’ve found it incredibly challenging to navigate leadership in the current moment while simultaneously planning for a long season ahead. It’s easy to feel stuck.
I’m hearing from friends serving in smaller congregations. Many are struggling with the lack of resources, time, and the technology gap.
I’ve created a series of five brief videos to share some observations, offer practical advice, and urge us to work together. I share it hesitantly as I don’t want to suggest that I’ve got anything figured out. Many of the ideas that are shared are simply ideas. We’re still trying to figure out implementation. That said, I have a conviction that we should be learning from one other, through failure and success alike.
If you find these videos helpful, please pass them along. Iif not, just ignore them and press on. Regardless, I hope you will consider practical ways that you might share your insights and encouragement to one another.
Lastly, sisters and brothers serving in congregations that are further along with the technology gap, let’s do everything in our power to make space in our digital spaces. Let’s think creatively about how we can share our resources with generosity and humility. We’re in this together!
1. This is the first video in a series of brief/specific recordings created for Pastors navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The first video offers a brief introduction and shares some ideas for setting priorities.
If you find the series helpful, please feel free to pass it along. I encourage you to find your way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
2. The second video in this series focuses on the unique challenge of Pastoral Care and some pratical thoughts on how we mobilize our congregants to offer care to one another.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
3. The third video in this series focuses on our prioritization of churches directly sharing resources and connecting in unique ways.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
4. The fourth video in this series focuses on practical ways we can connect with congregants not comfortable with technology or don’t have the means to access the internet.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
5. The fifth video in this series offers practical advice on the use of technology and the importance of what we’re projecting to our congregants.
If you find this video helpful, please feel free to pass along. I encourage you to find a way to offer support to sisters and brothers serving in pastoral roles. Let’s learn from one another. Let’s share our resources. Let’s use this moment to show the world what unity looks like in the body of Christ. Let’s use this moment to mobilize compassion.
Being the Church in the Coronavirus Pandemic: A one hour conversation with Dr. Art Wright, Theologian in Residence at CBF VA
We have experienced tremendous disruptions to daily life as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across our nation and the globe. Many of us as church leaders are struggling to find ways to adapt to the situation. On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Sterling Severns (Senior Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, VA) and Art Wright (Theologian in Residence for CBFVA and member at Tabernacle Baptist) talked via Zoom about how Tabernacle is navigating these challenges and adapting to offer worship, educational and fellowship opportunities, and pastoral care right now. In our conversation we discuss some of the practical challenges that we are facing, key technology that we are using as we strive to be church virtually, and we also reflect on deeper theological and spiritual dimensions of leading churches during these trying times. We are sharing this conversation in hopes that it is helpful for churches near and far.
RESOURCES:
How to Lead Online Worship Without Losing Your Soul—or Body 8 tips for stewarding church technology in a time of social distancing by W. David O. Taylor
ZOOM Meeting- Supporting Older Adults during Covid-19, March 27
