Due to the strong restrictions related to public gatherings issued by President Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), today Missouri Bishop Robert Farr issued a video statement strongly encouraging all our churches – of any size – to temporarily suspend worship and most of their in-person gatherings (including Sunday morning, funerals, weddings or anything over 10 people). This includes Palm Sunday and Easter services scheduled for April 5 and April 12. Once the all-clear comes, he recommends holding Palm Sunday on the first Sunday back in worship and Easter on the second Sunday gathered as a group. To view his video statement go to https://www.moumethodist.org/newsdetail/the-church-the-coronavirus-covid-19-13533497.
Run Alpha Postponed
Out of concern for the health and safety of our communities, the “Run Alpha” training for May 2 in Columbia has been postponed. New dates will be shared when Run Alpha is rescheduled.
Counting Attendance
Some churches have been asking how to count attendance when your worship service has shifted to online? The Missouri Conference has attendance counting protocols that answer many questions, including that one. To review the protocols go to https://www.moumethodist.org/files/finance+and+administration/worship+counting.pdf.
Help With Worship During Social Distancing
Conference communicators are sharing their resources for churches to optimize their online resources. On Tuesday the Rio Texas Conference conducted a webinar on worship planning and design for social distancing. View it online at https://www.facebook.com/RioTexas/videos/940442643025283/UzpfSTE1OTA1MDAxODQ1MTYwMjM6Vks6MzIzMzU0Nzc0OTk5MzE3Mw/. Other resources are being collected on the Missouri Conference website at https://www.moumethodist.org/coronavirus-worship-liturgy-resources.
GC2020 Organizers to Consider Postponement
Amid escalating concerns about the coronavirus, General Conference organizers plan to meet March 21 to discuss possibly postponing the global legislative assembly. The Council of Bishops' executive committee urged postponement because of the virus. Read the press release at https://www.umc.org/en/content/commission-on-the-general-conference-will-meet-march-21.
