The dashboard pictured above, built by a team at the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering and regularly updated with data from the WHO, CDC, and other sources, illustrates how the virus is spreading. Click the image to see the number of COVID-19 cases here and across the world updated in near-real time.
For current information, see our webpage: www.neumc.org/COVID19
Announcements
Closed: All conference/district offices and our camp and retreat centers are closed until further notice. Staff are still working and are available by phone and email. Find contact information below:
National announcements
UPDATE: On March 16, 2020 the Trump administration released new guidelines for the public to slow the spread of the coronavirus, including closing schools and avoiding groups of more than 10 people, discretionary travel, bars, restaurants and food courts. The guidelines, as of March 29, have been extended until April 30, 2020.
Red Cross makes appeal for blood donations
The Red Cross needs blood donors, as over 4,000 blood drives across the U.S. have been cancelled due to Coronavirus concerns Learn more, including how to give blood, at What to Know About Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Blood Donation Safety
How to host a blood drive
State information
State of Maine COVID-19 information
Information from the Rhode Island Department of Health
State of New Hampshire COVID-19 information
State of Vermont COVID-19 information
Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID-19 information
State of Connecticut COVID-19 information
All churches should be following the instructions issued by their state and local officials.
The United Methodist Church
UMCOR donates needed supplies to first responders in Louisiana – March 27 – Read the press release
United Methodist Publishing House Grants Temporary Permission for UM Book of Worship and UM Hymnal Ritual Resources – UPDATED April 13, 2020
GCFA video series on copyright for churches. Find it on their YouTube channel
The Inter-Ethnic Strategic Development Group (IESDG), a coalition represented by the five racial ethnic caucuses of The United Methodist Church on March 25 issued a statement on COVID-19 and xenophobia.
Read it here
United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries is at work to help the leaders of the 190 centers around the country adapt to our new reality. Find
Virtual Day Camp at https://virtualdaycamp.wixsite.com/umcrm
Online communications training for churches GCFA tech support will conduct weekly Facebook Live sessions each Wednesday to help churches utilize online communications resources. Find them on GCFA’s Facebook page
@GCFAUMC Learn more
about these sessions
General Conference moved to 2021; group looking at new General Conference dates
Cancellation of Puerto Rico mission trips, more
The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and Rebuilding Communities with Hope (REHACE) have decided to cancel all visits by mission trip teams through the end of April.
Read their statement here
The Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ) United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) has just put out a
statement for mission teams planning to deploy.
The April 2020 NEJ Mission and Disaster Academy has been postponed indefinitely. Those who have already registered will receive refunds.
From Bishop Devadhar
Find a daily prayer during this pandemic from Bishop Devadhar and members of the Extended Cabinet
See a message from Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar – March 18, 2020
Bishop Devadhar has closed the Conference offices in Methuen beginning Tuesday, March 17.
See a message from Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar – March 14, 2020
See a message from Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar – March 11, 2020
Conference/District announcements
Closed: All conference/district offices and our camp and retreat centers are closed until further notice. Staff are still working and are available by phone and email. Find contact information below:
Meetings/events Bishop Devadhar is calling on all conference committees/boards/agencies to meet via conference call or videoconferencing (no in-person meetings) through July 2020.
Find some technology resources below. With regard to in-person events, all churches should be following the instructions issued by their state and local officials.
CARES Act
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is an important opportunity for churches to receive some financial relief. Through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) your church can get a loan (which can be converted into a grant) equal to 2.5 months of “payroll expenses.” We are encouraging all of our churches to apply for these funds as soon as possible.
Read a letter from Council on Finance and Administration Chair Ralph Howe
Learn more
Being Safe while Helping in Your Community: Volunteering in a Time of Social Distancing
United Methodist Economic Ministry has suspended its thrift store. Learn how you can help supply food items
Conference Commission on Religion and Race Read a March 12 letter on racism in the time of coronavirus from CCORR
Resources and information
About COVID-19 or coronavirus
People most at risk
Best practices for coronavirus and other infectious diseases
What to do if you get sick
How it is thought to spread
The CDC has posted
“Interim Guidance for Community and Faith Leaders” that includes:
- Info on establishing a response plan
- Cleaning guidelines
- A checklist
Developing a Plan for ministry continuation when you can't meet in person
Resources from our NEAC community
If you have a resource you'd like to share, email communicate@neumc.org.
For churches
General information
CARES Act/PPP
Webinar: Strategies to Maximize PPP Loan Forgiveness
Horizons Stewardship is offering a Webinar on Strategies to Maximize PPP Loan Forgiveness
11 am EDT Friday, April 24, 2020
Stan Reiff, CPA and Partner with CapinCrouse one of the largest audit firms in the country that exclusively serves churches and faith-based nonprofit clients, will share best practices related to the administration of PPP funds as well as strategies to maximize loan forgiveness.
All who register will be able to download a recording of the webinar. Participation is limited to the first 1,000 to register
Worshiping/meeting remotely
Some other options:
- Contact local radio stations to explore remote feeds or taped worship.
- Contact the local Cable TV network about broadcasting videotape of worship services, church messages, or other events.
- Tape worship message and post on the church website and inform members and the media of that option.
- Ask your computer internet service provider about podcasts and live internet feeds of worship, Sunday school classes, or other events. While the initial investment may be costly, this could open up a whole new ministry for those unable to attend - at a very reasonable continuing cost.
- Free Conference Calls - https://www.freeconferencecall.com/
- Web based conferencing video/audio services:
- Zoom videoconferencing has a free version. Learn more about Zoom
- Google Hangouts is another option for gathering online. Learn more about Google Hangouts
- Skype for calls or video
Funding resource
United Way is moving funding resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most affected by emerging health, economic, and social impacts of COVID-19. Many states are taking applications from any non-profit, a 501(c)3, but organizations must apply to their local United Way agency (click the link to search) for funding.
Each United Way agency has its own name for these funds, and some have deadlines as early as April 22, 2020. These virus-impact funds are intended to provide basic needs such as food, fuel and shelter and recognize the potential economic impact of unpaid absence, illness, or job loss related directly or indirectly to the virus, increased child care needs due to school and child care closures, and the risk of not being able to pay housing, utility and food bills.
Online giving
Whether you’re livestreaming services or remotely providing spiritual guidance another way, your members want to continue supporting the church. Make sure they know how they can. The New England Conference provides this eGiving service through Vanco
Visit the Vanco website
Discipleship Ministries also has some resources for online giving. Find those here:
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/electronic-recurring-giving
Cleaning and hygiene
- Information from the CDC
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a list of home cleaning products to help combat the virus
- Advice from UMCOR The new Executive Director of UMCOR Lara S. Martin has a Master’s in Public Health. She explains that the COVID-19 virus has a protein barrier that is broken, killing the virus, when it comes in contact with cleaning agents such as Clorox and Lysol. Soap and water is effective in protecting our hands against COVID-19 virus we may have come in contact with because it breaks the protein barrier and kills the virus when we wash for at least the recommended 20 seconds. For mission teams and churches, there is no specialized training needed to clean an area where there has been suspected coronavirus exposure. Just be sure to wear gloves and clean surfaces, especially plastic or steel surfaces where the virus could live for days, with a Clorox solution, Lysol or wipes treated with these products.
- Here is a link to “Liturgy Man: Communion and Hygiene - Two Simple Practices to Keep People Well,” a January 2018 video on flu prevention with Taylor Burton-Edwards of Discipleship Ministries, who, as “Liturgy Man,” answers questions about United Methodist worship.
- The Ten Commandments for Coronavirus Prevention in Faith Communities by Dr. Kevin Murriel, pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta
Homemade masks
Many people have asked about making masks to help address the tremendous need. We only recommend this if your
local hospital requests them! Even when that request is made locally, don’t just drop them off ANYWHERE unless arranged ahead of time and only if asked. If you want to make them for yourself, know that the CDC says “… homemade masks are not considered personal protective equipment (PPE), since their capability to protect…is unknown.”
Resources for clergy
NEAC Parish Consultants Everything’s been turned upside down these days: figuring out virtual worship, how to creatively lead Holy Week and Easter celebrations, how to connect pastorally while “social distancing," how to support families and children and community needs. The Parish Consultants are available to help you think through these situations and find the resources you need in your area, and help connect clergy and church leaders to share best practices and good ideas.
For more information, contact Barb Lemmel at barblemmel@mac.com and she’ll connect you with a Parish Consultant.
The BTS Center (missional successor to the former Bangor (ME) Theological Seminary) and the podcast
Reports from the Spiritual Frontier are teaming up offers the following:
- Faith Leaders Online Prayer Huddle: 9-9:45 a.m. Wednesdays via Zoom — an opportunity to bring our gratitude and our concerns into a sacred space, among compassionate colleagues, for prayer and mutual support. All faith leaders are welcome. Details here
- Spiritual Practices for Spiritual Leaders During COVID-19: Join in a Zoom meet-up with other faith leaders during which we’ll explore spiritual practices and patterns of action and reflection. Rev. Nicole Diroff, Program Coordinator for The BTS Center, will facilitate a conversation with Susan MacKenzie, United Methodist spiritual director, retreat leader, Master Naturalist, and Colby College professor, and Aram Mitchell, Executive Director of Renewal in the Wilderness. Learn more and register here
- Ben Yosua-Davis has recorded a new podcast series focusing on Creativity, Compassion, and the Coronavirus
Pastor Emily Scott, who served in New York City through Hurricane Sandy, has written a post to medium.com, an idea-sharing platform, titled:
“Your Brain Won’t Work As Well: Tips for Spiritual Leaders during Covid-19”
Coping with anxiety
- Contact your pastor; a Stephen minister or prayer minister, if you have such a ministry at your church
- The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a Disaster Distress Helpline, providing 24/7 crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. This is a toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service.
- March 11 New York Times story offers tips for helping teens deal with anxiety
- Helping kids cope with anxiety from the World Health Organization
Resources churches can share with their members
Beware of Coronavirus-Related Fraud
The U.S. Justice Department is warning people that criminals are attempting to exploit COVID-19 worldwide through a variety of email, social media and medical advice scams. If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, contact the
National Center for Disaster Fraud
Victims can also alert their state’s Attorney General
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
Home resources
Commentary
A Bioethicist’s Guide to COVID-19 by DePaul University’s Craig Klugman, shared by Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson
We hope that this information will be helpful to you and your congregations. If you find information or resources you think would be helpful to share, please send them to communicate@neumc.org and we will add them to this information.
