Ministers' Blog

Responding to Covid-19

Rev John Weaver is a past-President of the Baptist Union and, subject to the future of our movements, is coming to Christchurch in September to talk about the Climate Emergency.

In conversation with John Rackley he has developed this pattern of reflection to help anyone consider their experience of COVID-19. An expanded version of this is available on the Baptist Times website (link to John Weaver’s Baptist Times post).

Description

  • What is the nature of the COVID-19 crisis?
  • How has it developed?
  • What is likely to happen next?
  • What does the church say?
  • What does the church do?

 

Reflection

  • What did you feel when it started?
  • How have your feelings changed in time?
  • What do you feel now?
  • What do you learn from this?

 

Critical discussion

  • What should be done?
  • What do these events tell you about international politics and the nature of our world?
  • Are the political decisions right?

 

Theological reflection – where is God in all this?

  • How have these events affected your faith?
  • What words would you use to describe God now?
  • Does God feel near, real now or is God rather distant?
  • What scripture gives you ideas/help/comfort/challenge at this time? (leaning on the faith that the scriptures reveal the word of God)
  • Equally we can ask this question of hymns/poetry/fiction/ science/ art? (God is not silent in such areas)
  • What does God expect of God’s people?

 

Pastoral care

  • How do we support and care?
  • What counsel is needed and for whom?
  • What prayers can we pray?
  • What professional assistance is required?
  • Who is involved?
  • What assistance can the church offer?
  • What aspects of ministry are employed?
  • What training is required for those who counsel in such circumstances?

 

Being prophetic

  • What do we have to say? What do we have to be?
  • How do we witness to the hope in which we live?
  • What saying/event/act of Jesus makes want to do something?
  • If you had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister/speak truth to power, what would you say?
  • Who, in any context has moved your heart or made you think again at this time?
  • If you were able to paint/sculpt/write poetry/compose a song what would you do to describe the times we are living through?

 

Where is God in all this?

In a way the answer is the same whatever the situation. Where is God in all this?

Colossians 1:27b- God is working through us;

Matthew 25:40 – God is the God of the Poor.

Yet to this unanswerable question: God is, God is as God is in Jesus, so we are not alone.