Out of Abundance of Caution

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

These are strange times in churches and in the Presbytery, and we wish to offer you our best thoughts on how to pastor your congregations.   

We are first and foremost a people of faith, and we affirm our trust in God.  We also affirm our vows taken at ordination to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination and love.  Because we have vowed to use these gifts that God has given us, we must now exercise them fully as we make adjustments in our worship practices. 

You will have received a letter from Beth Carlisle in which she has provided a document of COVID-19 protocols as well as a document on how to live-stream your worship.  Please read her letter and call her with any questions you may have about technology for live-streaming.

Beth’s letter also contained a link to the statement by the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, II, in which he advises that ministers use their best judgment in determining what is appropriate for their congregations.  We would like to go a step further, and offer our opinions based on the particularity of Denver.

• Use all available technology to offer worship on-line.   Seventy percent of folks in our congregations are over the age of 65, and this is the population at greatest risk of contracting COVID-19.  Of course we would all prefer to “worship like we always do,” but now is the time to do things differently.

• Make pastoral calls on the phone rather than in person.  Ministers are “super spreaders” by virtue of the number of contacts we have within our congregations.  We need not be unwitting deliverers of disease to our elderly, home-bound and hospitalized folk. 

• If you continue to hold worship in your sanctuary, do not serve communion unless you provide pre-filled communion cups with included wafers.  Here is a link for purchasing these supplies: 

• Encourage your people to make their financial contributions via check, text, or on-line giving.  Offering plates are great big petri dishes and should not be passed hand-to-hand.

• Conduct meetings via video. This should include session, deacons, ministry teams, etc.  Ask Beth Carlisle for assistance.

• Postpone Youth meetings until the pandemic has abated.  Youth are already tech-savvy, so it’s easy to utilize social media with them. 

• If you have a feeding ministry/food pantry, bring the food supplies to your guests outside the building.  Weather may intervene, but do the best you can, remembering that many of these guests have limited access to appropriate healthcare and are therefore at high risk.

Like J. Herbert Nelson, we trust you to use good judgment.  At the same time, we urge you to consider how little we yet know about this virus and how vulnerable our people are.  Use email, snail mail and texts to assure them that you are available through these forms of communication.  Pray for your congregation and all those who are suffering.  Know that God is with us even when we’re not in church.

Always hopeful,

Rev. Dana Hughes
Transitional Presbytery Pastor

Rev. Justin Spurlock
Moderator

March Stated Assembly Meeting Cancelled

Dear Members of Denver Presbytery,

Earlier today, Governor Polis declared a State of Emergency for the State of Colorado.  As a Presbytery, we want to take serious the spreading of disease and sickness and proactively encourage the public health and common good.  As a result, we are cancelling our March Presbytery Assembly meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday, March 24.  The largest concern regarding our assembly is that our various pastors and commissioners would be considered "super spreaders” that could potentially spread a virus to counties across Colorado - plains, the metro area, and into the mountains - not only to individuals but large groups of people (for most of us that means a congregation of people that demographically are high risk).  

Although we had a very full agenda planned for the March Assembly, nothing in the agenda is so urgent that it cannot be delayed until the May 19th Assembly, particularly considering the health risks.  However, this will mean that we have a very full agenda at the May Assembly, and we hope that you will plan accordingly for a larger meeting.  Over the next many weeks, we will be testing several technological solutions for holding a virtual assembly just in case we need to implement such an "e-Assembly" due to the ongoing health crisis.  We are connecting with other Presbyteries across the nation that already hold such “e-meetings/virtual assemblies” regarding their best practices (and potential hurdles) of creating an orderly form for discourse, discussion, and questions, as well a provide for proper and orderly logistics that adequately meet our standards of polity.  

In all of this, we hold two core values of our faith - in all things, we belong to God, and in all things, we continue to care for our congregations and our communities, and especially those most affected and most at risk.  The Lord be with you!

Grace and Love,

Rev. Justin Spurlock
Moderator of Denver Presbytery 

Faithful Thursdays: Denver Presbytery and HungerFree Colorado

On Thursday, March 5th, Denver Presbytery and HungerFree Colorado hosted the conversation at the State Capitol for Faithful Thursdays. Faithful Thursdays is a diverse coalition of faith leaders, organizations and community members who are committed to adding a deeper, moral dimension to the public policymaking process in Colorado.

Their focus is to advance a faith narrative and collaborative process that supports a just economy, promotes equity, and eradicates racism in Colorado. We will hold multi-faith events, every other Thursday, at the Colorado State Capitol throughout the 2020 legislative session. 

Representative Janet Buckner of House District 40 shared with the crowd that she is a woman of faith. The decisions she makes is guided by her faith. She spoke to the gathering about the importance to hear from her constituents, in person, about what is important to them so she can fight for what the people of her district want and need.

Rev. Kim Graber shared her experience at St. Paul Presbyterian Church and the congregations decision to reach out to the community to help the people near their church in Aurora. After opening a food pantry, they served a dinner of food found in their food pantry and soon realized the need for fresh food-milk, cheese, vegetables and fruits. They now provide these much coveted food items to anyone in need.

Dave Day from Presbyterian Church of the Covenant shared stories of the people the Covenant Cupboard serves in their community and wishes they could do more.

Marc Jacobson of HungerFree Colorado spoke about the steps Colorado is taking and needs to take to help fight the hunger problems in Denver and throughout Colorado.

Coronavirus: Faith not fear

PC(U.S.A.)’s Theology and Worship office issues pastoral statement on the coronavirus

by Tammy Warren | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Many people worldwide have questions about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), first detected in China and now in more than 60 locations internationally, including the United States.

Within the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website currently shows confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in 12 states: Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Florida and Georgia.

In a March 2 World Health Organization statement about COVID-19, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director general, said the number of cases continues to decline in China, with 206 cases reported the day prior, the lowest level since Jan. 22. The epidemics in the Republic of Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan are of greatest concern, he said.

“We have never before seen a respiratory pathogen that is capable of community transmission, but which can also be contained with the right measures,” Ghebreyesus said. “Containment of COVID-19 is feasible and must remain the top priority for all countries. With early aggressive measures, countries can stop transmission and save lives.”

The WHO statement makes clear that COVID-19 is currently considered an “epidemic,” not a “pandemic.”

The Coronavirus COVID-19 dashboard by country/region, managed by Johns Hopkins University, shows there have been more than 92,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,100 deaths worldwide. The dashboard currently lists 108 confirmed cases in the U.S. Six people in Washington state had died as of Tuesday.

A number not well publicized is the more than 48,000 who have recovered from COVID-19 in mainland China and other locations, according to the dashboard.

In this time of high anxiety, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of Theology and Worship has issued a Pastoral Statement on the Coronavirus/COVID-19. The statement provides pastors and congregational leaders with guidance on how to talk to worshipers about the outbreak, as well as practical suggestions for passing the peace, shaking hands, embracing, and communion practices. Some elements of this statement are adapted, with gratitude, from a letter by the Rev. Dr. Steven T. Yamaguchi and Dr. Peter Mathies, who’s at Tokyo Union Church in Tokyo, Japan.

As the statement explains, “Leaders can demonstrate that they are taking seriously the facts of the situation and keeping the best interests of the community in mind. At the same time, they can model a response that is faithful, gracious and wise — trusting God in all things, remaining calm in a time of distress, extending compassion to those who are suffering, and praying for the healing of the world.”

The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), recently issued a Call to Prayer, asking for healing of all who are affected in China and in all the places where the virus has spread.

“We pray for God to keep us alert to the threats posed by such a worldwide crisis,” Nelson said. “remembering the millions of God’s children who live in places where the availability of medical care is meager or nonexistent.”

The National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches shared its appreciation for the Stated Clerk’s Call to Prayer to address the Coronavirus epidemic.

“We wholeheartedly join you in your urgent call to cry out to the Almighty God and lift the Church to seek Christ’s healing presence in all the affected regions of the world,” the letter reads. “Your Call to Prayer was translated into Korean, and both English and Korean versions of your plea to prayer were disseminated throughout the Korean American congregations as well as the wider Korean Community.”

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has prepared the resource Preparedness for Pandemics. “It is important for faith leaders to proactively model protective health practices in congregational life, resist and renounce the racism and xenophobia at this virus’ geographic point of emergence, and make sensible plans to support vulnerable and isolated members of their community,” said the Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, PDA’s director.

“In a time of crisis, strong and loving leadership in worship is a significant part of the church’s ministry of pastoral care,” said the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell, associate for worship for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “This statement is an attempt to help pastors fulfill this role.”

For insights on spiritual care, see Light Our Way, an ecumenical guidebook provided by the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.

The PC(USA) headquarters in Louisville has issued a ban on travel to countries under Level 3 travel advisory (currently China, South Korea, Iran and Italy). There is also a travel warning for countries under Level 2 travel advisory (currently Japan).

Updates will be provided by Presbyterian News Service as they become available.

Source: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/faith-not-fear-2/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Presbyterian+Church+USA+Daily+News&utm_campaign=Daily+News+%7C+March+03+2020

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

CUBA 2020 TRIP: Continue building relationship with Havana Presbytery

Join Central Presbyterian Members and leaders as we spend a week with our Cuban brothers and sisters from the Havana Presbytery, Havana, Cuba. We will be joining a long history of PC-USA and the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba. During our trip we will begin to establish relationships with our Cuban friends. This trip will be the third Central has made in order to join an on-going relationship and shared ministry between the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba and the Presbyterian Church (USA) which formally began in 1986.

For more information, contact Lisa Schmidt schmprim@gmail.com 720-314-8797 or Chris Primus 720-334-8797 Central Denver Cuba Partnership

January Assembly Highlights

Thank you to Grace Presbyterian Church, Rev. Justin Spurlock and all the volunteers for welcoming our January Assembly!

Rev. Justin Spurlock welcomed the Assembly to Grace Presbyterian Church where the Assembly enjoyed fellowship, hospitality, a delicious meal and special desserts in honor of Rev. Amy Mendez 14 years of ministry. The Assembly was gifted with the talents of Grace’s Celebration Band and choir.

Our newly installed Presbytery Moderator, Rev. Justin Spurlock brought the message. Listen below.