Faith leaders: Gov. Hogan is opening churches too soon, risking further spread of coronavirus – Presbyterian pastors have joined numerous interfaith and community leaders to express deep concern about the Governor’s May 27th decision to resume indoor gatherings at 50% capacity for worship.
Now Available:
Presbytery of Baltimore COVID-19 Relief Grant
Thriving Congregations Technology Grant
Congregational Support
Planning to Regather
Videos
- Reopening The Church: A Discussion On Leading After COVID 19 / Article
- Reopening Small and Mid-sized churches / Article (Facebook)
- Reopening Churches: Executive Operations and Facility Management / Article
- Reopening Churches: Leading Children and Family Ministry / Article (Facebook)
- An update from Woodstock Presbyterian Church – Demonstrating distance in a sanctuary.
Articles & Resources
- Regathering Guidelines from the Presbytery of Baltimore – Adopted June 2020 by Steering Cabinet
- ReopeningYourChurch.com – A website devoted to a wide range of reopening considerations, with a wealth of articles and live streams. It covers welcoming people back, managing your space, and adapting your services.
- 24 Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return
- Church Music and COVID-19 – A Response from the Presbyterian Association of Musicians
- When and How to Reopen – Decision-tree flowchart for religious activities from the World Health Organization
- On President Trump’s Church Reopening, May 22, 2020
- General Presbyter’s Report on Church Regathering, May 14, 2020
- Governor’s Update: Gradual openings announced with community-based approach
CARES Act
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act contains numerous provisions for nonprofit and social support programs. Here are a few updates on what this might mean for your organization:
- Summaries of the CARES Act
- CARES Act – Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Spreadsheet
- COVID-19 Related Legislation Overview PC(USA) – A Guide for Presbyterian Churches and Ministries (pdf)
- Churches can tap into their share of $2.2 trillion CARES Act – Presbyterian Mission PC(USA)
- How Nonprofits Can Utilize the New Federal Laws Dealing with COVID-19 – Nonprofit Quarterly
- Initial Analysis of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (S. 748) – National Council of Nonprofits
Employees
- Board of Pesnsions Cornonavirus information
- COVID-19 benefits issues from the Board of Pensions (30 min. video)
- Employee Rights – Paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
General Tips and Resources
- Governor Hogan’s Press Conference April 24
- COVID-19 Resources compiled by the Offices of Compassion, Peace & Justice of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (pdf)
- MD Governor’s Guidance for Religious Organizations April 1
- COVID-19 Resources for Churches and Individuals
- Coping with the Coronavirus – World Council of Churches
- Know Your Rights During COVID-19 – HANA Center
- CDC COVID-19 Guidance for Funeral Directors
- Additional Community Recommended Resources
- Dangerous Theology: Dissecting the Faith Arguments Against Social Distancing – Sojourners
Health
- Steps Pastors and Congregations Can Take to Prepare for Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 – PMA
- Protecting your mental health during the pandemic – PMA
- Covid-19 Mental Health Resources PMA
- Emotional and Spiritual Care Webinars – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)
- Coping During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
- That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief – Harvard Business Review
- Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
- Self-Care and Its Importance Right Now – Compiled by the Commission on Thriving Congregations
Ministry & Worship
- Spiritual Direction and COVID-19 – Spiritual directors are available
- The Digital Church Arrives Is it here to stay? – Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA)
- How To Connect New Online Attendees To Your Church Small Groups
- Considerations for Worship in Virtual Space (pdf) – PC(USA) Guidelines
- Further considerations for worship in virtual space – (PMA)
- Can online worship be intimate? – PMA
- Congregational creativity in a time of crisis – Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies (ICJS)
- COVID-19 and Worship: Resources for Churches Adapting to Social Isolation – Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
- Online Services in the Presbytery – Watch online services, bible studies and other activities that were or will be live streamed. –
- COVID-19 and Worship: Resources for Churches Adapting to Social Isolation – Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
- Resources collected by the Commission on Thriving Congregations
- Communion
- Virtual Communion: Church Leaders say it can be done – PC(USA)
- Office of Theology and Worship offers supplemental guidance for online communion
- Lord’s Supper in Electronic Worship: Communion in The Age of Cornonavirus – Stated Clerks of the Presbytery of Baltimore
Technology
- The benefits of digital media during a worldwide pandemic PC(USA)
- Presbytery of Baltimore Thriving Congregations Technology Grant
- The new normal for communications – PMA
- Optimize Your Homepage for Covid-19 Isolation – Worship Times
- Ten Tips for Folks New to Online Meetings – NEXT Church
- An order of worship for online services is ready — and it’s adaptable – Office of Theology and Worship develops a worship resource for the coronavirus era
- An Introduction to Live Streaming for Congregations – Our compilation of resources, tips and suggestions for online video.
- Live Streaming Guidelines from PC(USA)
- Zoom Basics and Best Practices – Courtesy of Ashland Presbyterian Church
- Live-Streaming Solutions, Simple and High Quality
- Notes on Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, equipment
- TechSoup Zoom Discounts
- Live Stream an Event on Facebook – Facebook
- Faith on Facebook Toolkit (pdf) – Facebook
- 4 Tips for using Zoom and video conference call software to stream your event
- Zoom support during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Live-Streaming on YouTube
- Open Broadcaster Software Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming.
- Ten Tech Tips for Meeting Online – NEXT Church
- Ten Facilitation Tips for Meeting Online – Next Church
Stewardship and Finance
- The Presbytery of Baltimore COVID-19 Relief Grant is now available!
- Presbytery of Baltimore Thriving Congregations Technology Grant
- Financial/stewardship resources from the Presbyterian Foundation (14 min. video)
- Stewardship During a Pandemic – PMA
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources – Small Business Association
- Online Giving – The Presbyterian Foundation will help a church set up online giving free of charge and manage it. The service charge is 2% but no charge for set-up
- Stewardship – Compiled by the Commission on Thriving Congregations
Getting Involved
The limits to personal contact have raised numerous difficulties and risks for Maryland’s local communities. Here are some initiatives that would welcome your participation.
Mission and Outreach
- Social distancing and the love of neighbor – We want to draw closer, not push ourselves apart.
- Mission and Redevelopment – Developing Community
- Relationships Amidst COVID-19 – Provided by the Commission on Thriving Congregations
- Engaging youth: virtual youth groups and more (pdf) by PC(USA)
- Teaching in a Pandemic – ICJS
- Mission and Redevelopment – Developing Community Relationships Amidst COVID-19
- Remind your congregations to continue to give online so that your community ministries can continue and your emergency funds can be sustained as more neighbors call for temporary financial support.
- Additional Community Recommended Resources – Provided by the Commission on Thriving Congregations
Food Insecurity
- Consider changing sit-down community meals to prepared bagged meals.
- Tips for Responding to Hunger in a Pandemic
- Here’s where Baltimore-area students can find a free meal while schools are closed
– Baltimore Sun, March 16 - LIST: Local restaurants to give free meals for children during coronavirus outbreak
– WMAR Baltimore, March 14
Volunteerism
- COVOD-19 Partner Volunteer and Donation Form – The Center staff is maintaining a list of volunteer and donation needs for anyone searching for ways to give and support community engagement in our presbytery in this vital moment.
- Donate Blood – The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Donations are pre-screened and by appointment only. Donating blood in times of crisis: How to help
Giving
Here are some organizations helping people get food and medical help during the coronavirus pandemic that you can support:
