Coronavirus Response

  • Home
  • A-Z List
  • About
    • About the NCC
    • Connectional Table
    • Staff
  • Calendar
    • Events
    • Google Calendar
    • Past Events
  • Churches
  • Contact
    • Find Us
  • Districts
    • District Office
    • Beacon
    • Capital
    • Corridor
    • Fairway
    • Gateway
    • Harbor
    • Heritage
    • Sound
  • Employment
  • Search

NC Conference

Healthy Congregations and Effective Leaders in Every Place Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

  • Discipleship
    Developing Disciples
    • Christian Formation
      • Children
      • Church & Society
      • College
      • Creation Care
      • Differently Abled Persons
      • Older Adults
      • Spiritual Formation
      • Status & Role of Women
      • Young Adults
      • Youth
    • Church Revitalization
      • Coaching
      • Disciple Making Way
      • Evangelism
      • Grants
      • MissionInsite
      • Shift
    • From the Bishop
      • Church Transformation
      • Conflict Transformation
    • Multicultural
      • Anti-Racism
      • Asian
      • Hispanic-Latinx
      • Native American
      • Strengthening the Black Church
    • Stewardship
      • Apportionments
      • District Remittances
      • Financial Discipleship
      • Grants
      • Insurance
      • Mission & Service
      • Pension
      • Treasurer Training
  • Leadership
    Strengthening Leaders
    • Bishop’s Office
      • Appointment Book
      • Church Transformation
      • Conflict Transformation
    • Office of Clergy Life
      • Board of Ordained Ministry
      • Called to Ministry?
      • Extension Ministries
    • Board of Laity
      • Certified Lay Minister
      • Lay Servant Ministries
      • Local Church Lay Leaders
      • United Methodist Men
      • United Methodist Women
      • United Methodist Youth
    • New Faith Comm.
      • New Room Society
      • Our Communities
    • Conference Offices
      • Center for Leadership Excellence
      • Christian Formation
      • Communications
      • Conference Secretary
      • Connectional Ministries
      • Information Technology
      • Multicultural Ministries
      • Outreach Ministry
      • Treasurer’s Office
  • Service
    Ministering To The World
    • Local Outreach
      • Afghan Refugees
      • Church Construction
      • Church Loans
      • Congregations for Children (C4C)
      • Creation Care
      • Cross & Key Prision Ministries
      • Health Ministry
      • Restorative Justice and Mercy
      • Seed Funds
      • Mission Projects
    • Global Outreach
      • Love for Liberia
      • Missionaries
      • NCC UMVIM
      • Project AGAPE
      • Sierra Leone: Mission of Hope
      • ZOE
    • Disaster Ministries
      • Donate to Storm Response
      • MERCI
      • Response Plan
      • Response Team
      • Training
      • UMCOR Kits
    • Giving
      • 2021 District Christmas Offering
      • Advance/Rainbow Covenant
      • Apportionments
      • Give to Storm Response
      • Mission & Service
      • The Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment
      • New Room Society
      • Special Sundays
    • Ministry Partners
      • Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
      • Camps & Retreats
      • NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation
      • Partners In Ministry
      • Robeson Co. Church & CC
      • UMF
  • Resources
    Supporting Ministry
    • Conferences
      • Annual Conference 2021
      • Annual Conference 2022
      • Charge Conference 2021
      • General Conference
      • Pilgrimage
      • SEJ Conference 2016
    • Media Center
      • Catalog
      • Labyrinth
      • Ministry Tools
      • Online Resources
      • Weekly Newsletter
    • Online Resources
      • Anti-Racism
      • Archives & History
      • #BeUMC
      • Church Lookup
      • Disaffiliation Information
      • Green Church Initiative
      • Online Data Collection
      • Online Learning
      • Pastor Lookup
      • Ramus: Web Hosting
      • Video (Vimeo)
    • Publications
      • Appointment Book
      • Bible Study
      • Conference Directory
      • Conference Journal
      • Every Day Grace
      • Lenten Reflections
      • Mission & Service
      • Podcasts (NCCUMC.FM)
    • From UMC.org
      • Agencies
      • Communications
      • Discipleship
      • Finance & Administration
      • Global Ministries
      • Graphics Library
      • Relief
      • Status & Role of Women
  • Bishop’s Office
  • About Bishop Fairley
    • Biography
    • Calendar
  • Appointment Book
  • Events
  • Reports & Rulings
    • Episcopal Rulings
  • More
    • Conflict Transformation
    • Emmaus
    • Lenten Reflections

From the Bishop: In These Uncertain Days

March 19, 2020 Leave a Comment

Bishop's Crest

Dear United Methodist laity and clergy,

Grace and peace today in the name of the One who says, I am the Lord who heals you.*

In these uncertain days, we draw upon the gifts of the Triune God and experience the deep well of strength, hope and love. Thank you for your creativity, patience, perseverance and faithfulness as you lead your church in virtual worship, telephone communication, prayer and mutual support.

We will continue to follow the guidance of the CDC and executive offices of our state and nation in regard to gatherings for worship. It is likely that the current reality will be in place for a number of weeks; therefore it will be wise to plan with this awareness for Holy Week and Easter. Many families decide with pastoral guidance to have small family funerals with larger memorial services later.

Some may ask if suspending public worship is essential. John Wesley reminds us, First, do no harm. I also honor the wisdom of my neighbor, a public health professional: You won’t ever know if what you did personally helped.  That’s the nature of public health. When the best way to save lives is to prevent disease rather than treat it, success often looks like an over-reaction.

We are aware that the financial situation of our churches will be impacted by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we are looking at every possible resource and support for your ministry. Online giving for every local church is now available.

The COVID-19 Response Fund is initiated today. This is a Conference Advance for the support of local churches. Please share this opportunity for generosity with your church as a witness of our shared life and an opportunity to support those most impacted.

The Cabinet and Conference Staff are working together to conserve resources, to share creative ideas for ministry and to encourage and support you. We receive your questions and suggestions and hopes with thanksgiving, thankful for email and phone connection in this time of ceasing to gather in person. Please check nccumc.org regularly for updates and creative ideas for worship and service.

We offer you a resource drawing upon our strong tradition of the Love Feast and urge the sharing of the Love Feast in this time of virtual worship when we are hindered from gathering together for Holy Communion.

The postponement of General Conference has been announced, and we pray for the Commission on General Conference meeting next week to discern next steps. Our Annual Conference Planning Committee is aware that restrictions on gathering in the Greenville Conference Center may continue into the summer. As we pray for diminishing of the virus, we are considering options if needed to care for the life of our local churches and our connectional church.

In this time, we are reminded daily that we share life together. No one is a solitary Christian, and no one is a solitary citizen. We are bound together in this life as a gift of God, who created us for community. In this time of challenge, let us continue to be vigilant, creative and faithful as we lead our communities in wisdom and compassionate care for all, particularly the most vulnerable among us.

With gratitude to God for each of you and for our life together,

Hope Morgan Ward

*Exodus 15:26

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Filed Under: ePistles Tagged With: COVID-19

Recent Updates

From the Bishop: Enough

Moving Forward Graciously

From the Bishop: Graciously Moving Forward

Thank You for Your Faithfulness & Courage

Join the Bishop’s Day Apart on April 12

Cabinet Announces Transition Week for 2022 Appointments

Bishops Discern Ways for Churches Choosing to Separate from UMC; Seek Court’s Guidance on Jurisdictional Conferences

From the Bishop: Response to General Conference Announcement

Holding the Ashes

Pastoral Letter in Light of the Tragic Events in Ukraine

NC Conference of The United Methodist Church · 700 Waterfield Ridge Place · Garner, NC 27529
Phone: 919.779.6115 · Toll-free: 800.849.4433 · Fax: 919.773.2308

Copyright © 2022 · Privacy Policy · Powered by WordPress · Site Admin