“Guidance for Churches in the Coronavirus Era”

Covid-19 has changed the way we do church. While the mission and message remains, the method and medium has changed. How can we be the body of Christ in challenging time like this? How do we approach the drastic changes from a spiritual and practical perspective? What will the new normal be? Dr Alex Tang, an EAST adjunct faculty, together with other Christian leaders in Malaysia, co-authored “Guidance for Churches in the Coronavirus Era.” An extract is appended below.

A webinar on the above topic of ministry continuity measures is being conducted on 22 May 2020, Friday, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Join a panel of church and ministry leaders who will offer reflections from theological, pastoral, spirituality, and medical perspectives. For more information on this “live” conversation and registration, visit bit.ly/churchguidance.

The Expected Immediate Future with the COVID-19 Pandemic

No one can be certain what will happen in the next 1 to 2 years but unless there is divine intervention, the following is likely to happen:
1. The lockdown or movement control order (MCO) is being gradually relaxed currently.
2. However all mass gatherings and conferences will be discouraged for 6-9 months. This will include religious meetings and travel for religious and other holidays.
3. Schools will not be opened immediately but in stages. Child care services have now been allowed.
4. What has been achieved with a ‘lockdown’ is to push/defer the epidemic to a further date, so as to give us time to take action, prepare, change our behaviour & way of living.
5. There is low grade community spread of COVID-19 still on-going, usually by asymptomatic individuals. Currently perhaps 0.2-0.3% of all Malaysians are infected with the virus but are unaware.
6. It is expected that COVID-19 cases will rebound with episodic epidemics and we will have to control each ‘wave’ until it gradually fades over time. The second wave may be
even bigger than the first one if we let down our guard.
7. We are just starting out with the COVID-19 pandemic and is estimated to be around for at least another 1 to 2 years, provided safe vaccine is developed, produced and made
widely available in the next 18-24 months. Otherwise it may last longer.
The view point expressed above may be optimistic and the crisis may carry on for a longer period.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, his wife Datin Dr Swee-Im Lim, Pastor Matthew Ling, Low Chai Hok, Dr Alex Tang, and David Bok co-authored the “Guidance for Churches in the Coronavirus Era” and it may be downloaded here.