Decatur Coronavirus Response
"Promote the welfare of the city where I have sent you... Pray to the Lordfor it, because your future depends on its welfare."
-Jeremiah 29:7
We are here for you and your family during this time. Even as we are concerned about the health implications of COVID-19, we are equally committed to living into God's plan for our church. As things evolve, you can visit this site for updates about how we adapting ministry to meet our current challenges. We are still living our vision:
To Create hope in our community, decatur United Methodist connects families and children with the life changing love of jesus.
Update: 7/12/2020
A couple of weeks ago, I was hopeful that we could gather for in-person worship outdoors as a step to moving toward indoor, in-person worship. At that time new cases in our state and area seemed to be at a reasonable level and even in decline in some places.
Much has changed since then. When our regathering taskforce met last week, we were meeting in a climate of a precipitous increase in new cases in our state and surrounding communities. This increase further continued following that meeting.
The first question I posed to our Protocol Taskforce was, "Can Decatur/Concord regather for an outdoor, in-person service this summer?"
It was the unanimously decided by the Protocol Taskforce that no recommendation to regather could be given at this. There were two reasons discussed for this lack of recommendation: 1) rising cases and hospitalizations in our area (as you know many churches have become hotspots of spread in our surrounding communities) 2) uncertainty if many in the congregation would be interested in regathering (or regathering outside) at this point.
Even since this meeting, the Holston Conference Protocol Taskforce and the cabinet have, again, suspended all in-person worship services (for those few church that have resumed) in many counties surrounding Meigs. I do not have a complete list of counties; however, several of our immediate surrounding counties are included: MicMinn, Bradley, Hamilton; also churches in the Knoxville areas and north are included. This suspension is, at least, through the month of July.
So, where does that leave us? For now, we will continue to offer worship online at live.decaturumc.com and through phone-in audio. Also, we are using this period of time to draft our protocol plans (you can read more about the required details of these plans in the 7/1/2020 update below) and receive the necessary authorizations to regather for in-person worship. By making the preparation now, we will be able to move swiftly when we are able to regather. Part of these preparations involve asking you to complete our Survey on Regathering. The information from this survey will help our Protocol Taskforce make more informed recommendations.
As I share this information, I know that some of you are relieved and in complete agreement. I also know that there are others of you that feel it is past time to regather. As your pastor, I understand both of these positions. I am eager to regather in worship and am eagerly looking forward to the day that we can do this again.
Please know that those on our Protocol Team have a deep faith in Jesus and also express a desire to regather. However, they felt that as an act of faith and concern and love for those in our congregations and those in our community that now was not the time to set a date for regathering.
As we make these plans and seek a way forward, I am asking for your help in three ways:
Please know that I am praying for you and for our congregations. Many of my colleagues have shared how this is one of the most challenging seasons they have ever experienced in ministry. I concur with this. There is no playbook on how to be a pastor and lead a church during and through a global pandemic.
I also know that many of you are dealing with these same leadership questions in your own work and lives. Currently, those who lead and teach in our schools are on my mind. They have so many factors and completing priorities to balance during these days of change. As I ask for you to keep me in your prayers, I also want to ask you to pray for the leaders and teachers in our schools.During these days, my mind continues to recall the words that the Prophet Jeremiah wrote to the people of Israel who were struggling during uncertain and unfamiliar times. He wrote in Jeremiah 29:7, "Promote the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because your future depends on its welfare."
In many ways, it feels as if we are in exile right now. There is not a certain way forward in any corner of life. There is confusion in government at all levels. However, I think the words of Jeremiah can help us gain a footing. Promote the welfare of your community and pray for it. Your future, my future, our future is bound up in the welfare of our community. As the people of God, we can pray and we can show the love and concern of Jesus.
In Christ,
-Will
Update: 7/1/2020
While we continue to see record new COVID-19 cases in our state and surrounding areas, our church leadership has begun the difficult and prayerful work to consider what regathering might look like. We understand that many are anxious to get back to normal, and back to normal means back to in-person church gatherings. Unfortunately, experts tell us that the nature of in-person church gatherings present a higher risk for the spread of COVID-19. In our own surrounding communities, several churches have been traced as the site of spread.
To help slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands.
Our church leadership has assembled a Protocol Planning and Preparation Team (PPP Team) that is prayerfully researching and planning for our options to regather. This work is incredibly complex and sensitive. Please be in prayer for our PPP Team. To get a better understanding of the issues and protocols we are exploring, you can explore our guiding documents, which are listed below. These two documents, in conjunction with new information released by the CDC and the TN Department of Health, are informing our work:
Please check back here to continue to find updates about our plans for regathering.
Update: 3/12/2020
On March 12, Bishop Dindy Taylor urged all United Methodist churches in the Holston Conference to cease in-person worship. As we seek the welfare of our community, we are actively engaging in social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. During this time we have shifted to worshiping in our online campus, Decatur Live.
A couple of weeks ago, I was hopeful that we could gather for in-person worship outdoors as a step to moving toward indoor, in-person worship. At that time new cases in our state and area seemed to be at a reasonable level and even in decline in some places.
Much has changed since then. When our regathering taskforce met last week, we were meeting in a climate of a precipitous increase in new cases in our state and surrounding communities. This increase further continued following that meeting.
The first question I posed to our Protocol Taskforce was, "Can Decatur/Concord regather for an outdoor, in-person service this summer?"
It was the unanimously decided by the Protocol Taskforce that no recommendation to regather could be given at this. There were two reasons discussed for this lack of recommendation: 1) rising cases and hospitalizations in our area (as you know many churches have become hotspots of spread in our surrounding communities) 2) uncertainty if many in the congregation would be interested in regathering (or regathering outside) at this point.
Even since this meeting, the Holston Conference Protocol Taskforce and the cabinet have, again, suspended all in-person worship services (for those few church that have resumed) in many counties surrounding Meigs. I do not have a complete list of counties; however, several of our immediate surrounding counties are included: MicMinn, Bradley, Hamilton; also churches in the Knoxville areas and north are included. This suspension is, at least, through the month of July.
So, where does that leave us? For now, we will continue to offer worship online at live.decaturumc.com and through phone-in audio. Also, we are using this period of time to draft our protocol plans (you can read more about the required details of these plans in the 7/1/2020 update below) and receive the necessary authorizations to regather for in-person worship. By making the preparation now, we will be able to move swiftly when we are able to regather. Part of these preparations involve asking you to complete our Survey on Regathering. The information from this survey will help our Protocol Taskforce make more informed recommendations.
As I share this information, I know that some of you are relieved and in complete agreement. I also know that there are others of you that feel it is past time to regather. As your pastor, I understand both of these positions. I am eager to regather in worship and am eagerly looking forward to the day that we can do this again.
Please know that those on our Protocol Team have a deep faith in Jesus and also express a desire to regather. However, they felt that as an act of faith and concern and love for those in our congregations and those in our community that now was not the time to set a date for regathering.
As we make these plans and seek a way forward, I am asking for your help in three ways:
- I want to ask you to pray. Pray for your church, pray for those afflicted by the virus, pray for God to move even during these difficult days. Regardless of how you feel about our present position, please pray.
- Complete our Survey on Regathering; this will give our Protocol Team vital information to help make informed recommendations going forward. Click HERE to complete the Survey.
- Do your part in mitigating the spread of this virus; listen to the experts and wear a mask, distance from other people, and regularly wash your hands.
Please know that I am praying for you and for our congregations. Many of my colleagues have shared how this is one of the most challenging seasons they have ever experienced in ministry. I concur with this. There is no playbook on how to be a pastor and lead a church during and through a global pandemic.
I also know that many of you are dealing with these same leadership questions in your own work and lives. Currently, those who lead and teach in our schools are on my mind. They have so many factors and completing priorities to balance during these days of change. As I ask for you to keep me in your prayers, I also want to ask you to pray for the leaders and teachers in our schools.During these days, my mind continues to recall the words that the Prophet Jeremiah wrote to the people of Israel who were struggling during uncertain and unfamiliar times. He wrote in Jeremiah 29:7, "Promote the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because your future depends on its welfare."
In many ways, it feels as if we are in exile right now. There is not a certain way forward in any corner of life. There is confusion in government at all levels. However, I think the words of Jeremiah can help us gain a footing. Promote the welfare of your community and pray for it. Your future, my future, our future is bound up in the welfare of our community. As the people of God, we can pray and we can show the love and concern of Jesus.
In Christ,
-Will
Update: 7/1/2020
While we continue to see record new COVID-19 cases in our state and surrounding areas, our church leadership has begun the difficult and prayerful work to consider what regathering might look like. We understand that many are anxious to get back to normal, and back to normal means back to in-person church gatherings. Unfortunately, experts tell us that the nature of in-person church gatherings present a higher risk for the spread of COVID-19. In our own surrounding communities, several churches have been traced as the site of spread.
To help slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands.
Our church leadership has assembled a Protocol Planning and Preparation Team (PPP Team) that is prayerfully researching and planning for our options to regather. This work is incredibly complex and sensitive. Please be in prayer for our PPP Team. To get a better understanding of the issues and protocols we are exploring, you can explore our guiding documents, which are listed below. These two documents, in conjunction with new information released by the CDC and the TN Department of Health, are informing our work:
- "Taking Steps Forward Faithfully and Safely" -- This document is the product of our annual conference and has been developed in consultation with medical experts and church leaders. In accordance with our conference procedures, all plans for regathering must be approved by the District Superintendent. Click HERE to access this document.
- "Resuming Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life During A Pandemic" -- This document represents an ecumenical consultation on protocols for worship, fellowship, and sacraments during our global pandemic. This document provides additional theological and practical guidance. Click HERE to access this document.
Please check back here to continue to find updates about our plans for regathering.
Update: 3/12/2020
On March 12, Bishop Dindy Taylor urged all United Methodist churches in the Holston Conference to cease in-person worship. As we seek the welfare of our community, we are actively engaging in social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. During this time we have shifted to worshiping in our online campus, Decatur Live.
What else can we do?
- Times such as this can be full of anxiety and worry. Don't let fear distract you from the call to love your neighbor and to seek the welfare of our community. Take extra time to check on someone who might be lonely or in need of care. All it takes is a phone call. If you are in a Sunday School Class, check on each other. Maybe call everyone on Sunday morning and see how people are feeling
- WEAR A MASK, and if possible, STAY HOME! COVID-19 is be highly contagious before you show any symptoms, please practice social distancing in all of your public encounters. To ensure that no harm is done, our pastor will cease all routine visitations in the hospital, nursing home, or with homebound individuals. Please keep in mind those with a compromised immune system and those at higher risk.
- Practice Patience. There is not a text book that teaches us how to live as the church during a global pandemic. There are so many concerns to consider as we make prayerful decisions about in-person gatherings and vital ministries. Reach out if you have concerns or need care or would like additional information. You can reach our pastor at pastor@decaturumc.com.
- PRAY. Jesus gave himself up for us, now is the time for the church to give up our comfort for our community. Maybe we don't get to do the things we want to do the way we like to do them, but we have an opportunity to pray, create hope, and to show people the love of Jesus.
Some Helpful Resources
For health information, please consult the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention or the Tennessee Department of Health .
Location
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P.O. Box 1255 | 145 Vernon Street | Decatur | TN | 37322
423.334.4130 |
WorshipSunday Worship | Weekly @ 11am
Messy Church | 2nd Wed @ 6pm 
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To create hope in our community, we connect families and children with the life changing love of Jesus.