Planning for a pandemic

EVERY Sunday, Rev. Lisa Enns­ Bogoya shakes dozens, even hundreds, of hands as she talks to her parishioners leaving the mor­ning worship service.

But in the face of a pandemic, the minister at Bethel Mennonite Church is wondering whether she can con­tinue that friendly, pastoral gesture.

"I don't know if we would just stop that kind of practice until the crisis is over or look for some other alternative that does allow for that personal connection," she says, adding she is open to sug­gestions on what sort of greeting could replace a handshake.

That is the sort of question church­es and other faith groups need to be considering in light of the spread of H1N1 flu or another widespread health emergency, says Janet Plenert of Mennonite Church Canada. The Winnipeg-based denomination has developed a website at www.church­pandemicresources.

ca. to help con­gregations and individuals prepare and respond to a pandemic.

"It's the very essence of being the church. We are trying to be God's presence in our communities," Plenert says of why Christians would respond to help others in an emer­gency. "We believe God would love compassionately and selflessly and reach out to those in need. And that means we need to think about the resources that would be helpful."

Health-care professionals have repeatedly said the best defence against the H1N1 flu is handwash­ing, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or sleeve, and staying home when sick. Plenert says congrega­tions might consider taking small common-sense measures like eliminating shaking hands with the minister and passing of the peace (where congregants shake hands during a set time in the service) if the pandemic escalates to the high­est level.

Enns-Bogoya says her church has already installed hand-sanitizer dispensers in two locations and is considering what else they could do to deal with the current situation.

"What structures are we going to have to change and what new structures do we have to develop?

We have no doubt we are going to be looked to for help in whatever form," she says, adding the Stafford Street church's tentative emergency plan includes reaching out to people in the neighbourhood and offering assist­ance to the 160 seniors living in an adjacent apartment building.

Over at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, emergency plans are being imple­mented to deal with the implications of an H1N1 flu outbreak, and a group of physicians has organized a panel discussion for Saturday, May 9, on the duties of citizens and health-care professionals during a pandemic.

Jews are obligated to make their own infections known to other people, and also to manage the fears of those around the ill person, explains Rabbi Lawrence Pinsker.

"You have to take your neighbour's needs as seriously as your own," he says, referring to laws set out in the Torah.

Beyond looking after themselves, Plenert says developing a plan prepares faith groups to ask if and how they are prepared to respond if widespread quarantines are put into place and many people are confined to their homes. She wonders if Chris­tians would be prepared to risk their lives in the service of others.

"Can we ask health-care profes­sionals to work in hospitals if we aren't prepared to do this as Chris­tians?," asks Plenert, who oversees mission work for Mennonite Church Canada.

"While we will take our guidance from health-care professionals and government officials, there may be a place where the church has to choose compassion over self-care."

Church groups and other non-gov­ernmental organizations are already essential players in responding to emergencies, says Don Timmerman, director of disaster services for the Salvation Army's Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario region.

"We have an agreement with the province and the city in times of emergency we will provide feed­ing and clothing and emotional and spiritual care," he says of the Salvation Army's current role, which recently involved making thousands of sandwiches for volunteer sand­baggers during the 2009 Red River flood.

Partners in Disaster, a co-oper­ative of church groups and other agencies, are scheduled to meet with Manitoba Health officials Monday to discuss their involvement in deal­ing with a pandemic, says Timmer­man. In addition to the Salvation Army, Partners in Disaster includes representatives from Mennonite Disaster Service, the Red Cross, St.

John's Ambulance and the Christian Reformed World Relief.

Plenert suggests churches, denominational offices and other faith-based organizations develop emergency plans outlining how to keep a church running in times of health emergencies or natural disas­ters, and how church members could respond to needs in their commun­ity. That might include organizing communication networks, developing lists of volunteer drivers who could bring meals or deliver medications to seniors isolated in their homes, or even opening up a church building as an emergency kitchen or drop-in centre to the neighbourhood.

"What we have is information and advance thinking," she says of the website developed by emergency workers, health-care profession­als and church administrators. The website was designed to be useful to people across the faith traditions, and faith groups are welcome to link to it from their own websites.

To heal and protect

Join Rabbi Lawrence Pinsker, Dr. Bonnie Cham and the physicians study group at Shaarey Zedek Syna­gogue for a discussion on Jewish insight into ethical behaviour during a pandemic, 9 a.m., Saturday, May 9, 561 Wellington Cres. Admission is free. Call 975-3481 to register for the lunch.

brenda@suderman.com

Pandemic preparedness for congregations

Appoint a working group that includes the pastor or priest, a member of the worship commit­tee, a health-care professional, custodian, a member of the finance committee and a communication or website person. This group would review resources, information and act as the contact people in case of emergency.

Make an emergency plan. This could include modifications to the regular business of the congrega­tion, how to educate and train the congregation on emergency issues, lists of internal contacts and external resources to help in times of crisis.

Ask some questions. Some things to consider are: How would a major emergency affect the congregation, who are the vulnerable congregants, who are our neighbours, who will serve as backup to leaders and cus­todian if they are sick, and will we close our doors until the pandemic is over?

Talk to the congregation. Larger theological issues such as putting people in harm's way to care for others in need could be discussed as part of emergency planning.

Consider installing hand-sani- tizing stations, putting up posters emphasizing the importance of handwashing and establishing regu­lar cleaning routines of common areas before and after worship.

Source: www.churchpandemicre­sources.ca