A Pastoral letter from CWM General Secretary regarding COVID-19
23 April 2020
From Collin I Cowan, General Secretary
Dear sisters and brothers,
Greetings in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
We are facing an unprecedented crisis throughout the world at this time as we grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. We do not know yet who or how many from within the CWM family have lost loved ones or are serving at the front-lines. We do know, however, we are all affected by the impacts of this tragedy that is unfolding before us. This letter comes to offer the prayers, encouragement and solidarity of the Council for World Mission to everyone; and particularly to express our solidarity with those whose pain is intensified by the direct impact on your family.
The world as we knew it has changed; and the need to adapt to this rapidly changing situation is not only urgent; it is fraught with challenges. As months pass and the end seems still out of sight, to our natural eyes, it is quite understandable if fear and insecurity set in. And yet, we can be encouraged by the inspiring ways in which individuals communities are rising in response to this crisis. There are opportunities for engagement that are emerging for the church in this time of great turmoil and isolation. In this our hour of brokenness and great need, as people of faith, we are called to persist in prayer, trusting in God’s unconditional love and abundant grace for all.
Being community in a time of crisis
In an effort to curb and delay the spread of the virus, we are encouraged to practice physical distancing. As counter intuitive as it might seem, this is one of the effective actions we can take to demonstrate immense care and support for one another and protect each other from possible infection.
