Pastoring in a pandemic

Bereaved families usually have their pick of persons wanting to be pall bearers at funeral services. A funeral is a community event and neighbours, friends and co-workers usually feel honored to perform this task.

However, with covid-restricted numbers in force at funerals, old ways are being eliminated and the situation can get a tad awkward, as Rev. Dr. Devon Dick found out recently.

The mandatory 15 attending a funeral were mostly women and when it came time for the coffin to be moved it became a challenge for the women, mainly due to physical inability. As anyone who has ever shouldered a casket knows, it’s not easy.

Pastor Dick who has been shepherd of the Boulevard Baptist flock for 30 years, talked about how he has been responding to covid-induced challenges.

“Everything has changed in the call for social distancing,” Dr. Dick observed.  

To provide the ministry of presence in an epidemic which dictates social distance, means it is no longer possible to sit at the bedside of a sick person or to give a comforting hug. Covid-19 has a disproportionate negative effect on the elderly and it is this age group that seems in need of the greatest pastoral care. Visiting hospitalized or homebound members, is now fraught with uncertainty.

“Before it was expected of you, now you are not sure whether you are welcome, so you go if you are asked,” said Dr. Dick, who lamented the fact that pastoral care must now take place from a distance.

Like funerals, other rituals including baptism and christening, are also performed in a different manner which includes sanitizing, wearing of mask and limited touching.

Dr. Dick spoke about the greater use of technology as more people remain at home. As far as meetings are concerned, Zoom has ensured better participation because persons can join from the comfort of their homes as they are not required to beat traffic to arrive at a fixed location. Live streaming of church services has seen good participation including persons in the Diaspora with ties to the Boulevard Baptist church community.

However, Dr. Dick is very concerned about the seniors who may not be able to navigate social media. The answer to this dilemma is BBC radio on 89.5. Dr. Dick explains, “we are in the testing stage and when we go live we will be heard by persons within a five-mile radius of the church.”

Church finances are severely affected by covid since fewer persons are attending church. Even though collections are down, this has not stopped the church from doing good in its neighborhood. Dr. Dick says Boulevard has been reaching out to the vulnerable offering care packages and other tokens. He estimates that eighty per cent of these beneficiaries are not members of his congregation.

And for children who are unable to access on-line classes, the Boulevard Baptist Church may soon be offering access to its Wi-Fi service and equipment.

No one is really sure when this public health crisis will end so while covid has changed the way we live and interact, everyone, including the church, must find creative ways to carryon.