The Ministry Council encourages Cumberland Presbyterians to review the guidelines provided recently from the Office of General Assembly and make healthy and informed decisions that will assist and promote the well-being of its congregations.

In this Lenten season, congregations are creatively adapting their preparations for worship, bible studies, youth group meetings, and ministries.  Questions are arising and will continue in determining whether these opportunities to gather publicly should continue.  The Ministry Council encourages everyone to seek out guidance from your local church session, presbyterial board of missions or its equivalent agency, and the presbytery itself.  These judicatories and agencies are able to respond in a very personalized and local context to help individuals, sessions, congregations and its leadership to make informed decisions.

For example, the Board of Missions of Presbytery of East Tennessee, recently initiated the discussion pertaining to the care of the congregations and persons within the bounds of its presbytery.  The Board of Missions provided recommendations encouraging the congregations to evaluate the postponing of worship services and its stated spring presbytery meeting for a couple of weeks to help “flatten the curve” of spreading the COVID 19.  These recommendations have been shared with each congregation and ministers within its purview.

T.J. Malinoski, Missions Ministry Team

Director of Evangelism & New Church Development