Church on the Margins in the time of coronavirus

Opening reflection by Carmel Murphy Elliott, with an introduction by Church Action on Poverty director Niall Cooper

Personal

• Lots of people have been extremely busy for the last few weeks in the response, now feeling very tired, but settling down, new routines forming.
• Personal loss/bereavement
• Feelings of powerlessness

Reaching people

• Service-users (e.g. homeless) don’t know what’s going on, don’t have access to information.
• Concerns for people who are isolated alone.
• People with no tech or phones – where are the gaps/ how can we reach people? (e.g. refugees and asylum seekers, the elderly).
• Local community networks have suffered (again difficult to reach people who are not online).
• We need to think small, focus on helping our neighbours.
• Difficult decisions, e.g. closing foodbanks, running out of food. Others are still providing hot meals for homeless people.
• Marginalised people are still facing the worst of this, access to food, etc.

Reflection

• What will the ‘other side’ look like (when this is over)?
• Envisioning the future ‘another world is possible’. Change for society.
• Key workers (low-paid) are now incredibly valued.

Church

• Theology of death (and life) needs consideration/attention.
• More people are attending/taking part in online services than usual church numbers (it’s more accessible for people with internet).
• Challenges for clergy – funerals and managing their own mental health.
• Avoid ‘saviour syndrome’
• The need for theological reflection  – now and beyond this.
• We need to continue to be creative and include people after this.