Solidarity and sacrifice

Opening reflection by Deirdre Brower Latz

The Church needs to change after Coronavirus

• The church needs to be called to account and radically share its resources
• Churches need to be transformed/reimagined/ authentic – not carry on as before
• Some churches are not involved in the crisis response / how are affluent areas responding?
• New collaborations and alliances should be maintained

Solidarity

• Many people are not online, some churches have been delivering resources to people to keep in touch
• Inequalities have been exposed
• ‘God is showing us new things from the perspective of the last and the least.’
• Lack of understanding among decision-makers
• Helping at the uber local level
• Chatting to people in the foodbank queue / checking in with people
• Increase in volunteering / kindness
• Communities are coming together

Sacrifice

• It’s an inconvenience for some, not a sacrifice
• Giving up small foodbank, letting bigger one take over to make sure resources reach people
• Being separated from people and the church building
• Domestic violence / conflicts at home
• Feeling / being powerless

Learning from others

• What can we learn from people who were marginalised before? E.g. some people with autism do not like touch / prefer social distance. What can we learn from this?

Holy Week and Easter

• Solidarity of Jesus / turning the tables
• Foot washing / caring / nursing / healing / self-care
• Receiving, not giving (is ok) – gratitude
• Sadness and joy in Easter

Reaching people

• Some people have no way of communicating at the moment, no phone or internet
• Reaching people who are homeless ?

Voice

• Importance of speaking to society / government about how people are being affected – people to speak out
• Disability activism
• Society has to change

Reimagining

• Solidarity and sacrifice as counter- infections (fighting the virus)