- Your church has never experienced anything like this in the last 80 years! You are there for a reason. Be that reason as the Lord anoints you to lead.
To help you keep up with latest resources and announcements from the RMMN Network office regarding the impact of the corona virus, we have created this one-stop blog page at www.generoncone.org/corona.
1. MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT RONCONE
PLEASE CHECK IN. It is important to Rhonda and I to monitor the needs of our ministerial community and thier loved ones. That is why we want to do a Network-wide “check in.” Would you help us by taking just a few minutes to check in at the link below? Your responses will then for forwarded to my phone.
Thank you for checking in. Rhonda and I love you much and are here to hold up your arms as you serve your church and community.
Contending for community,
Gene and Rhonda Roncone
Rocky Mountain Ministry Network
District Superintendent/Network Pastor (aka “helper”)
2. IMPORTANT ANNOUCEMENTS
May 1, 2020
Greetings Pastors,
As you know, interpreting social distancing standards have become nearly impossible. A few weeks ago, our President was the only one setting standards and decision-making was easier. Then Governors updated standards for their own states. However, now local municipalities like cities and counties are announcing restrictions that may be more stringent or even less restrictive than their Governor. The CDC has even had their own set of recommendations.
Due to the variation of standards given by our federal, state & county offices, the Presbytery has empowered the Network’s three Executive Officers to monitor the situation and make policy decisions on their behalf.
As of May 1, 2020, we are announcing the following recommendations for sovereign churches and policy for District Affiliated churches (smaller churches under Network supervision). We trust our ministers to make wise decisions that error on the side of caution and health. That is why we have decided to release our District Affiliated churches to follow the orders of their individual city officials. That means pastors will need to educate themselves about any restrictions that exist on a town/city, county and state level.
If your city or county has not established their own orders/bans/standards for social distancing, then you will need to follow the orders/bans or social distancing standards of your state Governor. We are experiencing a very fluid situation and each city and county may have different standards that may even change on a day to day basis. Because of this, we feel it is best for our District Affiliated churches to educate themselves and follow the standards set by their local authority first, then their county and then their state.
In addition to this, we require District Affiliated churches and recommend that sovereign churches hold no nursery or children’s ministry until local childcare and daycare facilities in your community have also resumed.
We know how difficult this time is and stand with you as you lead.
Contending for Community,
Gene Roncone
Rocky Mountain Ministry Network
District Superintendent/Network Pastor (aka “helper”)
3. MOST RECENT RESOURCE RELEASE
The world is changing fast, but our ministers and churches are beginning to rise up as a creative voice of hope in their communities. We know the incredible burden you are carrying but know your RMMN staff and presbytery are covering you in prayer. Your church has never experienced anything like this in the past 80 years. You are there for a reason. Be "the reason" and lead your people in these trying times.
NEW CHURCH SOCIAL DISTANCING RESOURCE CALLED “MORPH”. Our reentry back into weekly church services will not only be phased but unique to each state, county and city. The larger your church, the longer and harder that process will be. This collaborative resource called MORPH presents different meeting models that churches can use to limit gatherings to the current social distancing standard of ten people. Each model also embraces five ingredients of spiritual health (community, worship, discipleship, service and outreach). Check it out here
https://generoncone.org/morph
PHASING INTO "NEW NORMAL" RESOURCE: The Coronavirus pandemic has and will continue to change the landscape of modern ministry. Wise leaders will know we can’t in one moment switch to “full-throttle” normal. We will need to not only identify what our “new normal” is but phase into it slowly, discerningly and intentionally. This planning resource was created to help our RMMN churches phase into our “new normal”. The resource represents the collaborative efforts of medical personnel, pastors representing churches of all sizes, strategic planners and wise practitioners. The resource is a product of the collaborative efforts of nearly 20 RMMN leaders.
• A four-phased template to help you and your church wade back into the waters of face-to-face ministry in a post-Corona world.
• Rationale for why a phased re-entry will help your church provide margin and sustain momentum.
• Action points for each of the four phases with links to helps and resources.
• Access to a free online COVID-19 congregational survey to help you assess congregational needs, make wise decisions and minister to your congregation.
• Practical tools to help you connect with community leaders and identify ways your church can be part of the solution in your city or town.
• Resources to help guide you through healthy soul care as a pastor while leading in crisis.
• Tips on how to budget and reallocate resources to finance your “new normal”.
• Timelines to help you prepare for the holidays and start 2021 with the wind at your back.
Use it, improve it or cut and paste it to suit your own needs and context. At the very least, reading over it with your team will help you stay out in front of this crisis and bring focus to your re-entry into a moving target I have called our “new normal”. For the PDF document click here.
RE-OPEN GUIDELINES: Here is a PDF of the governments re-opening guidelines.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/