With the swine flu news, it turns out an upcoming forum about how congregations should plan for a flu outbreak of pandemic proportions might be more timely than anticipated:
Local religious leaders are meeting with health officials and emergency responders May 7 to discuss how they and their flocks could help the community at large and adapt their congregational life in such a circumstance.
The Catholic Church today sent out a reminder that those who distribute Communion should be making sure to wash their hands and even use anti-bacterial solution before and after the sacrament. The advisory also says they should instruct people feeling ill not to receive from the cup.
Also today, a national Muslim group called on imams to use daily and Friday congregational prayers as a platform for providing information about preventing the spread of swine flu.
On a side note, some U.S. officials have suggested changing the name of swine flu because it's impossible to get the flu from eating pork products. An Israeli health official has called for a name change also, saying the reference to pigs could offend Jewish and Muslim sensitivities (both Jewish and Muslim law forbids consuming pork products).
The head of the disaster-response team of the United Church of Christ's Penn Central Conference provided these sources for congregations:
-- www.pandemicflu.gov (note the checklist for preparedness)
-- The ELCA's Congregational Planning for Pandemic Flu
-- General info at www.cdc.gov and www.pandemicflu.state.pa.us/pandemic
Details on the local flu forum:
The free Pandemic Influenza Spring Forum of the York-Adams Metropolitan Medical Response System is planned for 8 a.m. to noon May 7 at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church's auditorium at 839 W. Market St. in York. Register at swalker3@wellspan.org or by fax at 851-2593.
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