christianity/religio ns and covid 19

If Chaplains were meeting the welfare needs of staff in the crisis then why have trusts hired in lay psychologists and mental health nurses to manage staff welfare during the pandemic?

Turns out staff rightly so want and need proper professional psychological support. Not an outdated chaplaincy.

If the chaplains were so great at it they would be involved in leading it. Which they arent. They are supporting religous staff who want to use the prayer room.

They are not providing the overarching welfare programs for all staff. Nothing close to it.

We are so fortunate that people of all faiths can work together in this situation. Locally our Sikh gurdwaras and Moslem mosques are already well set-up with large kitchens that they use daily for their own fellowship meetings. This makes them the ideal place for distributing meals etc.

However, people of all faiths (and none) are in there with them, working their behinds off.

Hospital staff are extremely thankful that the chaplains are still available - they are greatly needed for ALL staff and patients during this time. Some have decided to live apart from their own families so that they may continue to give support to distressed staff and patients.

Have a nice rant - I'm off to eat and relax before an early night. Some one was holding a barbecue party on Friday night which went on until 1 am. About midnight it got quieter so I though they had called it a day - but no, then they started singing! At least, I think that was what they meant the noise to be.

and I would imagine that when the gov did name religous workers keyworkers they were thinking more along the lines of the kind of work the mosques are doing.

Not having free reign around closed hospitals.

Notanan2 Christian chaplains are not "calling themselves keyworkers" the government list includes "religious staff" that covers all faiths

They are the only ones using it to maintain access to closed wards.

Just because the government allows it doesnt mean its okay to take the piss!

The sheer scale and efficiency of networks put in place by non christian religions IS news worthy. They have full on mass catering operations going on. The likes that you would normally only see in the commercial sector.

That posters think its "bias" that this is reported and their vicar phoning his own flock goes without remark, says a lot about how "christian" GN "christians" are...

Notanan2 Christian chaplains are not "calling themselves keyworkers" the government list includes "religious staff" that covers all faiths

B9 is a poster upthread Elgran.

Who thinks its wonderful that chaplains are visiting no visiting wards..

the odd lone ranger from the COE or RC isnt a credit to the church. They are people who probably would volunteer anyway if not religous (as many non religous people have done).

What NEITHER the RC or COE or other christian denominations have done is form the sort of mass infastructure that other religions have put in place where things meals have been mass produced and safely packaged and delivered etc. Working with social services and health providers and schools to provide reliable consistant professional grade support where it is needed.

There has been no "coming together"ness.

Yes theres the odd good person independantly doing some good things in some churches. But no more than you find amongst the general population.

The christian church (as an umbrella term) has failed to step up.

I can't find B9 - no idea what or who it is. The nearest article I have found about clergy barging into closed wards is this.

www.leightimes.co.uk/article.cfm?id=127050&headline=Bishop%20Stephen:%20Ministry%20during%20Covid-19§ionIs=news&searchyear=2020

some christians doing a bit of shopping is not remarkable when half the community are doing that.

the meals the mosques are delivering day in day out here have been not only logistically impressive (the sheer quantity and reliability of it) but also consistant and "no strings"

so the press isnt doing a piece on a vicar who bought a few extra pints of milk for his flock...
no. thats not bias. thats just unremarkable.

well the meals getting to the needy where I live are most consistantly coming from the mosques.

Despite it not being an area with a huge amount of muslims.

there are more christian churches than mosques here and the mosques are the ones stepping it. Also they are not only delivering to their parishoners (as cited proudly by posters on here) but to whoever needs it most.

No
Its not press bias.

Do you know any social workers? Ask them if they get most food parcels from christian churches or mosques.

I knew Moslems and Gurkhas had delivered a lot of meals because it was mentioned in the media. I am sure that they would not have promoted it, but the media thought it worth publishing. The media have NOT published how many meals any Christian diocese have delivered, though several posters have told us abut what is happening in their area.

It is a general fact that the media are very shy of saying anything good about a Christian organisation - it is somehow felt old-fashioned and even embarassing to be seen to be upholding traditional religious virtues. Non-Christian ones are more trendy and can be mentioned without blushing.

Ask B9 Elgran. B9 is the one touting how great christian chaplains are for declaring themselves keyworkers and going onto wards where families cant visit.

How many Christians did that?

It is perhaps, more newsworthy for the media to mention that mosques and gurdwaras are doing all these things

It has not been in the news. It has not been promoted at all. We know about it through word of mouth from the needy.

Meanwhile while all that quiet real work is going on, christians are loudly declaring themselves keyworkers are barging into closed wards.

Thank you, notanan.

So, red1 and notanan, are you condemning all practical projects and attitudes to helping by Christians during this crisis, on the evidence that you heard a few spiritual leaders saying in interviews that they will pray?

Do you condemn even the ones whose activities you have never heard about? They are not pursuing " any self promotion whatsoever." while they are "busy shopping, delivering food and working with other organisations to ensure that those on their own are receiving help and friendly phone calls." and while they get on with "ensuring the elderly or vulnerable are taken care of, helping with food donations to those in need"

In between they also pray, as do members of other faiths.

It is perhaps, more newsworthy for the media to mention that mosques and gurdwaras are doing all these things, because they take it for granted that churches do them. Other faiths are just that - "other" - and possibly run by foreigners and such people, who the media don't really think of as doing things for Brits.

Prayer is not what is needed. Staying away if everyone else has to is whats needed.

Christian chaplains calling themselves keyworkers and visiting no visiting zones is a kick in the teeth to the sick, their families, and real keyworkers.

Christians are there in the community, helping those who need help, volunteering when they can, believing that God is in control of all things. We pray regularly, hold 'virtual' services via Zoom and love to see the faces of our friends in the church. Above all, our aim is to glorify God through all things, even this pandemic and pray for those who have given their lives in caring for others.
Yes, church leaders could have been more active and there is always room to improve but our biggest weapon is prayer and it is to Him that we pray for courage and humility to get through this.
And yes, other religions are pro-active as well and we thank all those who have done what they can in their communities. Criticism of all faiths is nothing new!

My local church is very active in supporting the local community during this time. It is busy shopping, delivering food and working with other organisations to ensure that those on their own are receiving help and friendly phone calls. We have a phone service every Sunday and there are facilities for us to call up for chats on other days. The Parish committee regularly contacts Parishioners to see how they are. I understand that many churches are doing exactly the same.

I just added that that is not a good, sensible, understanding or humble thing to do in the circumstances

It was B9 who cited christian chaplains going into no visitor zones Elgran

Could you give chapter and verse for those quotes and facts and articles, notanan and red1? I have not read them (but then, I am not particularly on the lookout for ammunition to fire at Christians , or at any other religion. You two seem to be either very anti all religion or else very specifically anti Christian )