CAPE SYNOD COVID19 TASK TEAM

Dear Members and friends of the Cape of Good Hope Synod

I trust that you are holding up as best as possible during these challenging days, and that you are all adhering to the call to “Stay at Home” unless you are in Essential Services.  Our participation in this attempt to flatten the curve is critical to us all, and an expression of our love for God and our neighbour. The present worldwide COVID 19 pandemic has touched our own nation not only from a health perspective, but as a humanitarian crisis. As a followers of Christ, we recognise our call to compassionate care and service, especially to the most vulnerable within our community.  Our desire as a Cape Synod, is that we exercise this call in a responsible, gracious manner, notwithstanding the present confines of our national lockdown in South Africa.

Following due consultation with our Synod Mission co-ordinator, and since we could not meet on Saturday for our Synod Executive, the Synod Management team and myself,  made an Executive decision to establish a Synod Crisis Task Team, as per our Book of Order, L & D par 8.9.4, pg. 98:

In the event of a social crisis within the Synod, the Synod Mission

Coordinator shall consult the Bishop and the appropriate Superintendents

and, if necessary, convene a Synod Crisis Task Group, in order that

the Church might take timeous and appropriate action.

The aim of the Crisis Task Team is to mobilize and assist our Synod in an appropriate and co-ordinated response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Inter alia, this includes dissemination of vital information, co-ordinating our response to the most vulnerable in our Society and guidance on the use of churches for various “essential services” such as preparing of food hampers, feeding schemes, and if approached by Governments, to provide possible screening sites, centres for isolation, accommodation of vulnerable people or decongestion strategies etc. The foundational criteria are that the team will seek, as far as possible, to work with Ecumenical partners and in collaboration with other religious groups, NGOs. Government Social Services, Health Department and any other relevant groups.  The Task Team would be free to expand and adjust the aims and scope of the work required as the situation continues to unfold and change in the coming days and months.  It would be able to co-opt any members or expertise as it deems necessary for its work.  The Crisis Task Team is convened under the leadership of Rev Ralph Afghan in his capacity as Synod Mission Co-ordinator, and presently consists of the following appointed members, Ms Christal Wicomb, Mr Lester Sedras, Revd’s Sijadu Nkomonde, Sanele Ncobeni and Steven Lottering. The Crisis Team is answerable to myself at all times, through appropriate consultation.  All required information will be disseminated through the Synod Office as the official source of communication, and final authority on any financial transaction and decision will remain with the Synod Treasurer and Bishop who are the accounting offices of our Synod.

I trust that all members of our Synod will support this decision and give their fullest co-operation to the requests that will come for collective action.  Should you believe you have valuable information, or critical skills that can help the Crisis Team in its work, please do not hesitate to contact Rev Afghan (ralph@coronationmethodist.co.za)

Our response in this time continues to be framed within our Connexional theme based on Micah 6:8 – that we will do justice, love mercy and “walk humbly with our God.” May you continue to be strengthened by the loving presence of Christ in this time, even as we have embarked on this Holy week of following Christ to the Cross and the triumph of His Resurrection.

Kind regards,

Laetitia Meter

On behalf of Bishop Yvette Moses

Cape of Good Hope Synod MCSA

16 Durham Avenue, Salt River, 7925

PO Box 88 – Rondebosch – 7701

Tel:        021 686 4077

Fax:        086 611 0407

Email:    office@capemethodist.org.za

Website: www.capemethodist.org