Feature story
Rev. Nicta Luubale, general secretary of the Organization of African Instituted Churches, said greatest resource in the reflections were at the local community levels. Here, churches are interacting with the impacts of the pandemic on a day-to-day basis and coming up with actions to respond.
“The biggest challenge is that what people are doing within the framework of their own resources rarely gets known. So we could be missing out on the innovations that are coming from common people as they dream afresh in listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit,” said Lubaale, a Ugandan pastor.
His comments came as African countries launched vaccination campaigns targeting frontline workers and exposed populations as WHO reported an upsurge. Cases in the continent have surpassed four million since February 2020 when first cases were confirmed.
Even amid increased global vulnerability, churches and church charities fed the hungry and attended to emergency humanitarian needs, while pastors and priests offered solace to the sick, ministered to the bereaved, and helped bury the dead.
“As we work, some of the challenges we are facing are uncertainty and mistrust among the congregations. People are not trusting each other. Suspected COVID-19 cases are easily being isolated and abandoned in the community,” said Rev. Joseph Njakai, an Anglican priest in central Kenya.
“No one is sure how long the virus will take. So, church development activities have stalled and church resources are at their lowest,” added Njakai, saying priests and pastors were also exposed and need help.
Lubaale said the impact of COVID-19 is heavy in almost all sectors with support mechanisms being stretched. The socio-economic impacts are enormous, and the vulnerability of the people in poverty has increased, according to the cleric.
“Being church has been redefined, as large gatherings were suspended. The value for community increased as churches found ways of meeting in small groups,” said Luubale, adding that many churches are connecting online as well.
A key focus has largely been in social protection or activating church structures to support the weak, but the major task at hand is to work for a just recovery.
“Churches should play a role in shaping the interventions to the impacts of COVID-19 but mainly focus on the issues of economic inequalities that have existed and have been worsened by the pandemic,” said Lubaale.