Methodists take precaution against swine flu during Church service and Communion
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-10-23 17:00:32 | Word Count: 794
The Methodist Church offers guidelines to its members to lessen the chance of getting flu as a result of Communion. Swine flu remains a present concern throughout the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Methodists, like members of other denominations who take Communion of wine and bread to celebrate Christ and partake of his spirit are concerned about the Communion practice, too. They have good reason, though need not fear the act Methodists remark of their own.
The CDC reports, “…key indictors found that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States from the previous week (October 4-10, 2009). Among the findings:
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· Doctor visits increased.
· Hospitalizations increased.
· Deaths increased.
"Do celebrate worship and the sacraments fully and be not afraid," said Taylor Burton-Edwards, director of worship resources for the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. In the same story titled, “In Battle of Germs, Jesus Wins,” United Methodist Church writer Kathy L. Gilbert also writes “United Methodist churches across the United States are … celebrating Holy Communion with a little more caution than usual.”Burton Edwards remarks, “Jesus is more powerful than germs.” Various techniques and defenses are being used against Swine Flu, like these:
· Hand sanitizers.
· Wave, don’t shake hands when offering the peace.
· Wash hands before touching food.
· When using intinction for Communion, allow the server to dip the bread.
“Keep in mind that clinical studies have shown that communion itself poses very low risk for spreading disease,” so says the The Board of Discipleship’s Web site, which offers the message: show reasonable concern, “…not over-reactive panic. Rejoice and fear not!”
In United Methodist Church News Service’s Kathy Gilbert’s report she says, “The primary ways the virus spreads is by airborne particles from coughs or sneezes and by skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
The Methodist Church wants to promote awareness within their denomination of these preventive measures, and emphasizes, “United Methodist churches across the country are not letting the threat of H1N1, or “swine flu,” shut their doors.” The Board of Discipleship says, “Keep in mind that clinical studies have shown that communion itself poses very low risk for spreading disease,”
In an unrelated story, Methodist Legislators in Congress reportedly offer their opinions on Health Reform, with Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow, one of nine United Methodists in the Senate, saying the need for health insurance reform is imperative. Tom Gillem of United Methodist News Service (UNMS) goes on to write in his story about the Congresswoman:
“Stabenow, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, says health care reform legislation should ‘keep what works and fix what is broken.’
“‘I would like to see the system reformed to provide a public health insurance choice and competition so that all families and individuals have access to affordable health care,” she says. “I am very hopeful that we can get it done this year.’
He quotes the Senator, “’ We know America cannot continue on this road where health insurance premiums skyrocketed 128 percent, while wages have risen only 38 percent,” she says. “The costs of health insurance premiums are growing rapidly, and too many families do not have access to affordable coverage that they deserve.’”
Offering statements by others in Congress on the issue, the writer notes:
(1) Some have constituents who are suspicious of the reform and proposals, including the public benefit program. Yet, there is concern for the uninsured in the United States.
(2) There is criticism of the public behavior in the public discussions of health care reform. A Democrat says, “Some of the town hall disruptions, I think, are to the detriment of the folks who are looking for information to help them better understand the legislation.”
(3) Reform is needed, and as the same Methodist member of Congress said, as quoted in 2 above, “There is certainly a good economic reason to do that because we're all carrying that cost right now when those folks go to the emergency room. But there's a good moral reason to do that, as well.”
