For two years, I pastored a church that met primarily online. Church of Mary Magdalene met in person on Wednesday nights, but most of our congregation was on social media. A handful of us gathered in person, and hundreds more engaged with the church through Facebook and Twitter.

As coronavirus continues to spread, many people have been looking for ways to provide pastoral care to those who are at risk or isolated. Here are five of my suggestions.

1. Define pastoral care.

What does pastoral care typically look like in your context? What do you do daily, weekly, monthly? How can you provide similar care when you are unable to meet with people in person? (For example, a phone call instead of a visit to a member who is in the hospital or homebound.) What do people want or need? What can you reliably offer?

2. Use church social media.

If your church does not have a Facebook page or a Twitter account, set those up. Let church members know how to find the church on social media. Give church leadership access to post and respond on these accounts. Ask for prayer requests online, and let people know that you are praying for them.

Livestream part or all of your worship service. (But if you do this ***GET CONSENT FROM THE PEOPLE IN PICTURES OR VIDEOS***. This is a safety and privacy issue.)

3. Let people know how to reach you.

As pastor of an online church, I would hear from people all over the world. Give people church contact information: phone, email, text, and direct messages.

However, this does not mean that you are available all the time. Coordinate with others in church leadership about who will respond and when. Online does not mean no boundaries!

4. Check in with each other.

Set up formal and informal systems for checking in with others in the congregation, especially those who are at risk, medically vulnerable, or who live alone. Ask these people what they need. For example, it can be very helpful to offer to pick up groceries or medication.

Illness, quarantine, or work closures may lead to financial insecurity. Consider whether your church (or individuals in it) have the resources to financially support those who may need help with paying rent or buying groceries.

5. Encourage media moderation.

There is a lot of misinformation about the coronavirus online, and media outlets profit from keeping people reading more. Suggest some trusted sources for information, like the CDC website. Right now, a google search of "coronavirus” leads to a list of trusted sources.

Remind people that the news cycle may increase their anxiety. Take breaks when the internet feels overwhelming, and use social media to connect with loved ones.

Photo by Dev Benjamin on Unsplash