Ep. 21 | Ahead of the Curve: Protecting your church from Covid-19 w/ Dr. Bridget Stirling
Leading the church when we can’t meet in person is a challenge. But re-opening will be a challenge as well as we work to ensure our gatherings are as a safe as possible for everyone who attends.
How can we get ahead of the curve and prevent infection in our churches?
In this episode, Mike Mawhorter from our Church Lifecycles team talked with Dr. Bridget Stirling about how pastors and church leaders can sift through the conflicting messages and lead responsibly—with faith—during this pandemic.
Dr. Stirling is an epidemiologist and public health specialist with a PhD in Community Health services. She is a Director of Stirling Harmston Public Health Specialists and has worked in the area of disease control for over 17 years, both in Canada and internationally. And as a follower of Jesus, she also deeply understands the faith issues of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She talks about how to use wisdom to mitigate risk while still fulfilling our mission, serving the frontline workers in our congregations, and re-opening safely once we are able to do so again.
RESOURCES
ARCC—Application to Reduce Communicable Diseases in Churches
The ARCC was developed by world renowned epidemiologists and public health specialists to assist churches in making difficult decisions in the times of outbreaks of infectious disease. The tool is based on evidence that has been reviewed by physicians, nurses, and other health professionals who understand infection control and who prayerfully considered their guidance for churches during this difficult time.
We highly recommend you take advantage of this valuable resource as you seek to care for your churches! For information about the group discount and subsidy program we have arranged for Fellowship Pacific, visit this page: Re-Opening Church
Contact Stirling Harmston:
778-557-2094
DR. BRIDGET STIRLING
Dr. Stirling started Stirling Harmston Public Health Specialists in 2013 in response to the Ebola and MERS outbreaks. Working with a British colleague (Harmston), the two Public Health academics both studied at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and shared a passion for helping people in Lower and Middle Income populations. Together, Bridget Stirling and Jennie Harmston began developing prevention tools and training curricula to protect health workers and others from infectious diseases.
Since the current COVID pandemic emerged, a team of public health specialists has been working to improve the safety of employees in the manufacturing, financial, communication and healthcare sectors. Dr. Stirlng's passion has long been for assisting the Global Church, so it was no surprise that she turned her experience and skills towards creating a Church Risk Assessment Tool (Application for Reducing Communicable Diseases in Churches, ARCC), as well as a community of best practice for church leaders to have access to her guidance, share ideas and get support.