Berne, Switzerland. [CD-EUDNews]. Over the past 6 weeks, Coronavirus or COVID-19 has spread from China around the globe, and now the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic.
As Christians we have a responsibility to care for others and each other, creating safe working and meeting environments. We need to be involved as part of the solution rather than potentially becoming part of the problem.
Reviewing the latest developments and the advice from the WHO and different National Health Service, as well as local Governmental resolutions, action was taken by the Inter-European Region (EUD) Administrative Committee (AdCom) today Thursday 12 March, to cancel or postpone all events and meetings organized by the EUD during the months of March and April, 2020 and closely monitor the development of the situation with further actions taken, if necessary, concerning events in May and June.
Moreover, all international travel by EUD Administrative Committee members and staff is to be avoided.
Among the events that will be cancelled or postponed are the following:
• Global Youth Day (EUD participation cancelled) – 21 March
• Family Life Training – 14-19 April, Spain
• GAiN Europe – 24-28 April, Romania
• Hope Channel Leadership – 28-30 April, Romania
• Education AAA training – 25 April, Florence
• Ellen G. White Symposium – 1-3 May, United Kingdom
• Literature Evangelist Congress – May 14-17 – Italy
• 2nd Adventist International Congress for Deaf and Deaf-blind – May29-June1 – Italy
The AdCom supports all the unions of EUD to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of the contamination with the COVID-19 virus. It also recommends to all entities to evaluate, in harmony with governmental regulations, whether the development of the outbreak requires the suspension of all meetings in our churches.
In such an eventuality, recognizing the pastoral need of people who are lonely, pastors together with deacons should consider individual visits to such church members, respecting the necessary hygienic measures.
In doing so, they also should take into consideration all possibilities of offering spiritual assistance in ways that do not require personal presence (phone, skype, etc.) especially with regard to the so-called group at risk.
Information on future developments and possibilities for rescheduling events for a later date will be transmitted in due course.
EUD apologises for the inconvenience and disappointment caused by this decision and continues to pray for all those who are being affected in so many ways by this pandemic.
EUD offices and staff will be continuing to serve within a safe environment.
Please, see for further advice: Facing Coronavirus
