COVID-19 Task Force
September 2020
Hyde Park Community is blessed with a group of physicians who have been gathering with our senior pastors since late March. After one face-to-face meeting in late March, the group has convened by Zoom each month. The group has been monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and providing helpful input to the Servant Leadership Board regarding the shaping of safety protocols for church gatherings, including resuming in-person worship. Current assessments and trends, specific to Hamilton County, are discussed at the meetings. The group is committed to being a vessel of God’s love and care for our church family and community. Multiple things have been discussed including the risk factors for some of our church family and the age of the sanctuary and its ventilation system. Because the virus is unpredictable, they have been reevaluating the statistics each month.
Members of the COVID-19 Task Force: Bev Connelly Bruce Hamilton Al Painter Susan Pinney Warren Webster
Their expertise in the field of infectious disease is substantial and we are thankful for their ministry.
Albert F. Painter, Psy.D. I am a clinical psychologist who has spent 45 years in academic medicine including UNC-CH, Emory University, and Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine where I currently serve as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. I have been impressed by the talent and commitment of our Task Force members and our concerted efforts to discern God’s will for our congregation in these challenging times. Also we have been inspired by Pastor Cathy and Doug and their dedication to listening to congregational members who are trained scientists in this deliberation.
Bruce Hamilton I retired from the practice of medicine last December. Throughout my medical career I specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease problems, chiefly in patients who were hospitalized. It has been gratifying to serve on the Task Force with a group of distinguished medical professionals. Their expertise and concern are helping us to develop Covid-19 policies for the church, which we believe will enhance the safety of Hyde Park parishioners and staff. The issues regarding mitigation of the pandemic are complex, and I must say that in the course of this effort, I have gained some humility.
