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.

Their expertise in the field of infectious disease is substantial and we are thankful for their ministry. Members of the COVID-19 Task Force: Bev Connelly Bruce Hamilton Al Painter Susan Pinney Warren Webster

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.

1. What is your background? It’s a joy for me to share my gifts as a scientist with my church. I am a member of the faculty of the UC College of Medicine, as a Professor of Epidemiology. Although I am primarily a genetic and cancer epidemiologist, we all have focused on COVID-19 and the best public health approaches to minimize the suffering caused by COVID-19. I have been a member of Hyde Park Community Methodist since 1975 (can’t believe that it has been 45 years). 2. What have you gained from your experience of being on the Task force team? Maybe “gained” is not the right word, but I certainly have come to appreciate the wonderful pastors that we have, their true concern for both our spiritual and physical health, and their willingness to be guided by the members of the task force in making decisions about how we can best continue our worship in the time of COVID-19. I am genuinely so fortunate to be a member of the task force – and to serve with the others who are not only experts in infectious disease, but also very kind and caring 3. Anything else you would like to add? Wear your mask and be extra kind to each other.

Bev Connelly

I am a retired pediatric infectious diseases pediatrician. For more than two decades I directed the infection prevention and control program of Cincinnati Children’s which led efforts to reduce healthcare associated infections and collaborated with local health officials and other hospitals to reduce the spread of influenza and other respiratory pathogens in newborn care units. I have been happy to add my experience to that of others on the team to minimize the potential for COVID-19 spread in our church family.

Warren Webster

I am now retired but worked as an internal medicine physician for 35 years and spent 25 of those years as a consultant in infectious disease. My experience on the task force has allowed me to work with some very smart and caring people who have the best interest of our church members in mind. It has also given me stimulus to study the COVID-19 pandemic.

Warren and Karen Webster and friends.