Resources for Clergy: Coronavirus and Your Congregations

Editor's Note: This roundup, intended for clergy, is part of a series of pieces that curates coronavirus response resources for specific congregational roles. Additional pieces in this series are available for presidents, executive director and temple administrators, ECE center directors and educators, and Jewish K-12 educational leaders. 

Today we find ourselves in a time of quarantine, the cancellation of large public gatherings, school closings, and the call to maintain social distance. One of the functions of religion has been to fulfill the promise of God’s words in the Garden: “Lo tov heyot ha’adam l’vado.” It’s not good for humans to be alone. The function of religion in an era of COVID-19 has not changed; this moment is requiring all of us to imagine new forms of gathering and connection. 

In that spirit, we want to offer you some Reform Movement resources that may be particularly helpful to you, as clergy, as you support your community at this time.

1. Lead services and programming for your community – online.

Now is a time to show the power of community, not the lack of it. Connecting online via livestreaming can create community in lieu of in-person gatherings, bringing solace and comfort to those in isolation.

Streaming Services

• “How to Stream Services (Or Anything Else): A Guide for Jewish Communities”: Designed to help congregations that are new to streaming, this document includes explanations, step-by-step directions, a technological checklist, copyright information, and more.
• [Webinar] Movement Worship Streaming: This recent session, hosted in partnership with the CCAR, teaches more about streaming services and other congregational programming.

Online Programming

• "Adult Education, Small Group Gatherings, & Experiential Learning for Adults in an Online Setting: A Guide for Jewish Communities": This universal, comprehensive resource, created by the URJ, HUC-JIR, ARJE, and PEP-RJ, focuses on the “how” and “why” of streaming. It includes creative and relational advice, as well as technical advice and support.
• [Webinar] Virtual Small Groups in an Age of COVID-19: In an era of physical distancing, staying connected is more improtant than ever. Learn how to use to the Zoom to continue the work of small group engagement for your congregants.

Logistics

• [Webinar] Zoom Training for Clergy, Educators, and Lay Leaders: Zoom is a flexible and powerful tool for virtual meetings that can help you maintain social connections even as you’re practicing physical distancing. Watch this tutorial on how to Zoom, with a particular focus on the needs of congregational clergy, educators, and lay leaders. 
• The Reform Movement Marketplace: We've recently launched this platform, which offers discounted licenses for livestreaming, virtual meetings, and other vital services to URJ member congregations.

2. Access Online Liturgical and Music Resources

• Preparing for the High Holidays in Challenging Times: This collection of Reform Movement resources, webinars, and study opportunities can help you and your congregation prepare for High Holidays 5781.
• Free and discounted liturgical resources for you and your members: You and your community members can access online versions of Mishkan T'filah, liturgical resources, and additional ebooks on CCAR Press’ website.
• CCAR-member resources: A myriad of additional liturgical and coronavirus preparedness resources are available behind the CCAR firewall.
• Transcontinental Music provides a wealth of online music resources, including print and digital copies of sheet music, digital song books, recordings, and more.
• J•License: J•License allows you to legally stream and podcast (store recorded streams) covered songs in any worship service and lifecycle, concert, or other event for your community. There are special prices for URJ member congregations. For new licensees registering in March or April 2020, use discount code JLICENSE15 to receive the first two months free.

3. Discover curriculum for your online programming.

• Ask Big Questions Guides: Offering opportunities for small groups of congregants to gather online? Use these guides created especially for congregational leaders, plus an introductory resource to help make the most of them.
• Ben Franklin Circle Curriculum: Looking for more content for your online small group gatherings? This toolkit, created by the URJ, 92nd Street Y in New York, and Central Synagogue, is designed to help you to facilitate a powerful dialogue about Jewish and American values.
• Gifts of Awareness Online Course: Our partnership with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality allows you a discount on this eight-module online meditation course. It offers new insight on how to develop awareness that is more consistent with who you want to be in the world, which will allow you to connect more deeply to yourself, others, and Judaism. Use the code: URJ_GoA.

4. Navigate different stages related to leading your congregation during this unprecedented time.

• [Webinar] Making Difficult Employment Decisions Within a Sacred Partnership: The Reform Pay Equity Initiative, URJ, WRJ, WRN, and NATA, recently partnered to share the best practices and concrete tools needed to make equitable decisions regarding employment matters such as salary cuts, layoffs, and furloughs during these challenging times. This training is for both professional and lay leaders who are involved in making, or impacted by, these decisions.
• [Webinar] Reimagining What's Possible - The Next Phase in a COVID-19 World: URJ Vice President of Strengthening Congregations, Amy Asin, recently discussed how congregations can imagine the possibilities of a hybrid society, experiment and innovate, and rebuild for new realities.
• "How to Navigate Leadership During This Unprecedented Time": URJ Vice President of Strengthening Congregations, Amy Asin, shares a three-stage framework to help congregational leaders steer through this unique moment – plus resources to help in each stage.
• Webinar: Top 10 Questions about Congregational Finances in Light of COVID-19: We recently hosted a webinar to review the most common questions we've been hearing from you about finances and explore how to move forward with optimism. 

5. Receive support for your own feelings of fear and anxiety.

The CCAR and ACC are always available to offer support to their members, especially at times like this. CCAR members should reach out to Rabbi Betsy Torop and ACC members to Cantor Gail Hirschenfang.

The URJ’s crisis support team is also available to provide support to all leaders in URJ congregations. Contact Rabbi Janet Offel.

6. Learn from the wisdom of other leaders across the Reform Movement. 

We recommend the Safety and Security group; search for #Coronavirus and #Covid19 to find resources from across all groups in The Tent. If you’re not yet in The Tent, we encourage you, and other leaders in your congregation, to  set up your account now.   

Both the CCAR and ACC have member-only Facebook pages, on which ideas are being shared daily.

7. Browse the full list of URJ resources on coronavirus response. 

Looking for something more specific or want to review everything we have to offer? Check out “How Reform Congregations are Coping with COVID-19 (and Tools to Help),” which is being updated as new resources become available.

Let’s join virtual hands of support and remember the text from Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:10: “A community is too heavy to carry alone.” Together, we will make it through these difficult times and will find ourselves and our communities to be stronger for it.

Have something to say about this post? Join the conversation in The Tent, the communications and collaboration platform for congregational leaders of the Reform Movement. You can also tweet us or tell us how you feel on Facebook.