The Anglican Diocese of Wellington Pandemic Protocols applies to Bird Flu / H1N1 (Swine) Flu / any Pandemic 1 The following recommendations have been broken down into four key areas: Communication and Administration Leadership Pastoral Care Finance And three ministry levels: Diocese Archdeaconry Parish/Mission Unit Diocese Communication and Administration: The central point for communication and administration at a Diocesan level will be The Anglican Centre, 18 Eccleston Hill, Thorndon, Wellington. The Diocesan website www.wn.anglican.org.nz will be the primary point of communication across the Diocese. Information input will be by telephone and/or to an email to a specific address e.g., panwebinfo@wn.ang.org.nz. The webmaster is to be responsible for ensuring adequate HR backup provisions are in place until such time as the website can be maintained by staff at or through the Anglican Centre. The website will be updated daily. The website must have the capacity/ability to be updated daily with prayers / devotions. The Diocesan Telephone System must be capable of being diverted off site. Administration support will be provided by: Nick Young, followed by Karen Stewart Rob Moonlight, followed by Gendy Thomson The Very Reverend Digby Wilkinson, as nearest neighbour is to be given access codes, etc., to the Anglican Centre to provide an on the spot substitute if others cannot access the building. 1 The Bishop s Office, Anglican Diocese of Wellington, P O Box 12046, Wellington. When using this document please acknowledge its source. 1
Leadership: The Bishop of Wellington, The Right Reverend Justin Duckworth is the primary point of contact, Shepherd and Spiritual Leader for the Diocese, and his role will be primarily pastoral. The Vicar General is Archdeacon Julie Rokotakala. If required the order of succession would then follow with Archdeacon Gendy Thomson, Archdeacon Stephen King, Reverend Canon John Wilson, Archdeacon Stuart Goodin, Archdeacon Wendy Scott and Archdeacon May Croft. Archdeacons are to have direct line contact with the Bishop or his subsequent successor via landline and mobile. Pastoral Care: The Diocesan Manager, Nick Young, is to devise a care system for Anglican Centre staff: Gendy Thomson is to be pastorally responsible for Young Persons Office and Mission and Ministry staff Susanne Brantley is to be pastorally responsible for Finance staff Karen Stewart is to be pastorally responsible for Administration staff The Vicar General is to meet with the Bishop to discuss access to clergy next of kin and family details. In an emergency all clergy mobile numbers will be put on the Diocesan website. The Bishop will be responsible for providing daily prayer/devotions for the Diocesan website. Finance: Emergency access to Trust Funds is to be arranged by Susanne Brantley if there is no or inadequate income from parishes/mission units. Archdeaconry Communication and Administration: All Regional Archdeacons are to name a second and third successor. Archdeacons are to ensure that they hold current home and office email addresses, and contact details for Archdeaconry clergy. Geographic Archdeacons will provide the conduit for information between: the Bishop and the wider Diocese the parishes/mission units and the Bishop Leadership: All Regional Archdeacons are to name a second and third successor, and the names are to be submitted to the Bishop. 1 The Bishop s Office, Anglican Diocese of Wellington, P O Box 12046, Wellington. When using this document please acknowledge its source. 2
Pastoral Care: Regional Archdeacons are to be in daily contact with: the Bishop parishes and mission units in their Archdeaconry Finance: This is not applicable at this level. Parish/Mission Unit Communication and Administration: Parishes/mission units are to confirm: all key contact details parish wardens details parish clergy details pastoral care networks Parishes and mission units are to make sure that all information contained in all newsletters is current, and that the Diocesan website details are on all newsletters. They must update their parish website details and ensure that their website is linked to the Diocesan website. All answerphone messages at parish offices and Vicarages are clear and effective. They must set up telephone trees and email trees for daily contact. The parish/mission unit must be divided up into a geographical grid and local contact lists developed. Daily contact with the Regional Archdeacon must be established via email and telephone. Leadership: The Vicar/Priest in Charge/Ministry Team is to identify back up: Laity such as wardens Clergy The Vicar/Priest in Charge/Ministry Team must have each have a hard copy of the parish roll. They must identify critical leadership roles: e.g., Ezee Meals coordinator, pastoral team coordinator, etc. All essential parish functions must be identified and they must be staffed adequately. Protection kits must be purchased for clergy and key lay persons, and medication purchased for them. Alcohol wipes must be supplied for parish office telephones and keyboards, and alcohol based hand gel supplied for any persons visiting. 3
Pastoral Support: The most important thing we can offer is hope! Clergy can offer public reassurance through the sacrament of presence and being seen to be present by wearing clerical collars. Disaster Preparedness: Offer Disaster training and equipping sessions this may be in cooperation with local Civil Defence Ensure all parishioners are referred to the inside cover of the Yellow Pages in the phone book which outlines Being Prepared for Disasters additional water would need to be added to kits Check parish first aid kits and availability of trained first aid people Encourage parishioners to check and restock personal first aid kits, especially with additional paracetamol Check to ensure Civil Defence kits are not time expired Network with local health, welfare, safety networks, funeral directors and other service providers, and ensure contact details for these service providers are held by key parish leadership Be aware of local information and peculiarities, e.g., water supplies, etc. Ensure information regarding contacts for GPs and Ministry of Health are published in weekly newsletters Parishes and mission units are encouraged to stockpile nonperishable food items. They are also encouraged to use paper hand towels and supply tissues, rather than use communal towels. Parishes and mission units are encouraged to hold next of kin details, especially for parishioners who live alone. They should establish pastoral neighbourhood care networks which are reasonably small scale and within walking distance. Identify a leader/contact person for each network, and distribute care cards containing essential information such as telephone tree process, pastoral contacts, prayer contacts, etc. Build up and equip lay ministry networks including and beyond those licensed to the Diocese. Identify and brief lay people who can provide telephone support and prayer for those who are fearful or otherwise distressed. Liturgical and Sacramental Support: Train and equip lay ministry networks to offer appropriate support and prayer, lead memorial services, etc. Each home should be given a copy of the New Zealand Prayer Book/He Karakia Mihinare O Aotearoa, and a Bible from the church supplies. Promote Midday Prayer as a dispersed community activity, and church bells might be rung to indicate Midday Prayer. If able to gather, offer Communion in one kind only. Be very aware of hygiene, distributing only after using alcohol hand wash gel or similar. If able to gather note that there is to be no passing of the peace or physical contact. If anointing people for healing, wash/wipe hands between people. Encourage people to not sit too close together in gatherings. 4
When ministering with people who are ill, dying or at death take appropriate hygiene precautions, i.e., wear a mask and use alcohol solution for hands, etc. Clergy and pastoral team members need to be aware of health protocols in situations of death, and prepare families appropriately. Use the resources in the NZPB, particularly Prayers before a Funeral pp 822-825. Mass burial/cremation is the likely process if large numbers of deaths occur. Offering memorial services once people are able to gather again will be very necessary. Suggestions for appropriate prayers at various times and situations during a pandemic/crisis are attached. Post Pandemic/Crisis: Once the danger period is over it will be important for parishes and mission units to be aware of and acknowledge the grief and trauma of the situation. Resources produced post September 11, and the 2004 Tsunami would offer a useful starting point. Finance: Ensure adequate security of any money and valuables, etc., in the parish. The Bishop s Office, Anglican Diocese of Wellington, P O Box 12046, Wellington. When using this document please acknowledge its source. 5
Daily Prayer in time of an Emergency If the flu pandemic strikes, it is likely that households will be encouraged not to mingle with others. Schools will be closed, and places of business including supermarkets, and even church services may be forbidden. In such a situation anxiety levels will rise and our people will be looking for spiritual resources to help them through, resources they can access and use in their homes. Our New Zealand Prayer Book is a rich resource, and parishes and mission units could help to ensure that every household has one plus a Bible. Daily prayers can help give structure to our days; especially when folk have more time for thinking and reflecting in troublesome circumstances. Daily Devotions (A NZPB pp104-137) Midday Prayer (A NZPB pp147-166) Night Prayers (A NZPB pp167-186) The Psalms are a useful resource for adults For families with young children: Family Prayer (A NZPB pp 187-191) The Family Liturgy (A NZPB pp771-72) In times of a crisis when a member(s) of a household are seriously ill, there is the people s blessing on p745, and prayers on pp 747-48. If a member of the household is dying prayers from pp 813-821 may be used, and if someone dies and the body needs to be removed for burial immediately then the Prayer Before a Funeral pp 822-825 can be used as a liturgical farewell, until a memorial service can be held at a later date. Useful Websites for information: Ministry of Health information: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409 Ministry of Health Guidelines: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/pandemicinfluenza-resources-guidelines Ministry of Health Factsheet: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/pandemicinfluenza-resources-factsheets The Bishop s Office, Anglican Diocese of Wellington, P O Box 12046, Wellington. When using this document please acknowledge its source. 6