Health & Safety Resources
Resources for churches during the coronavirus pandemic
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES
Below are links to organizations providing helpful resources and
links to specific resources for churches that have been shared with us with the date they were added to our website.
Church Law & Tax
The Latest News and Advice... this free page is designed to help churches assess the legal, tax, financial, and risk management considerations of this rapidly changing situation—and then make sound decisions.
Insurance Board
Church management, People Safety and Liability; safety tips and resources to help your church stay informed about COVID-19
National Council of Nonprofits
The impacts of COVID-19 and what nonprofits can do
How to Get Contributions from The Pension Boards, UCC (March 24, 2020)
Instructions for ACH (Automated Clearing House) and Wire Transfers of Pension Contributions and Health Premiums
Parliamentary Resource for Meetings During COVID-19 (March 30, 2020)
Thomas J. Balch, J.D., Professional Registered Parliamentarian
Procedures for organizations seeking to postpone or cancel meetings or switch to electronic meetings or voting in light of COVID-19
U.S. Laws Governing Nonprofit Boards and Electronic Voting (March 31, 2020)
Research Report by BoardEffect: "The initial research for this report began with the question 'Can nonprofit boards vote online?' The intent was to determine the legal parameters within which a board portal’s voting feature could operate."
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Info Sheet (April 1, 2020)
The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis.
Apply NOW for SBA Payroll Protection Loans!
SBA Faith-Based Organizations FAQ (April 6, 2020)
U.S. Small Business Administration recently released FAQ for religious organizations applying for loans under the CARES Act (Paycheck Protection Program, PPP; Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, EIDL)
Unemployment Compensation for Church Workers (April 15, 2020)
Memo by Heather E. Kimmel, UCC General Counsel
"This memorandum is intended to explain the current status of unemployment compensation for church workers in light of the new federal CARES Act."
HR Issues and Your Ministry During COVID-19 (April 21, 2020)
Presented by Robert Brockman and Leslie DeMattia on behalf of Insurance Board
(The webinar also refers to several documents that have been posted above: SBA FAQ; CARES Act and Unemployment memos from Heather Kimmel.)
Remote Work Agreement and Toolkit
Paycheck Protection Program Loans (Updated May 13, 2020)
FAQ - Interpretation of the CARES Act and of the Paycheck Protection Program Interim Final Rules for borrowers and lenders. Note: Question 46 added.
Re-Opening Your Church Office (April 28, 2020)
Wondering what steps need to be taken to re-open your church office and ministries once permitted to re-open by State and Local authorities? These tips and information on how to re-open church offices were put together by the Insurance Board Loss Control team.
COVID-19 Liability FAQ (June 3, 2020)
Prepared by the Insurance Board
Considerations in the Wake of Civil Unrest (June 3, 2020)
On protecting your church, prepared by the Insurance Board
PPP Flexibility Act (June 8, 2020)
The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was signed into law on June 5. This is a summary of the key changes, some of which may affect a church’s decision to apply for a PPP or how it uses the funds.
Pandemic grants for churches (June 10, 2020)
The United Church of Christ National Setting is offering financial assistance to local churches whose ministries have been challenged by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The grant application process opened June 1.
Returning to Work: Things to Consider (June 10, 2020)
View the HCUCC office's protocols for returning to the office and a questionnaire for staff in preparation to return. These are specific to the HCUCC office and are offered as templates for your church to create their own.
Phases for Reopening - Does Your Church Have a Plan? (June 18, 2020)
View the Insurance Board guidelines.
Revised PPP Forgiveness Applications (June 18, 2020)
Read more here: SBA and Treasury Announce New EZ and Revised Full Forgiveness Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program
Loan Forgiveness Application Form • Loan Forgiveness Calculation Form
Copyright Law and Churches (June 24, 2020)
A list of compiled resources from the UCC and Church Law & Tax
CHURCH & PASTORAL RESOURCES
We Are The Church
Information, ideas contributed by churches of the Hawai‘i Conference
Coronavirus resources from the UCC
Information contributed by all settings of the United Church of Christ (local churches, associations, conferences and national ministries), from our ecumenical partners and respected health organizations.
A Faithful Response, with Worship, to the Coronavirus
Compiled by Justice and Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ
This live document serves as a resource for faithful tips and considerations for congregations, including resources for worshiping apart and online (music and copyright info, permissions for recorded music, streaming advice, and more).
Online Giving
5 of the Best Church Online Giving Platforms by Outreach
7 Top Online Giving Companies For Churches by Reach Right
Tips to set up Facebook giving
Facebook Fundraisers and Donations for Nonprofits
Spiritual Help for an Endless Saturday
Just as there are therapists and counselors to help manage psychological issues and emotional despair, there are also spiritual directors trained to guide you in your spiritual practices and to help you listen for and notice the presence of God in the midst of this challenging time.
Recommendations for Reopening Church Facilities (May 12, 2020)
From the Hawai‘i Conference Office
Recommendation Against Congregational Singing (May 27, 2020)
An urgent letter from the American Choral Directors Association Hawaiʻi Chapter and the Hawaiʻi Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing which advises against congregational singing at this time and offers potential solutions.
Bereavement Support Is Important At Any Time, Now, It's Vital
Barbara Karnes, RN. "Hospice Bereavement support, as well as any bereavement support program (church, Community Support, Senior Activity Program) is important during the best of times. Now it is vital. Here are my recommendations; what I would do if I had a bereavement program today during this pandemic."
Is It Safe To Sing? In Our Sanctuaries, Our Streets, On Social Media
Songwriters and singing leaders Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey, Lea Morris and Andra Moran share their insights and gifts of song, the complexities of leading the practice of singing from congregations in quarantine to simple singing as a spiritual practice, to chanting in protest, the science and safety precautions of breath and sound.
WATCH WEBINAR HERE • VIEW NOTES FROM THIS WEBINAR
FROM THE
CONFERENCE MINISTER
June 3, 2020 update
May is Mental Health
Awareness Month
April 14, 2020: COVID-19 Update
April 2020: Learn how to avoid COVID SCAMS
February 2020: Facts on the novel coronavirus (What You Need to Know)
Faith In a Time of Pandemic
Bruce Epperly, 2020
Written by a UCC minister, this book of less than 40 pages could be a great resource for local churches, each chapter ending with a prayer and a list of dos and questions to ponder.
That Discomfort
You're Feeling Is Grief
By Scott Berinato,
Harvard Business Review
"If we can name it,
perhaps we can manage it."
Clergy Burnout
(A letter to Friends in Ministry)
"I write to you today as a Sibling who is scared-to-death not only about the pandemic that is ripping our lives, our congregations, and our world apart but also about what could come next for myself and my friends in ministry. I am not an authority on infectious diseases nor on COVID-19, but over the last decade I have invested thousands and thousands of hours in studying clergy burnout and clergy theologies of work, and I can speak on that." Read more
View PowerPoint Presentation on Clergy Burnout and Engagement
Learn more and download the free, new app: AlohaSafe Alert, which helps slow the spread of COVID-19. It is the State of Hawaii’s official exposure notification app and has been developed in partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Health.
OTHER SAFETY RESOURCES
Preparing for the Possibility of Violence
Domestic violence, mental health issues heighten in pandemic...
Pastors and congregations can help by being especially alert, according to UCC staff specialists. Tips on what to watch for and what to do were shared by national UCC staff members in recent interactive conversations with local church leaders.
Intimate Partner Violence
Understanding Victims in the Faith-Based Community
Kelly Musselman from Hawai‘i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence shared with church leaders and clergy about Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and ways to support victims of IPV. View the slides from this presentation.
Confronting Violence in Houses of Worship
From McDonald Hopkins, law firm
Workplace Violence and Emergency Preparedness Plan
From McDonald Hopkins, law firm
REACH OUT FOR
LOCAL SUPPORT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINES
Safe Line (O‘ahu, 24-hr hotline)
808-266-7233
Child & Family Service Shelter (24-hr hotline)
East Hawai‘i: 808-959-8864
West Hawai‘i: 808-322-7233
YWCA Kaua‘i (24-hr hotline)
808-245-6362
Women Helping Women
(Maui County, 24-hr hotline)
Maui: 808-579-9581
Lāna‘i: 808-563-0216