A joint JLI – WFDD – Berkley Center Initiative on COVID-19
April 6, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic challenges both global health and religious practice in profound and still evolving ways. Religious institutions, beliefs, leaders, and practices have vital roles to play—positive and less positive—in the ongoing coronavirus crisis and response. This applies equally across all affected countries and communities, though reactions and responses differ quite widely. In this rapidly evolving situation, religious voices should be part of the broad policy exchange, based on an informed and nuanced understanding of developments. This conversation follows an exploratory discussion at the Berkley Center on March 11 that inspired the development of an online resource repository to gather faith responses to COVID-19. The discussion will focus on three broad areas where religious actors have large roles to play: (a) challenges centered on safe religious gatherings and adaptations of rituals, (b) challenges of building trust, including interfaith government/religious relationships, and promoting effective communication, and (c) outreach to vulnerable communities. The event will explore a planned series of meetings focused on specific topics arising from the COVID-19 faith response, and will thus seek inputs and differing perspectives.
Read more about the joint JLI-WFDD-Berkley Center COVID-19 and Faith Initiative here