>>> I FEEL INCREDIBLY SAD BECAUSE SO MANY PATIENTS DIE
WITHOUT HAVING SOMEONE BY THEIR
SIDE.
SIDE. WE HAVE STRICT VISITOR
REQUIREMENTS.
REQUIREMENTS. SO OFTEN A PATIENT WILL BE ON
THEIR DEATH BED DYING ALONE, AND
IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY PAINFUL
TO SEE THE SUFFERING OF FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO I CALL FROM THE ICU,
HEARING THEIR TEARS, CRYING WITH
THEM ON THE PHONE.
>> A NEW YORK DOCTOR NOT ONLY
FIGHTING TO SAVE LIVES BUT ALSO
COMFORTING THOSE MOST AFFECTED
BY THIS CRISIS.
IT IS A ROLE OUR NEXT GUESTS
KNOW VERY WELL.
JOINING US NOW, PASTOR AT
TRINITY GRACE CHURCH TRIBECA IN
NEW YORK CITY, PASTOR MICHAEL
RUZINA, AND REVEREND
IT’S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH.
REVEREND BARBER, I WILL START
WITH YOU.
WITH YOU. THIS IS SO UNPRECEDENTED, THESE
CHALLENGES, THESE TIMES.
WE CANNOT TOUCH.
WE CANNOT REACH SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE DURING THIS CRISIS.
SO IF YOU COULD FACTOR IN FAITH
AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS CRISIS,
REALLY UNABLE TO BE TOGETHER IN
TRADITIONAL WAYS.
TRADITIONAL WAYS. >> AS A PASTOR, THESE ARE VERY
SERIOUS TIMES.
SERIOUS TIMES. WE HAVE A SENIOR CITIZEN COMPLEX
WE’VE HAD TO SECURE.
WE’VE HAD TO OPEN UP OUR
PRESCHOOL FOR HEALTH WORKERS AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THEY ARE
WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK TO
MAKE SURE THAT HEALTH WORKERS,
THAT CHILDREN HAVE CHILD CARE,
AND WE’VE GONE VIRTUAL WHEN IT
COMES TO OUR SERVICE.
BUT THE CHURCH ALSO HAS ANOTHER
ROLE.
ROLE. AND THAT’S TO CHALLENGE THE
SOCIETY TO DO RIGHT BY THE LEAST
OF THESE.
OF THESE. SCRIPTURE SAYS -- WE HAVE TO SAY
IF WE CAN FIND ALL OF THIS MONEY
FOR --
FOR -- WHO DOESN’T HAVE A PERMANENT
ADDRESS, WHO WILL NOT GET ANY OF
THE BENEFITS FROM THE LAST DEAL,
WHO DOES NOT MAKE ENOUGH FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE TO SAY WE CANNOT
LEAVE UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS
OUT --
OUT -- JUST A LITTLE BIT FOR CHILD
CARE.
CARE. WE NEED ABOUT $50 BILLION FOR
CHILD CARE.
CHILD CARE. WE HAVE TO SAY WE --
>> REVEREND BARBER --
>> LIVING WAGES BUT WE HAVE TO
TALK ABOUT THEM AS RIGHT AND
WRONG IN LIFE AND DEATH.
>> THAT’S PERFECT WHATEVER YOU
DID WITH YOUR MICROPHONE.
WILLIE GEIST, TAKE OVER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR
MICROPHONE IS CLEAR AND OPEN AND
CLOSE TO THE TOP OF YOUR SHIRT.
YOU WORK ON THAT.
WILLIE GEIST, TAKE IT.
>> PASTOR, LET ME GO TO YOU HERE
IN NEW YORK CITY AND JUST ASK
YOU ABOUT HOW YOU’RE FILLING
THIS GAP.
THIS GAP. OBVIOUSLY, THE IRONY AND THE
GREAT DILEMMA IS THAT AT A TIME
WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO SORT OF BE
TOGETHER, NEED TO PRACTICE THEIR
FAITH AND NEED TO CONGREGATE IN
YOUR CHURCH, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY
PHYSICALLY CAN’T.
PHYSICALLY CAN’T. SO HOW ARE YOU OVERCOMING THAT,
AND HOW ARE YOU FILLING THAT
VOID IN PEOPLE’S LIVES RIGHT
NOW?
NOW? >> WELL, THIS IS AN
UNPRECEDENTED SET OF
CIRCUMSTANCES FOR FAITH
COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITIES. THE ESSENCE OF OUR OPERATION OF
OUR MISSION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE
AND TO BUILD A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THE MOST
LOVING THING WE CAN DO IS SOCIAL
DISTANCE AND STAY AT HOME.
SO THAT PRESENTS CHALLENGES.
AND IT’S CHALLENGES THAT EXPOSE
SOMETHING ABOUT THE HUMAN
CONDITION THAT CHURCH LEADERS
AND FAITH COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE
ATTENDING TO.
ATTENDING TO. RIGHT NOW I LIVE IN NEW YORK,
AND I’M -- MY EXPERIENCE WITH
OUR CONGREGATION IS THERE’S LIKE
TWO POLES OF EXPERIENCE.
ON THE ONE HAND, YOU HAVE AN
ISOLATING EFFECT.
ISOLATING EFFECT. AND ON THE OTHER A SUFFOCATING
EFFECT.
EFFECT. I’M MARRIED.
I’M MARRIED. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN.
AND WE ARE CRAMPED IN A
TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT IN LOWER
MANHATTAN RIGHT NOW.
WHAT YOU ARE WITNESSING BEHIND
ME IS A MINOR MIRACLE OF
SERENITY.
SERENITY. AND WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS WE NEED
TO SORT OF -- WE NEED TO ATTEND
TO THE HUMAN PSYCHE RIGHT NOW.
OF COURSE, AS REVEREND BARBER
MENTIONED, WE HAVE JUSTICE
ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
FROM A FAITH PERSPECTIVE, BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO CARE FOR PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFOCATING RIGHT
NOW ARE AWAKENING TO SOME OF THE
GREAT PRACTICES IN OUR TRADITION
LIKE SILENCE AND STILLNESS AND
SOLITUDE AND THE CHURCH CAN STEP
IN AND FILL A VACUUM AND A
MUCH -- A GREAT NEED THERE.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ISOLATED, I
THINK WE’RE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE
WAYS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS WHERE
PEOPLE CAN BE VULNERABLE AND
PROCESS HOW THEY’RE DOING AND
FEEL A SENSE OF SUPPORT SO WE
CAN SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER IN
THIS TIME.
THIS TIME. >> PASTOR, THE CHURCH,
OBVIOUSLY, PLAYS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT PART FOR THE POOR IN
THIS COUNTRY AND THE POOR AROUND
THE WORLD IN MAKING THEIR LIVES
BETTER.
BETTER. WE THINK ABOUT THE HOMELESS AT A
TIME LIKE THIS.
WE THINK ABOUT SOUP KITCHENS
THAT ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE THE
VOLUNTEERS CAN’T COME AND BE IN
THE PHYSICAL SPACE.
WHAT CAN THE CHURCH DO IN A TIME
WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING TOLD THE
BEST THING TO DO IS TO STAY
INSIDE, ABOUT HELPING THOSE
VULNERABLE PEOPLE?
VULNERABLE PEOPLE? >> SO OUR CHURCH, LIKE MANY
OTHER CHURCHES AND FAITH
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
HAVE PARTNERS.
HAVE PARTNERS. PARTNERS LIKE THE BOWERY MISSION
OR HOUSE ON BEAKMAN IN THE BRONX
WHO ARE WORK WITH THE HOMELESS
AND TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.
WE’VE BEEN IN HIGH COMMUNICATION
WITH THEM, NOT ONLY FOR FUNDING.
WE STARTED A CORONA RELIEF FUND.
AND THAT’S ALSO, YOU KNOW, ONE
OF THE GREAT BEAUTIES OF THE
FAITH COMMUNITY.
FAITH COMMUNITY. WE STEP INTO A MOMENT NOW.
WE’RE DOING DIGITAL GATHERINGS
SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL CONNECTED AND
IN A CHAOTIC MOMENT, CENTER
THEMSELVES IN RITUALS THAT
MATTER AND STORIES AND SYMBOLS
THAT GIVE THEM MEANING AND
STABILITY.
STABILITY. WE STARTED A THING CALLED
DIGITAL CHURCH.NYC SO PEOPLE
COULD WORSHIP WITH THEIR
COMMUNITY AND CONNECT.
WE’RE DOING A THING ON ZOOM
CALLED THE EIGHTS.
I HEARD ZOOM IS WORTH MORE THAN
MARRIOTT WHICH IS FASCINATING.
BUT 8:00 A.M. AND 8:00 P.M., WE
HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONNECTING
AND FIELDING NEEDS AND MAKING
SURE WE’RE TAKING CARE OF EACH
OTHER.
OTHER. IT’S LIKE THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS
TO BE DOING STUFF BUT OUR MEDIUM
SIZED COMMUNITIES CAN STEP INTO
A SPACE THAT REALLY MATTERS.
OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE
EXHAUSTED, AND THIS IS NOT A
RACE.
RACE. THIS IS NOT A SPRINT.
THIS IS A MARATHON AND WE NEED
TO BE PREPARING FOR ONGOING
CARE, NOT ONLY FOR OUR MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE EXHAUSTED,
BUT ALSO FOR OUR PARISHIONERS
WHO FACE THE ANXIETY OF THIS
MOMENT.
MOMENT. >> I THINK WE’VE GOT THE
CONNECTION FIXED WITH REVEREND
BARBER AND JON MEACHAM HAS A
QUESTION.
QUESTION. >> REVEREND, THE CHURCH I COME
OUT OF, THE ANGLICAN WORNGS HAS
A GREAT TRADITION OF MORNING
PRAYER, EVENING PRAYER, WHERE
C.S. LEWIS ENJOINED US TO SAY
THE WORDS EVEN IF WE DON’T FEEL
IT BECAUSE AT SOME POINT YOU
MIGHT.
MIGHT. I’M WONDERING WHAT YOU -- ARE
THERE ANY SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES,
ANY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE THAT YOU
WOULD RECOMMEND TO FOLKS?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY THE CHURCH
ALWAYS HAS TO BE PASTORAL AND
PROPHETIC.
PROPHETIC. AND SO WHILE WE ENGAGE OUR
TRADITIONS, OUR PASTORAL
TRADITIONS OF CALLING PEOPLE TO
PRAYER, ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS THE CHURCH CAN
DO IN THIS MOMENT TO GIVE PEOPLE
HOPE IS TO BE PROPHETIC.
TO HONOR WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT
TELLING NATIONS THAT HOW YOU
TREAT THE LEAST OF THESE IS HOW
A NATION IS DELIVERED.
.
. SO WE SHOULD BE CHALLENGING THE
GOVERNMENT.
GOVERNMENT. WE SHOULD BE SAYING, LISTEN, YOU
CAN’T FORGET THE POOR.
THE 140 MILLION POOR.
LIKE LEOLA.
LIKE LEOLA. THREE CHILDREN.
THREE CHILDREN. SHE WON’T GET ANY OF THIS
BENEFIT.
BENEFIT. YOU HAVE TO SAY GO BACK AND
INCLUDE LOLA.
INCLUDE LOLA. INCLUDE THE UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS.
WORKERS. PUT ENOUGH MONEY IN THERE FOR
CHILD CARE, FOR THE -- FOR ALL
OF THOSE WHO NEED IT.
BE REMINDED THAT $1200 IS NOT
ENOUGH FOR POOR PEOPLE.
IT’S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
WE HAVE TO REMIND THIS COUNTRY
THAT 700 PEOPLE WERE DYING A DAY
ALREADY FROM POVERTY BEFORE THIS
HAPPENED.
HAPPENED. NOW IS THAT THE CHURCH’S ROLE?
YES, BECAUSE THIS IS LENT.
THIS IS THE SEASON OF
REPENTANCE.
REPENTANCE. THE BIBLE GIVES US A CLEAR WAY
OUT OF THIS.
IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY
MY NAME WOULD HUMBLE THEMSELVES.
THAT MEANS YOU CAN’T BE A
NARCISSIST, AND WILL TURN FROM
THEIR EVIL WAYS.
THE BIBLE SUGGESTS NOT CARING
FOR POOR PEOPLE AND THE LEAST OF
THESE IS EVIL.
TURN FROM THAT.
TURN FROM NOT JUST THE
CORPORATIONS AND THEN GOD WILL
HEAL THE LAND.
THE LAND WILL BE HEALED --
AND THE CHURCH HAS A ROLE.
YES, TO TAKE CARE OF THE SICK,
YES, TO FEED PEOPLE, BUT ALSO --
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY. REVEREND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
WILLIAM BARBER AND PASTOR
MICHAEL RUSINA.
MICHAEL RUSINA. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
ONE LAST STORY BEFORE WE CLOSE.
AS IT APPLIES TO THE SHORTAGE OF
CRITICAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND
THAT SHORTFALL GROWS NATIONWIDE,
"THE WASHINGTON POST" REPORTS
NEARLY 1.5 MILLION N95 MASKS ARE
SITTING UNUSED IN A U.S.
GOVERNMENT WAREHOUSE IN INDIANA
ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE SOURCES.
THE EMERGENCY STOCKPILE IS BEING
HELD BY THE U.S. CUSTOMS AND
BORDER PROTECTION AND HAS NOT
BEEN USED BECAUSE THEY ARE PAST
THEIR EXPIRATION DATE.
THIS COMES DESPITE THE CDC’S
GUIDELINES THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED
THAT STATES IT IS, IN FACT, SAFE
TO USE THE EXPIRED MASKS DURING
THIS OUTBREAK.
THIS OUTBREAK. THE POST REPORTS DHS OFFICIALS
DECIDED TO OFFER THE RESPIRATOR
MASKS TO THE TSA WHOSE WORKFORCE
HAS BEEN CLAMORING FOR MORE
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO
PLANS TO OFFER THE MASKS TO
HARD-HIT HOSPITALS OR HAND THEM
OVER TO FEMA.
WE HAVE A HUGE SITUATION,
WILLIE, WITH THE HOSPITALS.
SO FINAL THOUGHTS FROM WILLIE
GEIST AND JON MEACHAM?
IN LIGHT OF OUR LAST SEGMENT,
I’M PRAYING FOR THE PRESIDENT.
I’M PRAYING FOR HIS TEAM, THE
REALITY FROM THE FRONT LINES IS
BAD.
BAD. THE DATA FROM JOHNS HOPKINS
SHOWS AMERICA IS FARING BADLY
AND THE TESTING IS NOT EVEN
CLOSE TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
SO I’M PRAYING THAT THEY ALL GET
ON THE SAME PAGE.
WILLIE?
WILLIE? >> AND I WOULD JUST SAY BRIEFLY,
JON MEACHAM, THAT THE
CONFIRMATION THIS MORNING FROM
PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON
THAT HE, IN FARKTSCT, HAS TESTED
POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS SHOWS
YOU HOW QUICKLY THIS MOVES, HOW
QUICKLY THINGS CHANGE.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO HE WAS,
LET’S SAY, LESS THAN CONCERNED
ABOUT IT IN HIS COUNTRY AND NOW
HE HAS CONTRACTED CORONAVIRUS.
>> JON MEACHAM?
>> AND THE AMERICAN -- LOOK,
AMERICA BENEFITS FROM THE FACT
THAT WE’RE THE FULLEST
MANIFESTATION OF THE
ENLIGHTENMENT AND OF REASON AND
OF FACT AND LET’S FOLLOW REASON
AND FACT, NOT IDEOLOGY.