Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

Friday, July 8, 2022

United Church of God Pastors Retreat and Summer Camp For Teens Shut Down Due To Rampant COVID Infections

 


COVID infections hit over half of the pastors at a pastors retreat and half of the campers at Camp Pinecrest were infected. I am shocked they did not declare this the work of Satan.

July 7, 2022 
 
Both teen and pre-teen camps have been held, and a retreat was held for the pastors in the Northwest region. 
 
While the first camps of the year were successful and a joy for everyone, COVID-19 has “reared its head” and was disruptive at our Northwest pastoral retreat, where more than half of those who attended came down with COVID-19 (all cases were comparatively mild and everyone is recovering well), and at Camp Pinecrest which began just this past Sunday. 
 
Let me explain what has happened and why the decision was made to close Camp Pinecrest when a few campers came down with COVID-19. 
 
The staff did their very best to ensure no one had COVID-19 upon arrival at camp. But, despite following many protocols, the virus showed up just two days into the camp. 
 
Without going into unnecessary detail, suffice it to say that no one should ever question our love and desire to serve and provide for our children in the United Church of God. In fact, it is the safety of our children that has always been the number one principle stressed going back to the inception of the United Church of God and the United Youth Camps program in 1995. 
 
You may recall that we had an outbreak of COVID-19 at Pinecrest last year, and we did our best to plan in advance for that possibility this year, coming up with an extensive plan and policy developed with input from the Council of Elders, administration and the camp directors in an attempt to minimize the spread of COVID-19 at future camps. 
 
The reason we needed to close Pinecrest this year is because we are bound to follow the current COVID-19 plan and policy that is in place. And here is the directive from the plan that led to the very difficult decision that had to be made to shut down Pinecrest when we did: 
 
CAMP SHUTDOWN DIRECTIVE & CONTAINMENT PLAN: If a COVID test is positive, or other highly infectious disease is found at camp, the sick camper or staffer must be kept isolated and sent home as soon as reasonably convenient—the sooner the better. The Camp Director must both call and email the parent of this situation. If it is demonstrated that the sick camper or staffer was around only a small identifiable group, then that exposed group must be immediately isolated and tested. If any camper or staff in that group also tests positive, closure of the camp is to be considered after consultation with the Camp Director, the Camp Nurse, the overall UYC coordinator, the MMS director and, if possible, a consulting MD. 
 
However, if a member outside that small group also tests positive for COVID, or any other similar infectious disease, it is to be presumed that there has been a widespread exposure to the contagion and the camp must be closed (shut down) and all campers and staff sent home. IN ADDITION if a person has generally mingled with other campers and staff (prior to isolation, testing and identified as having COVID, or another infectious disease), then that camp must be immediately closed down and all campers and staff sent home. 
 
All parents of campers must be notified by a phone call and/or an email that a COVID case (or other infectious disease) has arisen at camp and directed to pick-up their child as soon as possible. Parents will be advised to quarantine that child and have him/her tested upon arrival home. 
 
The evening before a camper at Pinecrest tested positive for COVID-19, a camp dance was held. There was, of course, significant interaction then, not to mention all the group meals, Christian Living classes and camp activities that are scheduled every day. Clearly the infected person “generally mingled with other campers.” Also, an additional person tested positive for the virus in the same dorm as the infected camper. 
 
Based on our very recent experience at the pastoral retreat in the northwest, there was concern that many more would be infected with the virus and that the prudent and right thing to do under the circumstances was to comply with established policy in an effort to minimize the spread and its impact on our campers, staff, families, and even local churches. 
 
Knowing how much our teens love camp and how much we love to provide camp for them, this was a difficult decision to make from every perspective. But we had a plan in place that all agreed upon, and we had to follow it. 
 
Given the current condition of COVID-19 infection, which seems to be milder than last year, we will be discussing this policy with camp directors and administration during the upcoming week to determine whether revisions are necessary. We will communicate with parents and staff once those discussions are held and any decisions are made. 
 
We are so very sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment that the closure of Camp Pinecrest has caused. Please be assured we will be reviewing everything in order to prevent, to the best of our ability, such inconveniences in the future. 
 
Please keep all of God’s people in your prayers. He is our Guide, Shield, Protector and Sustainer. Ask Him to watch over every gathering of His people, including every camp, and to shield us from this virus and any other sickness or problem that might affect our gatherings. 
 
And please keep the families and local congregations that have lost pastors, elders, and loved ones in your prayers. Our God is the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 
 
Take care, brethren, and have a restful, inspiring and uplifting Sabbath!

Mark Welch

7 comments:

  1. The current variant of Covid is very contagious, but fortunately not as deadly.
    We had planned a family vacation, then Covid struck.
    If being vaccinated helped, then maybe that explains why I got it last.
    We are all in various stages of recovery, and only the youngest barely had it.
    A lot of people have returned to group gatherings with predictable results.

    Will any in the COGS realize they are no more protected than anyone else?
    Since they claim to believe the inerrancy of scripture, they should take to heart the proverb that the wise man foresees the evil and hides himself.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Once again the scamedemic is still riding the news. As we draw closer to Fall, the flu season will once again be called a pandemic. My advice to all that happen to read this post is to begin taking Vit.D-3 now in order to build up your system. I take 5,000 units every time I sense a cold or flu coming on, and I can truly say that I haven't had a cold nor flu in over ten years.

    It is truly a blessing to me at least, not to suffer with this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After what our household's been through with COVID19, Sweetblood, I can honestly tell you to stick that "scamdemic" bullshit way up your ass.

      Delete
  3. According to the report , no cases of STDs or Pregnancies, which is good news!

    ReplyDelete

  4. Mark Welch concludes his memo with saying: "...We are so very sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment that the closure of Camp Pinecrest has caused. Please be assured we will be reviewing everything in order to prevent, to the best of our ability, such inconveniences in the future.

    Please keep all of God’s people in your prayers. He is our Guide, Shield, Protector and Sustainer. Ask Him to watch over every gathering of His people, including every camp, and to shield us from this virus and any other sickness or problem that might affect our gatherings.

    And please keep the families and local congregations that have lost pastors, elders, and loved ones in your prayers. Our God is the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)..."
    ******
    Just some food for thought, today...

    Lost pastors? How lost? Did they leave and go elsewhere? What happened? Why? Time and chance? How do pastors and elders get lost? Is it just the ones who left their ministerial credentials of the former WCG organization in Pasadena behind? (sort of like losing their identity?)

    But, if lost/deceased pastors and elders, then, well, that would be lots of families if go back over the history of United Ass. since 1995!

    Again, what happened? Why? Time and chance? Let's assume that all of the best precautions were taken by the United Ass. leaders to make sure all would be safe at camp, then are we to assume that the prayers of the brethren were either ineffective, or too late?

    A lot of parents spent lots of time traveling long distances and money on gas and lodging to get their kids to what was assumed to be something so highly prepared with protection that there would be no problems to be encountered.

    Actually, I believe all parents involved were probably doing the best they could, praying also, so maybe it was just a case of Jobitis: "When I looked for good, then evil came [unto me]: and when I waited for light, there came darkness." Job 30:26

    Lost pastors, elders, etc.? If they had anything to do with God's Church, then what's the problem? How could one become "lost?"

    Here is some of Jesus' words for His future Church:

    "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." John 17:12

    And that means even if they "go to sleep!"

    Those of God's Church are not immune from what goes on in this world:

    "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." John 17:15

    Were all protected and kept from the evil? The evil one?

    Those of God's Church will not be immune from tribulation! We all go through tribulation and it's been that way since the Garden of Eden when that "beast" was introduced!

    "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:3

    We are all going to be part of the examples to others later of what it was like living in tribulation, to one degree or another, while Satan reigned on earth, because good fruit does not come from an evil "tree."

    Is God "our Guide, Shield, Protector and Sustainer?" How does that all work out? Who's in charge? Can people somehow pray and persuade God and force Him to do things "their will?" Or, may it really be: "Thy will be done?"

    Time will tell...


    John

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sweetblood, good advice. Is Dr. Bob your supplier? Don't forget to load up on selenium and zinc!

    ReplyDelete
  6. There is no courage in the fearful UCG. Apparently some California congregations went back to zoom-only this past week. This goes back to last year when Kubik was so concerned about "safety" "safety" and "safety" with nary a mention about faith and courage. Look at Monson's CGA. They just concluded their 2nd straight year of youth camp (3rd straight if you count Monson courageously conducting a covid-less camp in 2020). UCG, on the other hand, last year warned everyone that the Feast might get cancelled, and one of them was cancelled, mid-way through. So, God commands an assembly, and tells us hundreds of times not to be afraid, yet the leaders say "No! We're terrified some might get sick!" Cancel everything! Maybe it is reckless to continue to assemble. Yet, Christianity has often been reckless -- obedience no matter what. Even so, CGA has had very little covid, arguably because they assemble and their immune systems are well-exercised. Either that, or God has chosen to bless them and curse the other groups. . .

    ReplyDelete