Crisis Preparation and Response Plan

In case of a crisis in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference:

CRISIS PREPARATION FOR CHURCHES

Be Prepared for a Crisis

• Not if, but when – A crisis can happen anytime, anywhere.  It is therefore important to have an action plan in place before a crisis happens.  The time to begin planning and practicing for a crisis is before it happens, before the emotion, stress, and tension of the event strike.
• ACTION REQUIRED: Church Database Administrators should enter emergency contact information in the Connection Database/ Church Profile/ Disaster Response Tab.  This will help Conference leaders know who to contact in case of an emergency and what facilities your church has in case of a community crisis or disaster.
• In a crisis, time is critical – In the event of a crisis:
• Contact your District Superintendent as soon as possible
• In the absence of the superintendent, contact 1) the Dean of the Cabinet, or 2) the Bishop’s Office.
• What is a crisis? – A crisis can be an event or emergency associated in some way with the Church but beyond its control, wherein there is potential for damage to individuals or to the image of the Church and its ability to be in ministry and which we might expect to become public.  Types of Crisis:
• Natural disaster (flood, tornado, earthquake)
• Criminal or legal action (recognized crimes or accusation of crimes)
• Violent or criminal acts, demonstrations, death, or violent injuries (action by or to a clergy or lay person; incident in a local church, district, or related institution; incident involving United Methodists which may or may not be church-related; community crisis)
• Personnel crisis (clergy or other staff misconduct; suits against the Conference, a Conference institution, agency, or church; death, illness, or injury to a pastor or member of a pastor’s family)
• Positive crisis (event or ministry draws unanticipated response, such as many more people than expected to attend, or donations exceed what can be easily handled)
• Perceived crisis (anticipation of something happening which may or may not be based upon factual information or probability)

How to respond to a crisis:

• Pastor, staff, or lay person will contact the District Superintendent for their district.
• The District Superintendent will contact the Bishop and other key conference and denominational staff to support the local church in Crisis Management.

District Office Contact Information:

CENTRAL DISTRICT
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. William Gary George
District Resource Assistant: 
2101 Belmont Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Telephone: (215)878-4607
Fax: (215)878-4623
Email:  williamgary.george@epaumc.org

EAST DISTRICT
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Dorothy Watson Tatem
District Resource Assistant: Clarita Anderman Krall
3470 Huntingdon Pike
Huntingdon Valley PA 19006
Telephone: 215-914-2130
Fax: 215-914-2132
Email: clarita.krall@epaumc.org or dorothy.watsontatem@epaumc.org
Website 

NORTHEAST DISTRICT
District Superintendent: Rev. Bronwyn E. Yocum
District Resource Assistant: Sheila Hyun
2336 S. 9th Street, Unit 3
Allentown, PA 18103-0187
Telephone: 610-395-6661
Fax: 610-395-5117
Email: sheila.hyun@epaumc.org or bronwyn.yocum@epaumc.org
Website

NORTHWEST DISTRICT
District Superintendent: Rev. Robert Wilt, Jr.
District Resource Assistant: Christine Eddy
330 W. Market Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
Telephone: 570-624-1471
Fax: 570-624-1626
Email: christine.eddy@epaumc.org or robert.wilt@epaumc.org

SOUTHEAST DISTRICT
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Christopher Kurien
District Resource Assistant: Lin George
60 W. Boot Road
West Chester, PA 19380
Telephone: 610-436-4277
Fax: 610-431-4715
Email: lin.george@epaumc.org or christopher.kurien@epaumc.org

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT
District Superintendent: Rev. James Todd
District Resource Assistant: Mary Ann Unangst
Physical Address: Bird-in-Hand United Methodist Church, 2nd floor
2620 Old Philadelphia Pike
Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 271
Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505-0271
Phone: 717-569-9673
Fax: 717-569-2038
email: maryann.unangst@epaumc.org or jim.todd@epaumc.org
Website