What churches and temples can do

See also What Can I Do About Y2K?
and Y2K Questions for Campaigning Politicians and Elected Government Officials

One needs to think not only about survival, but survival of what.
- Mary Catherine Bateson

A church, temple or faith community could:

Find out what their town is doing in preparation for Y2K -- electrical power, water treatment, sewage, police service, ambulance services, etc.
Organize to educate their local government about Y2K concerns.
Organize to help members copy essential papers p; bank statements, mortgages, wills, etc. p; notarize them and keep the copies at home and at the home of another church members. And groups of church members could arrange for safe deposit boxes at various banks to hold the original documents. Maybe a member can become a notary to help with this process.
Organize to make sure that elderly members have adequate plans for staying warm in the winter if the heat were to go off.
Organize to make sure that all members who require special medications have an extra month of their prescription medicine available in their homes by 11/99.
Learn about how to stay warm in the winter from members who are knowledgeable about winter camping.
Devise a plan for checking in with each other and sharing news in the event of serious disruption of services.

The above list is from a sermon by Rev. Dacia Reid. To it I would like to add several more.

Put political pressure on politicians to address the Y2K needs of local communities.
Speak out in the official channels of one's denomination to expand the Y2K responses of its higher offices and broader congregation.
Take care of the emotional needs of members of the congregation as they come to terms with the implications of Y2K.
Plan for water, food and safety of all members of the congregation, for at least 2 weeks-2 months.
Discuss how the health and security of each member is connected to the health and security of their physical neighbors. Explore the practical and ethical questions of individual welfare in a world of suffering and need, and the role of simplicity, service, justice, and privilege.
Link up with other faith communties to care for the welfare of less advantaged members of the broader community, particularly those who have been abused by the society in the past.
Explore what it is about our culture that led to this happening to us -- all the many dimensions of that -- and what we might change in our lives, communities and larger society to become more healthy and resilient over the long-term.
Notice the richness that comes from collaborative work for the common good. Wonder why it is that we do so little of it, and how we might sustain doing more of it in the future, when things are better and it seems less compelling.

I expect that dozens of more items could be added to these lists. Please send any you can think of to cii@igc.apc.org.

See also