The disruption wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic has been the greatest global upheaval since the Second World War. All sectors have been forced to recalibrate their practices, including churches. Although practical concerns around worship, pastoral care, and missional activities have required extensive thought, considered theological reflection is also called for. In a context often resistant to change, theologically informed adaptation is critical, countering the temptation to prioritise mere functionality. In the past, the best Christian responses to pandemics have discerned them as ‘vocational moments’, kairos times where the faith’s longstanding theological commitments were brought to bear in faithful practice. This article promotes a ‘gentle witness’ as one possible way the church might construe a response. As the prevailing mood is one of fear, isolation, loneliness, separation, a witness that comes alongside in loving presence, lament, solidarity, and care for Jesus’ sake, incorporating a public face, commends itself as an appropriate ‘way’ for a public-facing church.

Covid-19 大流行造成的破坏是自第二次世界大战以来最大的全球动荡。所有部门都被迫重新调整他们的做法，包括教堂。尽管对敬拜、教牧关怀和传教活动的实际关注需要广泛思考，但也需要经过深思熟虑的神学反思。在经常抵制变化的环境中，有神学依据的适应是至关重要的，可以抵制将功能放在首位的诱惑。在过去，基督教对流行病的最佳反应将它们视为“职业时刻”，凯罗斯信仰的长期神学承诺在忠实实践中得到体现的时代。这篇文章提倡“温柔的见证”作为教会解释回应的一种可能方式。由于普遍的情绪是一种恐惧、孤立、孤独、分离，一个见证伴随着慈爱的存在、哀叹、团结和为耶稣的缘故而出现的见证，结合公众的面孔，自称是一种适当的“方式”面向公众的教堂。