Bishops of the United Methodist Church have released a letter calling for the quadrennial meeting of the denomination’s governing body, General Conference, to be postponed due to the spread of the Coronavirus.
“Newly imposed international travel restrictions to the US are making it more difficult for our Central Conference delegates,” Council of Bishops President Ken Carter of Florida and President-Designate Cynthia Fierro Harvey of Louisiana wrote. “Consideration must also be given to the grave risk resulting from international travel and meeting in a very large gathering with the potential spread of the virus when we are together. We note the possibility that a large group infection may result in a quarantine.”
The call comes amidst a series of closures unfolding in rapid succession, beginning with the shuttering of a Washington, D.C. Episcopal church on Monday where the Rev. Timothy Cole came down with the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the District of Columbia.
The closure of Christ Church Episcopal in Georgetown, where the church organist was also diagnosed with the virus, soon led to cancellation of public worship in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, including the Washington National Cathedral and neighboring Diocese of Virginia. According to NBC News, the church organist played at the chapel of the Virginia Theological Seminary February 26, contributing to further spread of the virus into Alexandria, Virginia.
Elsewhere, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle suspended public celebration of mass and four separate states have announced public school closures to slow the spread of the virus.
Church of the Resurrection, the largest congregation in the United Methodist Church, announced that it is moving to online-only worship in response to the virus. Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton was the keynote speaker at the annual gathering of the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes (CEEP) that took place February 19-22 in Louisville, Kentucky, where Cole was in attendance.
It is unclear if Cole contracted the virus traveling to, amidst, or traveling from the conference. At least four conference participants now have confirmed cases of the disease.
“Simply being at the conference with someone not showing symptoms is not a risk factor,” wrote CEEP Executive Director Joe Swimmer, who shared a statement from DC Health that Cole was asymptomatic during the event.
Another conference participant, Fr. Robert Pace, returned to his Episcopal congregation and came down with symptoms. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Pace has the first known case of coronavirus in Tarrant County, Texas.
The CEEP event brings together more than 500 representatives of some of the wealthiest congregations in the Episcopal Church. A list of the organization’s members is a virtual who’s who of influential, connected Episcopalians. The 2020 conference included presentations from officials with the Episcopal Church’s General Theological Seminary and Trinity Wall Street, the wealthiest church congregation in the entire United States.
Update: UMAction Director and elected General Conference Delegate John Lomperis adds: per Paragraph 511.4 of the Discipline, the 25-member Commission on the General Conference has authority to “select the site and set the dates of the General Conference.” It is likely the Commission’s executive committee will affirm the bishops’ decision, and then the whole commission to affirm that. The Executive Committee of the Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday, March 18.
Comment by PFSchaffner on March 13, 2020 at 3:48 pm
I’m surprised this wasn’t acted on already, considering the international character of the UMC, and the church’s claims to being socially responsible. Our local UMC church (in Michigan) as of this afternoon: “”UPDATE: In accordance with the Governor’s latest executive order we are amending our earlier decision to hold a worship service this Sunday. As of this moment, we will be suspending worship services through April 5th. We will live stream Sundays at 9:00 am…. All other activities, meetings, classes, studies, etc. are suspended until further notice. The church building will be closed, but please call the church office if you need assistance.”
Comment by John Smith on March 16, 2020 at 6:56 am
Does the UMC, especially the GC, ever do anything in an expeditious manner?
Comment by David on March 13, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Various rules may be enacted between now and the GC. New York, for instance, has prohibited gatherings of over 500 persons. No one can say at this point how long the epidemic may last. The situation in Italy looks rather bad.
Comment by Bruce Anderson on March 13, 2020 at 8:47 pm
Conference should go on….as a virtual conference digitally. The issues of the United Methodist church must be resolved.
Comment by Keith Wells on March 14, 2020 at 9:11 am
Why not just have General Conference online. Save a ton of money. It would also eliminate the ugly behavior that so often occurs.
Comment by Thomas A Lambrecht on March 14, 2020 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the idea, Keith. Unfortunately, the rules of General Conference don’t allow for virtual meetings. And the only way to change the rules is for General Conference to meet and do so.
Furthermore, virtual meetings for 862 delegates would not work. The logistics and technical demands would be unreachable for many African and Filipino delegates. It would also be nearly impossible to accommodate the time difference between the Philippines, U.S. and Africa. Some would be meeting in the middle of the night.
It’s an idea that sounds good in theory, but is just not practical.
Comment by John Smith on March 16, 2020 at 7:02 am
The ugly behavior, parliamentary deceit, terrible street theater is the point for a large portion of the delegates.
Also there is a limit to online interaction. Sadly the GC will have to be put off but maybe it will allow for more time to better prepare after the unannounced, unexpected, very late proposal on splitting.
Comment by Rev. Dr. Lee D Cary (ret. UM clergy) on March 14, 2020 at 11:23 am
Cancellation of the 2020 GC is wholly (no pun intended) unnecessary. Here’s an alternative:
1. Each Annual Conference take its own vote on the future of the UMC. Perhaps by a web event.
2.Then, a small but representative delegation from that conference attend a Jurisdictional meeting, If the group is too large, then by another web event. A Jurisdictional decision is made.
3. Each Jurisdiction sends a small but representative delegation to the 2020 GC, or attend via the web, where a decision on the future of the denomination is, finally, made.
This human-sexuality debate become more destructive if a final decision is further delayed. It’s past time to end it.
Comment by Thomas A Lambrecht on March 14, 2020 at 9:49 pm
Sorry, Lee. The General Conference rules don’t allow a procedure such as you suggest. And the only way to change the rules is for General Conference to meet. Obviously, that would defeat the purpose. We’ll just have to be patient and allow this situation to work itself out. It gives more time to prepare for what is coming next.
Comment by John Smith on March 16, 2020 at 6:58 am
While the cancer needs to be cut out now it will probably have to wait. The first, biggest problem with your proposal is you presume travel bans will be lifted rather than extended.
Comment by CHARLES LANE LANE on March 14, 2020 at 11:55 am
With the technology we have today it should not need to be canceled. As suggested by the Rev. Dr. Cary this could be done
using the internet or perhaps close circuit meetings. This would by pass the travel ban and allow everyone the chance to participate.
Comment by David Miller on March 16, 2020 at 9:01 am
It would be good if Annual Conferences would pledge to first not ordain new gay clergy, and second delay processing any complaints until a General Conference can be held.
Comment by Gary Bebop on March 16, 2020 at 1:03 pm
Let’s hear what Tom Lambrecht has counseled: “be patient and allow the situation to work itself out.” Tom knows what is required now. He’s an insider working diligently for the church; he spans the globe in his conversations, and he knows the rules. He does not talk foolishly in the comment section.
Comment by Tim on March 16, 2020 at 4:02 pm
Comment for Tom Lambrecht is this: Many of the Bishops don’t obey the Book of Discipline now, so why should they over General Conference rules and procedures?
Comment by John Smith on March 17, 2020 at 6:26 am
Because like many such people they use and revere the BOD when it suits them. Should the GC be virtual and not go the way they want it would immediately be challenged as invalid for failure to comply. And don’t forget the UMC long ago made the de facto decision that the Bishops aren’t accountable.
Comment by XUM on March 26, 2020 at 11:03 pm
The revisionists pushing the gay agenda would like nothing better than a GC without those unenlightened Africans.
Racism by any other name would smell as rancid.
Comment by Dan on March 28, 2020 at 6:54 pm
“Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton was the keynote speaker at the annual gathering of the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes (CEEP) that took place February 19-22 in Louisville, Kentucky, where Cole was in attendance.
It is unclear if Cole contracted the virus traveling to, amidst, or traveling from the conference. At least four conference participants now have confirmed cases of the disease.”
UPDATE: Two new cases were announced by CEEP on March 24, in additional to six cases announced on March 14, apparently bringing the total CEEP cases to eight.
https://www.ceepnetwork.org/covid-19/