Postponed 2020 General Conference 

Currently, the postponed 2020 General Conference is set for August 29 - September 6, 2022. Whether General Conference can go forward next year as scheduled remains a big question mark. With the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus surging around the globe, some governments are reinstating lockdowns, and many travel restrictions to the U.S. remain in place. Vaccination efforts also face plenty of obstacles.

However, organizers of The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly continue to move forward with plans. (Read article here)

In the meantime, the leadership of the South Georgia Annual Conference wants the clergy and laity of South Georgia to feel informed and “in the loop” around denominational matters as they relate to the upcoming General Conference Session. 

Conference leadership feels like it is prudent to prepare, while at the same time prayerfully allowing time for the legislative process to unfold. As we prepare for General Conference and the outcome of the conference, we offer the following avenues to help educate clergy and laity of the South Georgia Conference:

• Video: This video gives an overview of General Conference and discusses one of the plans that will be before the delegates, known as a Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.
• FAQ's: Conference leaders have created a Frequently Asked Questions document to help address those questions and help better inform Conference members.
• Informational Gatherings: The Leadership Task Force is offering localized informational gatherings at the district level. Those interested should contact their district office, Jay Hanson (jay@thechapelministries.com), or Kelly Roberson (kelly@sgaumc.com) to request a gathering. Together they will help coordinate meetings in the districts.
• Navigators: Navigators are trained facilitators who can help your congregation navigate a process of making decisions around denominational matters. Click here to learn more.

General Conference now set for August 29 - September 6, 2022

Meeting on February 20, the Commission on the General Conference made a decision to further postpone the 2020 General Conference until August 29 – September 6, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minn. as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the safety of mass gatherings and travel.

It is the Commission’s responsibility to select the site and set the dates of General Conference. Further, the Book of Discipline requires the Commission on the General Conference to "take necessary measures to assure full participation of all General Conference delegates." The Commission concluded that mandate was not achievable by means of either an in-person meeting in 2021 or a virtual meeting.

In making the decision, the Commission determined that it was not feasible to safely hold an in-person meeting involving all delegates as currently scheduled for August 29 - September 7, 2021 due to a number of barriers:
 

• The number of COVID cases continues to rise, with nearly 2.49 million confirmed cases the week of February 15.
• Vaccine is not expected to be widely available this year in many countries, and new variants of the virus which may be resistant to vaccines are emerging globally.
• International travelers to the U.S. must show proof of negative COVID-19 test results no more than three days prior to travel, but in many places, testing is not readily available or provided free of charge. 
• Visa services remain limited in some areas.

There also remains the possibility that a temporary six-month visa bond program which requires bonds of $5,000 - $15,000 per person for residents of some countries could cost up to $2.5 million in bonds for affected delegates if the program should be extended beyond June.

The Commission’s decision was informed by the report of the Technology Study Team appointed to explore the implications of options for accommodating full participation at General Conference, including but not limited to the possibility of utilizing technology and online voting, in considering whether the meeting should be held virtually.

According to their report, “The study team considered a number of challenges and implications, including how to keep participants safe, providing for global participation, safeguarding the integrity of the voting and credentialing process, and meeting legal requirements …”

The Technology Study Team analyzed a variety of options, including an entirely electronic General Conference with participation from individual locations; an entirely electronic General Conference with delegates gathering at regional satellite hubs; and two sessions, with the first part being electronic and the second part in-person when it is safe to convene. None of these options were determined by the study team to be viable. 

The study team did find that a more traditional method—utilizing mail ballots to vote on emergency actions—could help The United Methodist Church to address important, urgent matters through the General Conference. Their report recommended utilizing mail ballots for making a limited number of “Emergency Interim Actions” on which the General Conference delegates would indicate a yes or no vote for each item. 

“The Commission shared the study team’s findings and recommendations with the officers of the Council of Bishops in a collaborative effort to jointly explore how this alternative might be utilized to address critical matters until an in person gathering of delegates can be safely convened next year,” said commission chair Kim Simpson.

Some of the concerns mentioned in the report regarding having a virtual session include:

• Lack of infrastructure in some areas, including Internet access, Internet speed, and electricity
• Lack of technology for equitable Holy Conferencing
• Complexity of the legislative committee process
• Concerns about accurate credentialing and verification of identity
• Difficulties in seating reserve delegates properly
• Security of voting
• Safety concerns about regional satellite gatherings

Simpson said the August-September dates in 2022 will mean that General Conference will be one day shorter than planned for 2021; however, these dates were the only option available. Simpson said that the Commission regrets the fact that these dates once again conflict with the start of the academic year in the U.S. which a group of young adults had asked the Commission to avoid, but there were no other dates available.