The Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has asked for the postponement of the 2020 General Conference, set to begin in six weeks, because of the new Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic.
In a letter to Kim Simpson, Chairperson of Commission on the General Conference and Rev. Gary W. Graves, Secretary of the General Conference, the bishops cited travel restrictions to the US and possibility of potential spread of the virus and quarantine as the main reasons for seeking the postponement.
Read the Council of Bishops press release or UM News Story
Note: The Council of Bishops sent this request to the Commission on the General Conference, but the Commission has not yet responded to the request. A final decision has not been announced. Information about United Methodist responses to the Coronavirus pandemic are coming quickly and changing regularly. The final decision will be posted when it is announced.