The Alabama-West Florida Conference has released a revised date for all conference- and district-related gatherings in the bounds of the conference. To comply with the recommendation of President Trump, all in-person worship and church meetings are not to be held through April 30, 2020. The bishop, cabinet and leadership team will continue to assess when churches may gather again. Should you have any questions on this new date, please contact your district superintendent.
The 2020 session of Annual Conference, scheduled for June 7-9 in Montgomery, AL, at Frazer Memorial UMC, has been postponed due to the coronavirus. A new date has not been set but conference leadership is hoping to reschedule for late summer or early fall. “Although meeting capacity guidance has not yet been provided past April 30, it is evident that large groups will not be able to safely gather anytime soon,” stated Bishop David Graves. “We are in unprecedented times and are all assessing rapidly changing information by the hour. The length of annual conference will be significantly reduced in order to be good stewards of our limited funds. Many ministries and agencies who usually give reports will need to be prepared to provide a written update for our annual Book of Reports. We know this is unlike any previous annual conference and appreciate the grace we will all need to move forward in a different way. What I look forward to most is seeing our clergy and laity in person, who have lived into being adaptive leaders during this global crisis.”
Information such as a revised working agenda; previously scheduled health screenings; and details on specific celebration and remembrance services will be released when alternative plans are made.
Clergy appointments will continue to follow the previously announced timeline and are still effective July 1. Should moving restrictions or complications occur in a specific case, the district superintendent will advise the pastors and churches based on the situation.
“My prayers continue with you daily,” said Bishop Graves. “In my lifetime I have never encountered an illness that was as far reaching and life changing as COVID-19. Together, we will get through this with God’s help and care for one another.”
Up-to-date information may be found at www.awfumc.org.