CTC Special One Day Annual Conference Meeting Postponed Until Fall 2020
New date tentatively set for Oct. 19 at White’s Chapel UMC
July 9, 2020
The Central Texas Conference leadership along with the lay and clergy leaders of White’s Chapel and the Annual Conference Planning Task Force have been closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation for several months with every intention of coming together for an abbreviated One Day Annual Conference on Aug. 10. However, due to the continued escalation in positive COVID-19 cases in Tarrant County (particularly the DFW area), it has become apparent to both the White’s Chapel team and conference leadership that it is unwise and unsafe to hold a large, in-person meeting at this time. While there is some vital business of the conference to which we must attend, including the commissioning and ordination of clergy, the health and safety of the clergy and lay members of Annual Conference, our volunteers, guests and the staffs of the conference and White’s Chapel take precedence. As such, Bishop Lowry has announced that the Central Texas Conference will postpone its annual meeting scheduled for Aug. 10 and has tentatively set Oct. 19 at White’s Chapel UMC as the new date.
Does this affect the schedules for District Conferences and other meetings?
District Conference schedules will be altered due to the postponement of AC20. At this time, dates and times for the District Conferences are not available. Please watch your email and the conference website (ctcumc.org/AC20-DistrictMeetings) for updates, which are expected in early August. The annual meetings of the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members, the Orders of Deacons & Elders and the Board of Ministry, which were schedule to meet via Zoom on Aug. 11, have been tentatively rescheduled for Oct. 20. Time and date updates for these meetings will be posted on ctcumc.org/AC20-Meetings as they are available.
Why not just convene the annual meeting online?
Many across the conference have requested an “online only” meeting of the Annual Conference in response to the ongoing and continually changing COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Conference leadership in consultation with the Central Texas Conference Chancellor and Parliamentarian have determined that the Guidelines and Best Practices of the Conference do not currently allow for an online only meeting of the Annual Conference.
If you have already registered for the Aug. 10 meeting and plan to attend the rescheduled meeting this fall, there is no need to re-register. However, if you did register and are unable to attend the meeting in October, please let conference organizers know by emailing ac@ctcumc.org and contact your District Superintendent so that arrangements may be made to secure an alternate.
Please continue to watch ctcumc.org/AC20-onedayconference for the latest updates and information.