UPDATED: Pandemic Cancellations of Church Meetings Increase

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UPDATED MARCH 13

The tidal wave of event postponements and cancellations rolled on as COVID-19 cases climbed across the United States. Following are the latest notices received as of March 13. If your conference or event isn't listed here, check local sources for information.

If you or your church leadership are still undecided about the value of cancelling or postponing church gatherings, we urge you to read New York Times' columnist Nicholas Kristof's latest article, and try out the interactive map created with his colleague Stuart A. Thompson. Their chart, prepared with the help of two epidemiologists (specialists in infectious diseases) graphically demonstrates how interventions can lessen the spread and severity of disease.

Cancellations and postponements

Greater Northwest Episcopal Area: In keeping with public officials' ban on community gatherings, Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky announced March 13 that she is "directing churches of any size and other ministries" to suspend services in Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Alaska for the next two weeks.

North Texas Annual Conference: In response to Dallas city and county officials' ban on gatherings of 250 or more people, Bishop Mike McKee asked all United Methodist churches in the most urban Metro and North Central districts to cancel worship for the next two weeks, March 15 and March 22. Churches in less-densely populated districts may gather but should take extra precautions. All people over age 60 or with pre-existing conditions are asked to stay away from church for the next two weeks and worship via online services.

North Carolina Annual Conference and Western North Carolina Annual Conference: According to ABC affiliate Channel 11 in Raleigh, both Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the North Carolina Conference and Bishop Paul Leeland of the Western North Carolina Conference have urged their congregations to suspend public worship services for two weeks. "I urge you to cease public worship and other gatherings in your church through the next two weeks in order to protect your church family and the community in which you live and serve," Bishop Ward was quoted.

Reconciling Ministries Network: RMN encouraged its members to continue meeting "virtually" via online connections rather than in person. "We live in an age of unprecedented creativity and capabilities, and for many of us, connection is possible through a phone call, video-chat, or online forum. Let's continue to connect on social media, through email, and over the phone," the network said in its weekly newsletter Reconciling Recap.

Northern Illinois Conference: Chicago Area Bishop Sally Dyck encouraged churches with 250 people or more in worship to cancel services as requested by the Illinois governor to stem the spread of coronavirus. Updates regarding church meetings and other information are being posted daily at umcnic.org/coronavirusresources. Bishop Dyck said the conference also is preparing resources on how to provide spiritual support for congregations and their neighborhoods during this time of "social distancing" to ward off infection.

Iowa Annual Conference: As with most places where community transmission of the novel coronavirus is happening, the Iowa Annual Conference has decided to cancel or postpone all events scheduled during March and April. “This is an extremely difficult decision,” said Bishop Laurie Haller. “Nevertheless, our concern is first and foremost for the health and wellbeing of the people of the Iowa Conference and others with whom they come into contact." See details on the conference website. 

United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., has cancelled The Art of Hospitality Conference scheduled for April 23-24. The conference has been rescheduled for April 22-23, 2021

Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., "has decided to temporarily close the building for worship and subsequent community gatherings through March 25. Regular Sunday worship will stream online, with Foundry clergy conducting one virtual service at 11:15 a.m. on March 15 and March 22. You are encouraged to participate using the following online platforms:

"Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/FoundryUnitedMethodistChurch/ no login or password required.

"Foundry Website Online: https://foundryumc.churchonline.org/ no login or password required.

"Foundry Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/user85227976 no login or password required."

Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference office "has asked that we do not hold meetings in the conference office for a period of time since it is located in an affected area," said Philadelphia Area Bishop Peggy A. Johnson in a pastoral letter. Churches and groups are advised to "use electronic means in order to hold meetings." In a follow-up email March 13, Bishop Johnson asked churches with 250 or more people in worship, or in locations where COVID-19 has been found, to suspend services for one to two weeks. She gave pastors permission to decide when to suspend services and encouraged the use of live-streaming. 

The Order of Saint Luke cancelled its May Council meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., according to a March 10 announcement from its abbot, the Rev. Elizabeth S. Moore. Rev. Moore said that most of the association’s business would be postponed until its fall retreat except for officer nominations and elections, which will be conducted by email. OSL is an international ecumenical monastic association of lay and clergy women and men concerned with liturgical scholarship and sacramental living. The organization was formerly affiliated with what is now Discipleship Ministries.

United Methodist Association of Communicators will postpone its annual meeting from March 20-21 to sometime during the May 5-15 General Conference, according to a video announcement from UMAC president Mark Doyal, communications director for the Michigan Area of The United Methodist Church. The meeting had been scheduled to take place concurrently with the Religion Communications Congress, a once-a-decade international gathering slated March 18-22 in Arlington, Va. Mr. Doyal said UMAC wasn’t concerned with the possibility of on-site infection but with the potential for exposure during travel, especially for those participants traveling internationally.

Northern Illinois Conference reports it currently plans to go ahead with its annual session June 7-9 in Schaumberg, Ill. However, conference leaders are monitoring the situation and updates will be posted on the conference website.

Religion Communication Congress 2020, a once-in-a-decade event scheduled to be held in Arlington, Va., on March 17- 21 was cancelled on March 11. A statement on the RC Congress website reads:

“The uncertain forecast concerning the spread of the coronavirus made it important for us to consider the well-being of speakers and participants. With the most recent classification as a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization, we heed the advice of medical experts to avoid participating in large group meetings. After enormous deliberation, the organizers have decided that the health and safety of participants is paramount.”

Following a report of the first COVID-19 cases in its state, the Arkansas Conference has cancelled all future events because of the pandemic. A March 11 notice on the conference website said Arkansas leaders are exploring livestreaming some events in the future.

United Methodist-related Emory University issued a press release March 11 stating it would extend spring break until Sunday, March 22 so that all residential students can vacate their on-campus housing. Students already at home are asked to stay home. The university will begin distance learning on March 23. Read the full press release.

Travel Restrictions

From the Northern Illinois Conference newsletter:

“United Methodist Discipleship Ministries is restricting all travel for their employees from now until May 1 in light of COVID-19, which prohibits our two presenters from leading the March 24-26 Follow-Up Discipleship Systems Trainings across the Conference.

“Regrettably, we need cancel the six scheduled workshops. The NIC Office of Congregational Development is looking at rescheduling the in-person trainings this fall and an alternative way to present the material in March. Look for more details coming soon.”

Local churches adapt

Under a mandatory state ban of public gatherings involving 50 or more people, United Methodist churches in Washington state scrambled to find electronic ways to hold services March 8. The Rev. Jeremy Smith, senior pastor of First UMC in Seattle, wrote about his congregation’s experience in setting up online streaming of worship on short notice.

In Michigan Annual Conference, which registered its first confirmed COVID-19 cases this week, conference communications announced it will be “providing guidance on how to stream church services through Facebook or online, and Conference Treasury can assist local churches with knowledge on how to set up online giving.

General Conference Organizers Still Monitoring

According to a report March 11 from United Methodist Communications, the General Commission on the General Conference, which runs the big show, is still “monitoring” the coronavirus pandemic in consultation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and the U.S. State Department.

Minnesota Bishop Bruce R. Ough posted a message on the Minnesota Conference website on March 9:

“The most common questions I am being asked by Dakotas-Minnesota Area United Methodists and, now, colleagues and bishops across the connection are about the fate of the General Conference we are hosting in May. I have been in touch with Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference. He assures me the Commission on General Conference is closely monitoring the situation. I refer you to its recent press release. 

“Additionally, our Dakotas-Minnesota Host Committee, chaired by Rev. Jim Haun, is engaged in this monitoring even as its members continue their excellent preparations to extend radical hospitality to all General Conference delegates and guests. At the moment, possible travel restrictions for delegates coming from outside the U.S.  is the greatest concern.”

Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now

Eco-theologian Michael Dowd, who with his partner Connie Barlow has been educating faith groups for years on evolution and climate crisis, issued a checklist for decision-makers regarding responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in an article on Medium.com. His counsel:

  • The coronavirus is coming to you.
  • It’s coming at an exponential speed: gradually, and then suddenly.
  • It’s a matter of days. Maybe a week or two.
  • When it does, your healthcare system will be overwhelmed.
  • Your fellow citizens will be treated in the hallways.
  • Exhausted healthcare workers will break down. Some will die.
  • They will have to decide which patient gets the oxygen and which one dies.
  • The only way to prevent this is social distancing today. Not tomorrow. Today.
  • That means keeping as many people home as possible, starting now.

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.