In view of the national and international Covid-19 situation, the Board of Directors of the Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN) has decided to cancel the 2020 Global Mission Conference that was to be held at Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis, April 29-May 1.

“We have made this decision with great regret, but we feel that canceling is appropriate in view of the widespread concern about the virus and the difficulty of predicting the course of transmission over the coming months,” said GEMN President Titus Presler. “People have legitimate concerns about participating in gatherings that bring together people from all parts of the country, some of which have recorded infections. We believe it is both caring and prudent to cancel the conference at this time.”

GEMN is contacting those who registered for the conference about registration refunds. The Board is exploring remote electronic possibilities for the Mission Formation Program and the Diocesan Networks Gathering that were to be held in conjunction with the conference.

This is the first time that GEMN has canceled the annual Global Mission Conference in the 25-year history of the network. “The urgency of this year’s theme, ‘Earthkeeping: Creation Care in Global Mission,’ intensifies our regret in this cancellation,” Presler said. “We encourage all in the global mission community to consider how to integrate creation care in their global mission work amid the planetary environmental crisis.”

The GEMN Board is developing plans for the 2021 Global Mission Conference, which may focus on the same theme.

Further information is available at www.gemn.org.