Council of Bishops asks all to join day of prayer to rid the world of COVID-19; sets virtual meeting

To the People of the United Methodist Church,

The executive committee, meeting by phone earlier today, cared for three agenda items:

1.  We join with Pope Francis in calling for prayer tomorrow, March 25, drawing strength from the Annunciation (Luke 1. 26-38), as we are approximately nine months from the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We invite all to pray to God to rid the world of the coronavirus pandemic.  And all are urged to pray the Lord’s Prayer at noon in their own time zones.  In the words of Pope Francis, “We wish to respond to the pandemic of the virus with the universality of prayer, of compassion and tenderness.”   As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection at Easter,  we have sure trust and confidence that God will hear the united prayers of the church across the world.

2.  The executive committee announced that the Council of Bishops will meet virtually on April 29, 30 and May 1.

3.  The executive committee forwarded to the full Council of Bishops a recommendation of dates for the Jurisdiction Conferences to be held, with a desire to communicate this with the announcement of the dates of the General Conference in the near future.

The Peace of the Lord,

Ken Carter
Resident Bishop, Florida Conference
President, Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church