Friends & Partners,
Our CBFNC Staff and Coordinating Council met this morning to discern what action we should take for the Annual Gathering planned for next week (March 19-21) in the midst of this Coronavirus emergency. By a unanimous vote, members of the Coordinating Council made the difficult decision to CANCEL the 2020 Annual Gathering.
Your health and safety are our top priority. With the current State of Emergency issued in North Carolina and the warnings that this COVID-19 virus is only going to get worse the next couple of weeks, we feel it is best to err on the side of abundant caution. Additionally, the location for Annual Gathering in Raleigh is in the “epicenter” of known Coronavirus cases in our state.
We have a large number of lay leaders that fall into the high-risk category for this virus who are loyal attendees at our Annual Gatherings. Also, many of our participants, speakers and exhibitors travel from all across the state and country, many from communities that have not yet been impacted. We simply cannot risk any potential spreading of the virus that could result from our meeting. We want to do all that we can to keep our partners healthy and help our churches to continue to operate as normally as possible during this health emergency.
Making the decision to cancel was extremely difficult. Our staff, the Coordinating Council, and the Annual Gathering Planning Team put many hours and months of work into planning a great event. This is a complex situation that changes daily. We weighed the pros and cons and ultimately decided we had to be proactive in doing our part to minimize any potential spreading of this virus.
FOR THOSE WHO HAD REGISTERED FOR ANNUAL GATHERING
We cannot thank you enough for registering for Annual Gathering and making plans to join us. We are sad that we will not get to be together for our annual “family reunion.” You may request a refund for your registration fee or choose to use it as a tax-deductible gift to CBFNC. To request a refund, Contact Mary Kaylor, associate coordinator, at 336.759.3456 or mkaylor@cbfnc.org.
Also, if you made hotel reservations at the Embassy Suites, we need you to please cancel those online or by calling 919-881-0000.
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Our Annual Business Meeting that is normally held in March at the Annual Gathering will now be held during the North Carolina State Meeting of the CBF General Assembly in Atlanta, June 22-27. We will offer a virtual meeting option during that time as well for those who cannot physically be there. More information and details about this will be distributed to you prior to that event.
We encourage our churches and partners to take standard precautions as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and exercise caution while planning events and activities. Please encourage the following precautions:
- Hand washing frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
For more information from the CDC, click here.
Please join us in praying for our neighbors and our world in this season of uncertainty.
If you have any questions, please contact Larry Hovis, executive coordinator, at 336.759.3456 or lhovis@cbfnc.org.
