The Assembly Council met on Monday, March 23, 2020, and made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 General Assembly. First and foremost, this decision was taken to ensure the safety of commissioners and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications for all business that would normally come to the General Assembly has been referred to the Executive of the Assembly Council, who will report further, following their meeting on March 31, 2020.

The Clerks of Assembly will consult with all Standing Committees, agencies and colleges about essential decisions that need to be made and present a plan to the Executive. Additional information will be coming out over the coming days and weeks, and announced on the presbyterian.ca website.

Our current Moderator, the Rev. Amanda Currie, has indicated her willingness to remain in office until the next Assembly. The nominees for this year’s Assembly have been advised that a new election will take place next year. The current nominees will be eligible to be re-nominated.

The General Assembly is not just a place where important issues regarding the ministry, governance and mission of our church are decided; it is also a gathering of our broader church family. We will miss that important time to come together. In the meantime, we are already discovering new ways to connect faithfully with one another, to encourage one another and to be vehicles of God’s grace to a hurting world. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with each of you. Amen.

—The Rev. Stephen Kendall, Principal Clerk