GBC annual meeting to be one-day event

Georgia Baptist Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., addresses messengers at the 2019 GBC annual meeting held at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville. SCOTT BARKLEY/Index

DULUTH — Due to COVID-19, the annual Georgia Baptist Convention meeting at Ingleside Baptist Church in Macon this year will be held to one day.  

“The Administration Committee decided it would be best to make our Annual Meeting an abbreviated meeting this year,” said W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., Georgia Baptist Mission Board executive director. “By holding the meeting on a single day, we will eliminate the need for hotel stays for all or most messengers.” 

Traditionally, a Sunday night celebration worship service kicks things off each year. Monday comes with the GBC Executive Committee and other groups meeting followed by the Preaching Conference.  

This year, the Sunday evening celebration and Preaching Conference have been canceled. The Executive Committee will convene Monday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. and the annual meeting take place from 1-6 p.m. With distancing factored in, only 400 can be seated safely in Ingleside’s main sanctuary. Social distancing will dictate that several areas of the campus be used to hold as many messengers as possible.

Currently, options are being considered in regard to annual meeting staples such as submitting resolutions and voting. Details will be made available in future as to more developments.