11 May, 2022
Dear Clergy Companions in Christ:
We are writing to inform you, sadly, that we have decided to cancel the upcoming Clergy Conference, “Gather Around the Table: Fellowship & Worship in a New World,” planned for May 23-25 at The Inn at Middletown and Hammonasset State Park. The reason for this cancellation, once again, is the current surge of COVID19. In light of recent stories of other dioceses experiencing significant COVID infections from similar clergy gatherings, we felt it was imperative that we pursue a safe plan of action. We are very sad not to gather as clergy of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. We do look forward, however, to our planned Clergy Day on June 15th when we will come together at Camp Washington for another day of fun and fellowship at “Clergy Camp 2022!”
The question has been asked: why cancel Clergy Conference while the Election Convention will still take place the weekend before? We believe that the nature of these two events, and the possibilities of exposure to COVID, are different between the two events. The Conference was planned as a three-day gathering which would include multiple meals and informal meetings where masking would be relaxed; while the Convention will be a one-day event where masking and other COVID protocols will be strictly enforced with only a box lunch provided for safe dining outdoors or in a separate space. In addition, the Election Convention is an extraordinary event in the life of our diocese while clergy conferences will return on a regular basis after the pandemic (God willing).
It is imperative that you cancel your own housing deposit at the Inn at Middletown directly. Please do so by calling: 860-854-6300. We will not be responsible for housing deposits made with the Inn. We are working with Eventbrite, the food trucks, and the Inn at Middletown with respect to the cancellation and deposits received. Your registration deposit on Eventbrite will be credited back to your credit card. The food trucks planned for our time at Hammonasset will be offered to another ministry in ECCT.
Once again, we are very sorry that we will not be able to come together again this year in our Clergy Conference. And we look forward to seeing all of you at “Clergy Camp” on June 15th.
Faithfully,
Your Clergy Conference Planning Committee:
The Rev. Lisa Hahneman, Alison Hollo, the Very Rev. Miguelina Howell, the Rev. Stephanie Johnson, the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell, the Rev. Matt Lindeman, the Rev. Sandra Stayner, the Rev. Tuesday Rupp, and the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas.
