After being postponed for a year (in light of the risks posed by COVID-19), the 80th General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States met with a substantially reduced number of deputies and other attendees from 8-11 July, 2022 at the Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
Unfortunately, renegotiating contracts to shorten the convention from eight to four days cost an estimated $1.1 million. In order to further mitigate risks, masks were required along with daily viral testing, and attendance was restricted. No visitors were permitted, staff and volunteers were cut down to the bare minimum, the usual exhibit hall was canceled, diocesan deputations were only permitted to bring two alternates (one clergy and one lay), retired bishops were urged to stay home, and 815 (i.e., the Episcopal Church Center, housed at 815 Second Ave., NYC) urged organizations to cancel meetings, events, and/or dinners planned to coincide with the convention. Overall, 34 attendees were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite contagion concerns, Bishops Unite Against Gun Violence organized a march on the first day. Hundreds of deputies and bishops took to the streets in response to the murder of 48-year-old Timothy Reynolds two blocks from the convention center the previous day. Bishop Susan Brown Snook