Looking Forward to Convening General Conference: Q&A with Rev. Beth Ann Cook

With our Convening General Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica just over two months away, we understand that many of you have questions. To provide clarity and guidance, Rev. Beth Ann Cook, the chairwoman of the Transitional Commission on General Conference, addresses some of the most frequently asked questions.

Will there be space for everyone who wants to attend?

Unfortunately, no. Our plenary space seats just over 1,400 participants. We are currently registering delegates and spouses, staff, presidents pro tempores, bishops, volunteers, and other essential personnel. When this process is complete, we will assess how many remaining seats are available. We plan to work with provisional annual conferences to release those seats for elected reserves and others they recommend. We do not currently plan to open registration for the general public.  

Will it be livestreamed?

Yes! All the worship services will be livestreamed along with key plenary sessions. We hope as many people as possible will join us online. We are even encouraging churches and annual conferences to host watch parties for the big worship services.

How is the GM Church helping people book flights and hotels?

After people register with the GM Church they receive emails for registering within Church’s housing block and for flights through Uniglobe for plane tickets. Uniglobe can help people book using airline miles if they wish to do so. Uniglobe will provide the GM Church with a manifest of arrival times that will be updated if people have flight changes.

Can I (should I) book my flight and hotel directly?

We strongly encourage people to use our booking system, but they can book their own flights and hotels. People should either wait until they have a confirmed reservation for the conference or book everything in such a way that it is fully refundable. People should note that if they book their own flight they may need to find their own transportation from the airport and convention center each day.  

What ground transportation will be available?

The GM Church will contract with bus companies to provide transfers from the San Jose airport for those who book their flights through our partner Uniglobe. The Church will have shuttle buses from official hotels to the Convention Center. Uber works well in Costa Rica so people may want to download that app and set it up for other transportation needs.

What is the weather like?

In one word, sticky! Our conference is being held during the green (rainy) season. Prepare for precipitation; historically it rains 21 days in September. The sun will frequently shine part of the day (often in the morning) with rain in the afternoon or evening. The average temperature is high 78F (38C) and low 66F (23C).  

What vaccines and medical preventative treatments do I need for Costa Rica?

The CDC recommendations can be found here. Because different people have different levels of health risk, we encourage people to discuss their plans with their doctor. For those traveling through an area where Yellow Fever is a risk, they will need yellow fever vaccination to enter the country. This primarily impacts those traveling through Africa and a few Central American countries.

Is the water safe to drink?

Generally, the water in Costa Rica is safe to drink. Major hotels in San Jose routinely have their water tested. People should plan to bring a reusable water bottle with them so that they can fill it with safe drinking water. If you are more sensitive to waterborne illness, you may choose to use bottled water.

Will I need adaptors for my electronic devices?

The standard voltage is 120 and 60 hertz. Those traveling from the United States will not need an adapter. For those coming from outside the U.S, an adapter will be necessary.

I hear there are mission and evangelism opportunities. How do I participate?

We will have about 150 spaces for doing missions with local churches and a children’s home. We will also have about 140 openings for Spirit and Truth Evangelism Training and Outreach. The registration portal for mission and evangelism will open soon. More information will be released shortly!

What if I want to extend my travel in Costa Rica?

People are welcome to do that at their own expense. They can give Uniglobe their travel dates. They will need to book hotels and sightseeing their own. Only give Conference Direct the dates for the General Conference for hotel bookings, including dates beyond the Conference will result in an error that says, “no hotel available”.

What are you most excited about?

I believe that the Holy Spirit will move in a powerful way at and through this Conference! I can’t wait to pray, worship, and plan with brothers and sisters from around the globe. I’m especially looking forward to a worship service that the Methodist Church of Costa Rica is planning with our worship team.