General Conference News Update

May 18, 2016

What happened Wednesday:

Following Tuesday's request, the Council of Bishops returned a proposal to the General Conference on how to move forward on issues of human sexuality and possible schism within The United Methodist Church. Bishop Bruce Ough, President of the Council of Bishops, read the report and recommendations before it was distributed.

After a break, and a time of table conversation, Rev. Adam Hamilton made a motion that was largely based on the Bishops' recommendation. Discussion and some parliamentary confusion then ensued. Hamilton's motion was eventually defeated after the lunch break, but another motion kept the Bishops' proposal alive. That motion eventually passed. The bottom line: the legislation on human sexuality will not be dealt with. There will be a commission to study issues and return a recommendation, possibly to a special called session of General Conference in 2018 or 2019. Still up in the air is if charges and church trials will continue for those who perform same-gender weddings or are accused of being "self-avowed practicing homosexuals."

Supporters of LGBTQ inclusion in the church recognize that this does not make the changes they would like to see in the United Methodist Book of Discipline, but it puts a halt to many pieces of legislation that came out of committee with favorable recommendations that would have been harmful to their constituents.

As the day wrapped up, Oregon-Idaho delegates Jan Nelson and Rev. Donna Pritchard offered their reflections on the day.

Watch their message on Facebook

Here's a link to the UMNS wrap-up for May 18, and see more stories below.

Also, our friends in the Pacific Northwest have a wonderful news site.

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

General Conference adopts Bishop’s proposal after contentious debate

In what can only be called a contentious debate, the 2016 General Conference eventually adopted the Council of Bishops “Offering a Way Forward” proposal during the first-afternoon session today. The session began with the rejection of an original motion offered by the Rev. Adam Hamilton and was marred with accusations that the presiding bishop, William McAlilly had been telegraphing votes to delegates and had undermined the process so as to cause the Hamilton motion to be defeated. Read more on the United Methodist Reporter website.

GC2016 recalls, laments Sand Creek Massacre

Concerns about legislation and the future of The United Methodist Church got set aside for a half-hour at General Conference 2016 on Thursday, May 18, as delegates focused instead on a historical tragedy with deep Methodist involvement.

The 1864 Sand Creek Massacre was the subject, and speakers included a historian and descendants of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian survivors of the attack.

Mountain Sky Area Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky had joined the descendants in planning the event, the latest effort yet by The United Methodist Church to atone for the Sand Creek Massacre.

“We’re here to listen and to tell the truth,” Stanovsky told delegates.

Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Mandatory penalties ruled unconstitutional

Imposing a mandatory penalty during the “just resolution” process for a clergyperson admitting to committing a chargeable offense is unconstitutional, The United Methodist Church’s top court has ruled.

Decision 1318 from Judicial Council came after a referral May 17 from the Judicial Administration Legislative Committee of General Conference 2016 regarding its adoption of three petitions on “just resolution” that would amend Paragraphs 363.1, 2701.5 and 2706.5c3 in the Book of Discipline. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Imagine No Malaria
celebration rocks the house

“Our God is able!”

Celebrating the success of the Imagine No Malaria initiative, launched in 2008, speakers, singers and dancers offered even more for United Methodists attending General Conference 2016 to imagine – Abundant Health: Our Promise to Children.

“Health is the ultimate design of God for humanity,” said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Imagine No Malaria chair. “Health and wholeness have been a hope for Methodists since John Wesley got on a horse in 18th-century England to preach about the love of God and the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ.

“What began with the bite of a mosquito has transformed into a faith-driven global health movement. Together, we have imagined No Malaria. Now let us imagine abundant health.” Read more of this United Methodist News Service story.

Archives:

Pre-Conference:
Did you miss Update #1? Read it here.
Did you miss Update #2? Read it here.
Looking for Update #3? Read it here.
And update #4. Read it here.

Updates during Conference:
May 10 update, May 11 update, May 12 update. May 13 update, May 14 update

Week two:
May 16, May 17