February 20, 2019
A General Conference 2019 Special Edition
UM Connector readers,
This is a bonus edition of the UM Connector to offer you information and resources about the upcoming Special Called Session of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church being held in St. Louis Missouri.
While most of this material isn’t new, I thought putting some key links in one place just before the special session would be helpful for you. If you’ve been following issues related to the special session, it can be a helpful resource. If you are new to the special session, it can help you connect to the conversation.
To learn more, watch for daily updates coming via the Western Jurisdiction. And follow the Oregon-Idaho Conference and Western Jurisdiction on Facebook. Search hashtags #gcumc, #gc2019, #onechurch4all and #umc to find conversations on Facebook and Twitter. (@wjumc and @umoi on Twitter)
Grace and peace,
Greg Nelson Director of Communications
The plans to be reviewed
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The Special Called Session will be looking at four plans for moving the church forward on the issue of human sexuality and inclusion for LGBTQ people.
Two plans were fully developed by the Commission on a Way Forward. These are the Connectional Conferences Plan and the One Church Plan.
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One plan was partially developed by the commission, then set aside. A group of bishops wrote a final version of this plan called the Traditional or Traditionalist plan. When reviewed by the Judicial Council, many aspects of this plan were deemed to be unconstitutional. Petitions have been introduced that may address these issues, so this is known as the “modified” Traditionalist plan.
Read the commissions report.
A fourth plan has been submitted by petition, know as the Simple Church Plan. It is written and backed by the Queer Clergy Caucus.
View a chart that compares the plans.
Watch a panel discussion with advocate for these four plans
Links to more information
There are several places to lean more here are places you will find more information:
Delegation
The Oregon-Idaho Conference will be represented by two voting delegates at General Conference. There are 864 total delegates. In addition, nine reserve delegates will be attending the conference to support the delegates, fill in when needed, and bring additional voices to the conversations about including all of God’s people in the church.
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Jan Nelson and Rev. Donna Pritchard are the voting delegates. elected for the 2016 General Conference, they continue to represent the Annual Conference at this special session. Donna Pritchard was also a member of the Commission on a Way Forward.
Learn more about them in an article on the conference website.
Please hold the entire delegation in prayer before and during General Conference.
They are: Jan Nelson, Donna Pritchard, Josh Hauser, Clay Andrew, Mark Bateman, Jeremy Smith, David Armstrong, Duane Anders, Emilie Kroen, Wendy Woodworth and John Go. (Norm Dyer, another alternate in 2016 was not able to attend.)
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky, as well as other staff and volunteers from the Oregon-Idaho Conference will also be in St. Louis.
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Voices of General Conference
The last few weeks denominational news channels and social media have been filled with commentaries and opinions about General Conference. Here is a sampling of some of the thoughts shared. Find more by searching social media or visiting UMNews.org.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky — All means all. One means one. Some means none.
"So, as I enter February, the special session of the General Conference looms large, when United Methodists will decide whether we will continue as one church or split apart, I’m looking for some Good News to carry us through. And I think I’ve found some. So, I want to share a few nuggets that I think the Holy Spirit made sure were buried in there for us to uncover."
Rev Forbes Matonga — Seeing a Way Forward: A view from Africa
" As same-sex marriage is illegal in almost every African country, says the Rev. Forbes Matonga, the Traditional Plan submitted to the special 2019 General Conference is the only culturally acceptable option for African United Methodists to support. "
Rev. Alex Da Silva Souto and Karen Prudente — Seeing a Way Forward: The simple plan
"The Simple Plan, which eliminates all restrictions in The United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality, allows every church to “thrive to be themselves,” according to Karen G. Prudente, a co-signer of the plan."
Rev. Chris Ritter — Seeing a Way Forward: Connectional conference plan
" The Rev. Chris Ritter foresees a major restructure in The United Methodist Church no matter what happens. He thinks the Connectional Conference Plan has the best chance of leaving the church stronger in the future."
Rev. Molly Vetter - Grateful for gifts of LGBTQ in church
"I find myself in the position to be able to give testimony of my experience of God working through LGBTQIA persons. From outside of my context, it may seem as though this open inclusion has created a break in the order of the church. From where I stand, God has been at work in our midst to break open the church so that it can more fully embody the wondrous work of our God."
Kipp Nelson — Why I stay
"'Why do you choose to stay a part of the United Methodist Church?' That’s the persistent question pushed upon LGBTQ people amidst an ever-growing church debate. And after years of being asked this question, this is the only logical answer I have found. It’s home."
The Schedule of General Conference
As you include General Conference in your prayers and tune in to the live streaming video, here is the preliminary schedule of the conference. Note: St. Louis is in the Central Time Zone.
Saturday, Feb.23 – Day of Prayer and Preparation 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The conference will engage in a day of prayer with an opening worship time, experiential prayers guided by bishops from different regions of he world and a service of holy communion. View or download a detailed schedule.
Sunday, Feb. 24 - 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Opening worship, Hearing from the Commission on a Way Forward and discerning which of the multiple plans the majority of delegates want to refine.
Monday, Feb. 25 7:30 or 8:00 start time. 6:30 adjournment
Opening worship, Legislative committee composed of all delegates to amend and vote on petitions (Chaired by a delegate)
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 7:30 or 8:00 start time. 6:30 adjournment
Opening worship, Plenary session to make final vote and recommendations. (Bishops will preside)
What comes after GC2019?
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The unanswered question that really matters to most United Methodists is about what happens after the special called session.
At this point, we don’t know what plan will be chosen, if any. And we don’t know how that plan will be vetted, challenged, and implemented in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. The 2020 General Conference will almost certainly be responding to challenges and changes to any selected plan.
Here in the Oregon-Idaho Conference and rest of the Greater Northwest Area we will hold discussion groups called Table Talks 3.0. These will continue the conversation began with Table Talks 1.0 last year and Table Talks 2.0 during the 2018 Annual Conference Session.
Conversation will also continue when Western Jurisdiction leaders meet in Portland in March, and at the 2019 Annual Conference Session, June 12-15 in Eugene, Oregon.
But no matter what, the grace of God and the local mission of the church will continue.
- g.n.
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