United Methodist General Conference
2008 Updates

Date: May 2, 2008 1:34 AM
Subject:  'Christian conferencing' follows demonstration

‘Christian conferencing’ follows demonstration

Relationships established before the 2008 United Methodist General Conference began helped temper a May 1 response to that body’s decision not to change the denomination’s current positions on homosexuality, according to some participants.

During a press conference after a “witness” was made on the General Conference floor by supporters of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered people, Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, said he had a “deep sense of gratitude” for both how the witness was handled and how delegates and bishops responded.

The 15-minute demonstration was in reaction to the April 30 decision to retain the denomination's decades-old proscription describing homosexual practice as “incompatible with Christian teaching.” One protester, Audrey Krumbach, read a statement declaring that the "anti-gay policies of The United Methodist Church are wrong and sinful in the sight of God."

Afterward, 16 bishops met with the witnesses advocating for full inclusion and created a table for Christian conferencing and acknowledgement of the pain felt by some church members. “We went into a time of discussion, speaking from our hearts as much as our heads,” said Bishop Sally Dyck.

Team-building eased tension
The Rev. Troy Plummer, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, noted that “today was a better day than yesterday.” He thanked the team from JUSTPEACE, a mission of the church for mediation and conflict transformation, for helping participants in the discussion to “overcome some sticking points.”

“In shock” over the outcome of the April 30 vote, Plummer said it was only the team-building which occurred before General Conference that prevented a response of civil disobedience.

Bishop Scott Jones said he had only joined those conversations today as a volunteer for the Council of Bishops, but supported the effort because he has “a ministry of bridge building.”

On May 2, the last day of General Conference, those involved in the conversations will focus on how to proceed, according to Dyck. “We do want to build on relationships and trust so we can use this as an opportunity for new hope to emerge,” she said.

The Rev. Gail Murphy-Geiss, chair of the Commission on General Conference, addressed the concern over the fact that the demonstration appeared to be cut off from the live Internet feed of that plenary session. “It was definitely an accident,” she said. “The plug was not pulled.”

Even though it was not shown live, Murphy-Geiss said the event was recorded and has since been uploaded to the General Conference Web site, www.gc2008.umc.org.

Decision 1032 still troubles some [Note: But not a majority of United Methodists]
Plummer said that he was most troubled about the vote to let stand language in the Book of Discipline regarding pastoral authority over church membership, even though a majority report of a legislative committee recommended the congregation change the language to make it clear that pastors and congregations “are to faithfully receive all persons who are willing to affirm our vows of membership.”

Controversy has occurred over a 2005 decision by the United Methodist Judicial Council – No. 1032 – supporting the Rev. Ed Johnson of Virginia who denied membership to a man who was in an openly homosexual relationship. The council reinstated Johnson after he had been placed on involuntary leave by the Virginia Annual (regional) Conference.

“It’s very dismaying to leave this General Conference with 1032 still in place. That’s a grief for our people,” Plummer said, adding that he hoped the new Judicial Council “might somehow be asked to reconsider 1032 again.”

Jones said that 1032 and a similar case cited “are in my experience, isolated cases” and he believes that 99 percent of the church does not discriminate in this way.

By Linda Bloom, UMNS GC102; May 1, 2008. Bloom is a United Methodist News Service writer based in New York.
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Wrap-up: Constitutional amendments, Gates speech
and resolutions on variety of issues top agenda

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) — Following an emotional day in which delegates debated issues related to homosexuality, Chicago Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung told The United Methodist Church’s legislative assembly that people on each side of the controversy are living out Christian values.

He said both those who want the church to be more flexible -- more open -- and those who want the church to be clear about boundaries – more pure -- embody biblical values, “and both are right.”

Speaking at a May 1 worship service of the legislative arm of the 11.5 million-member denomination, Jung invited United Methodists “to live in the tension that is created by holding both values -- holiness and hospitality -- together at the same time.”

The bishop recalled how a criminal dying with Jesus pleaded, “Remember me.”

“When Jesus remembers us, we are put back together again,” he said. When people remember those who have died, they are brought back together in the living body of Christ through the act of remembering, he said.

“This is why whenever we share the bread and the cup we join not only with those physically present, but with the whole church of Christ, including the communion of saints. The body is re-membered,” Jung said.

A witness for inclusion
General Conference allowed more than 200 people calling for the inclusion of all persons regardless of sexual orientation to walk through the aisles of the legislative gathering. Participants wore black as a sign of mourning for conference actions that bar gays and lesbians from serving as clergy and legislation that continues a statement stating the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” The group covered the Communion table with a black shroud and formed a two-line cross around the table.

During the 15-minute witness, Bishop Melvin Talbert recalled how the 1939 Methodist Conference established a separate jurisdiction for African Americans. He called that historic action “a sin against God,” and in making the decision April 30, the General Conference “has taken an action that is wrong,” he said. He called for reconsideration of the issue.

After they silently entered the arena, the group sang, “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” Many delegates and bishops stood and sang in support of the action.

As witnesses filed out of the arena, visitors and delegates joined in singing, “Jesus, Remember Me When You Come into Your Kingdom,” the theme of the morning sermon by Bishop Jung.

Pension and health benefits
The United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, which cares for more than 74,000 participants and manages $16 billion in assets, celebrated 100 years of accomplishments.

The centennial celebration came the same week that the conference asked the Evanston, Ill.,-based agency to establish denomination-wide wellness guidelines for clergy and lay employees. The agency will also form a task force with the Board of Higher Education to examine employment systems and culture and to provide guidelines for sustaining a healthy work/life balance during ministry. Systems to be examined include itinerancy, appointment-making, supervision and processes for entering and exiting ministry.

In other health-related concerns, the conference required: 1) annual conferences to share health-care data with the board; 2) group health insurance plans for bishops, full-time clergy and full-time lay employees of annual conferences and general agencies; 3) access for retired bishops, annual conference clergy and lay employees to Medicare supplemental plans and prescription drug plans.

Gates thanks United Methodists
United Methodists have decided to wipe out malaria because “brothers and sisters don’t sit back and let each other die,” said William H. Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, during a May 1 session of the conference.

“I am here today to thank you,” he said. “We are proud to be your partner in this campaign to end the world’s worst killer of children. We believe the campaign cannot succeed without you.”

The United Methodist Church is one of the founding partners of the Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign, which fights the disease by purchasing and distributing insecticide-treated sleeping nets in Africa. More than $20 million has been raised since the campaign began in 2006. A donation of $10 covers the cost of delivering one net and teaching a family how to protect itself from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Zimbabwe Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa thanked Gates for his support of the Nothing But Nets campaign. The bishop told how he had distributed nets in a Zimbabwe village. “That village is very far away, but your helping hand has reached there,” he said.

Support for people of Tibet, Sudan, Taiwan
The assembly affirmed support for the people of Tibet and their struggle for independence and autonomy. The action came May 1 as the petition on Tibet was among the consent calendar items approved that day.

Protests led by Buddhist monks have occurred in recent weeks in Tibet, sparked by grievances against Chinese rule and a desire for independence. A worldwide tour of the Olympic Torch, which returned to China on April 30, was disrupted by pro-Tibet advocates. China is hosting the Olympics this summer.

A new resolution on Sudan called “Sudan: A Call to Compassion and Caring,” was part of the consent calendar approved April 29. It advocates for justice for all Sudanese, calls upon United Methodists “in every country” to encourage their governments to aid development of a more just economic system in the Sudan and asks church members to “examine all methods of protest and solidarity before undertaking them” to ensure that none of their actions causes violence.

Also approved by consent was a petition reaffirming the denomination’s support of the democratic aspirations and achievements of the people of Taiwan. Church members are encouraged to become educated about contemporary issues related to Taiwan and the “One China” policy, and to promote the rights of Taiwanese “for stability, security and self-determination of its own status in the family of nations.”

Constitutional amendments
All constitutional amendments approved by a two-thirds vote of General Conference must be ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of voting annual members.

The assembly passed 23 constitutional amendments proposed by the Task Force on the Global Nature of the Church. The amendments will allow for the creation of a regional conference for the United States and change the words “central conference” to “regional conference.” The legislation does not create a U.S. regional conference but makes it possible for General Conference to do so at a later time. The assembly created a task force to examine possibilities.

Delegates passed a constitutional amendment that reduces from two to one the number of years a person must be a professing member of a church before he or she can be a member.

Annual conferences will also be voting on proposals that provide for newly created conferences to be represented at General, jurisdiction or regional conferences on a non-proportional basis. The issue arose after the Côte d’Ivoire Conference was assigned two delegates for the 2008 General Conference.

If annual conferences approve the constitutional amendment, deacons, associate members and provisional members may join ordained ministerial members in full connection in voting for delegates to General and jurisdictional conferences. To be eligible to vote, local pastors must have completed the Course of Study or master of divinity degree and have served under appointment for served two consecutive years immediately preceding an election. Only ordained members in full connection with an annual conference may serve as delegates.

If annual conferences ratify the amendment, then local churches, jurisdictional and General Conference, “organizations, groups, committees, councils, boards and agencies” will have to adopt ethics and conflict-of-interest policies. These policies will apply to both members and employees to help them “embody and live out our Christian values.”

Judicial Council officers
The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, dean of Cannon Chapel and religious life at Emory University in Atlanta, was elected president of the Judicial Council May 1. The first woman to hold that office, she was elected in 1992 to her first eight-year term on the council and was elected to a second term in 2004.

Jon R. Gray, a Kansas City attorney, will serve as vice president, and the Rev. Belton Joyner, an interim district superintendent in the North Carolina Conference, will be secretary.

Northeastern Jurisdiction
General Conference established a new formula that will cause four of the five jurisdictions to lose a bishop at the 2012 jurisdictional conferences.

The Northeastern Jurisdiction is required to lose a bishop under the current formula. The Inter-jurisdictional Boundaries Committee recommended the reduction take place no later than Sept. 1, 2012; that recommendation was approved by General Conference.

Troy, Wyoming, North Central New York and Western New York conferences are proposing to create a new conference out of all or part of these conferences. Conversations are under way to merge Pennsylvania churches of the Wyoming Conference into the Central Pennsylvania Conference, and discussions are being carried out with the New England Conference to include all or some of the Vermont churches that are now in the Troy Conference.

Proposals call for the new conference to be formed by 2010. The proposal will be reviewed by the Northeastern Jurisdiction Boundaries Committee prior to action by Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. No additional reductions in the number of bishops will be required in the jurisdiction by the new formula.

Other items
On the 100th anniversary of the Social Creed, delegates decided April 30 that a proposed new creed would serve the church better as a “companion litany.” The Rev. Neal Christie, staff member of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and a member of the task force that prepared the creed, said it is “a gift to the church and reinforces and reframes the creed.”

Delegates asked the General Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table to provide $50,000 for a research and learning center at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The site, 180 miles southeast of Denver, is a memorial to more than 160 Native Americans.

Zimbabwe Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa and Washington (D.C.) Area Bishop John R. Schol signed a new covenant to work together. Last summer, the Baltimore-Washington Conference sent a 13-member team of clergy and laity to Zimbabwe to teach about 300 pastors church leadership and community development strategies and skills. The team also distributed more than 7,000 bed nets, as part of the Nothing But Nets campaign

Source: By J. Richard Peck, UMNS GC 104; May 1, 2008.

On Wednesday, April 30, 2008, in the afternoon.

Human Sexuality
The debate over petition #80449 dealing with paragraph 161.G, page 324 of the ADCA and page 2266 DCA was the first dealing with the important issue of human sexuality.
    Pastor Kalanga from the Tanganyika Conference noted that the Methodists of the world will be considering “what we do here” in Ft. Worth. He noted that “It is important to take into consideration because the world is watching us.” He read the last sentence from the petition about the “leading of the Spirit.” He and other delegates then pointed out that the foreign delegates often faced pressures from non-Christian forces such as Islam. A wrong decision in this area that would allow for ordination of homosexuals as pastors or remove the clause that this is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” 

Key legislation centered around this petition and dealt with paragraph 161G on homosexuality being incompatible with Christianity. Dr. Eddie Fox headed up the group that submitted a minority report, contained on DCA page 2267. The minority report (holding the line on the statement) was approved with a vote of 517 for and 416 against, or 55% for and 45% against. That means that the minority report became the majority report. The next vote was to approve the now majority report. It was done with a vote of 501 yes to 417 against or 55% yes to 45% against. During the vote and afterward, those who were supportive of the homosexual agenda stood and then remained standing. On the floor of the General Conference who stood over this issue were fewer in number than in Pittsburgh in 2004.

Credit goes to Dr. Eddie Fox and those who signed to make this a minority report + all those GC delegates to include those from Africa and the Philippines who worked for and voted for the passing of this petition.

After the vote and while Gerry Reist was reading a series of Judicial Council decisions, those standing started singing “Jesus Loves Me” and did so through the entire reading of the Judicial Council decision.

9:39 p.m.: The next significant petition was #80019, ADCA page 923, DCA page 2268, calendar #1206. Has to do with removing the language that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, and that homosexuals are not to be ordained as candidates. The majority report was to reject the petition and thereby retain the present statement that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching and that homosexuals are not to be ordained as ministers. The minority report would have removed those prohibitions. Minority report was defeated 599, 67% to 298, 33%. The majority report was supported in that the petition was rejected 579 to 335, thereby retaining the language of the Book of Discipline.

The next significant petition was #80088, ADCA page 1329, DCA page 2131, calendar #1207. Has to do with local church membership. The petition as reported out by committee would have taken away the authority of the pastor to determine who comes into the church. The minority report was very eloquently delineated by Alice M. Wolfe. However, she did not mention the homosexual aspect. It was defeated. The majority report which would have mandated taking into membership everyone came into play, but was defeated. By 49% for to 51% against.

After the day’s activities many if not all of the evangelicals were relieved and grateful.
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The following information was garnered from other reports and is summarized and passed on to you.

Note: Mr. Robin Russell of the United Methodist Reporter did such an excellent job of describing what happened during this process on these petitions that his report is included without change.

“United Methodists reject changes to homosexuality stance”

Delegates to the 2008 General Conference on April 30 rejected changes to the United Methodist Social Principles that would have acknowledged that church members disagree on homosexuality. Delegates instead adopted a minority report that retained language in the denomination’s 2004 Book of Discipline describing homosexual practice as “incompatible with Christian teaching.” The adopted wording in Paragraph 161G also states that “all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God,” and that United Methodists are to be “welcoming, forgiving and loving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us.”
    Delegates also approved a new resolution to oppose homophobia and heterosexism, saying the church opposes “all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation.” 

Majority and minority reports
In its majority report, the legislative committee, chaired by Frederick Brewington, New York Conference, recommended that delegates delete the incompatibility sentence and adopt the statement, “Faithful, thoughtful people who have grappled with this issue deeply disagree with one another; yet all seek a faithful witness.” The revision also would have asked United Methodists and others “to refrain from judgment regarding homosexual persons and practices as the Spirit leads us to a new insight.” Brewington told delegates the petition would be “an exciting and mature way forward,” calling it “an honest, yet humble approach to how we are to view one another.”
    “Moving forward means we have come to a point of telling the truth. And we do not agree,” he said. “We can make the determination to move forward, and stop the hurt.”

In presenting the minority report, however, the Rev. Eddie Fox said that any United Methodist statement on human sexuality needs to be “clear, concise and faithful to biblical teaching.” Leaving out the statement that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching” would be confusing, especially for members of the church outside the United States, Fox said. “I have seen and experienced the pain and the brokenness in parts of our global movement whenever our church has failed to hold fast to this essential teaching of the Holy Scripture,” he said.

The delegates’ action prompted a coalition of gay advocacy groups immediately to stage a silent vigil outside the Fort Worth Convention Center. Members of Soulforce, Affirmation, Reconciling Ministries Network and Methodist Federation for Social Action lined the entrance as delegates returned from a dinner break.

Heated debate
Earlier in the day, the petition opposing homophobia generated some heated debate from the floor when a delegate from the Democratic Republic of Congo described homosexual practice as among the things “that come from the devil.”
    “Homosexuality is a practice that is incompatible with the love of God,” he said. “We love homosexual people, but we detest what they do.”

But the Rev. Judy Stevens, New York Conference, countered: “We are all aware of the violence used against homosexual people in the world today. … It’s time to stand with people whose orientation may be different from us.” 
    The Rev. Debbie Fisher, from the Northern Illinois Conference, told delegates about a gay relative who was beaten to the point of being unable to function as an adult. “I ask you to think about Wesley’s three rules,” she said. “Great harm was done to this man who loved God.”
    The Rev. Steve Wende of the Texas Conference said the debate was painful, but cautioned delegates against changing the Discipline’s language: “If we do this as a way of making some people happy, it won’t make anyone happy.”

Will Green of the New England Conference urged delegates to adopt the committee’s recommendation. “It allows for gay and lesbian people like myself to stay in the church in a safe way that doesn’t cause us to be sacrificed for the sake of church unity,” he said.
    The Rev. Kent Millard, South Indiana Conference, said the petition reflects reality among United Methodists. “The truth is, we are divided,” he said. “Let’s just acknowledge that it doesn’t say one is right and one is wrong. It just says we disagree.”

After replacing the majority report with the minority report, delegates approved it 501-417.

In other action on sexuality issues, delegates voted to:
+ Add the words “sexual orientation” to an existing resolution regarding a commitment to educational opportunity regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin or economic or social background;
+ Retain language of Paragraph 341.6 in the Discipline that prohibits United Methodist ministers from conducting ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions;
+ Reject a proposal to add “civil unions” to a list of basic civil liberties in Paragraph 162.H because delegates felt the language was already inclusive;
+ Reject amending Paragraph 161.C to include “committed unions” in a section describing the sanctity of the marriage covenant.

By Robin Russell, UMNS {GC-86}; April 30, 2008. Russell is the managing editor of the United Methodist Reporter.
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The Confessing Movement Report By Dr. Riley Case.
The key Discipline paragraph, from which other United Methodist positions are based, is Para. 161G in the Social Principles, which states, "we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."

The debate took place Wednesday, April 30, afternoon and lasted three wrenching hours.  The debate included points of order, minority reports, and impassioned speeches.  The African delegates spoke frequently.  What was finally accepted was a re-writing of Para. 161G which states clearly that sexual relations are affirmed only within the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage, and the phrase, "we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching."  The vote was 501-417 (55%- 45%). 

After the vote 175 members and friends of Soulforce (a gay and lesbian advocacy group) and the Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist related) stood and sang (and kept singing), "Jesus Loves Me This I Know" as a protest and in an attempt to disrupt the conference.  Sympathetic delegates stood with them.  20 of the 40 general agency staff persons also stood (which says something about board and agency staff members).  On Friday morning, (after this post was originally written), a massive protest was held on the floor of the convention center by pro-gay demonstrators.  See tomorrow's report for details.

Another very important vote dealt with Para 304.3 on church memberships.  The issue was whether the pastor has authority in determining readiness for church membership or whether the "pastor is to faithfully receive all persons willing to take the membership vows" (suggesting the final authority is the person taking the vows).  Does the pastor have discretion in matters of membership, or not?  Behind the argument is the matter that one pastor who denied membership to a practicing homosexual was relieved of his pulpit and the case went all the way to the Judicial Council.  The evangelical argument is that this matter is not about practicing homosexuals but about standards in general.

A minority report prepared by evangelicals and moderates giving clear pastoral authority was rejected 384-515 (43%-57%).  Then in an unusual move, the conference rejected also the majority report 436-448 (49%-51%) which stated that persons determine their own readiness.  Thus the present statement in the Discipline remains.
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People in 48 countries view General Conference online
People in 48 countries have been going online to watch the business sessions, worship services and special events of the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth. The proceedings are being streamed live on the assembly’s Web site, www.gc2008.umc.org.
    “This General Conference represents a shift of the general church and of General Conference into the digital age,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top staff executive of United Methodist Communications, which manages the Web site. “We’ve passed through a time when technology was secondary to a time when technology is enabling us to do our work and to stay in touch with each other globally.”
    The broadcasts are being picked up in 26 different languages on five continents.

Four jurisdictions will each lose one bishop
Delegates to the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church approved a plan that will result in one less bishop in each of four of the five U.S. jurisdictions, beginning in 2012. In an April 29 legislative session, delegates agreed that savings from those reductions will be used to fund new episcopal areas outside the United States. Those new areas -- each to be led by a bishop -- will not be created until the 2012 General Conference
    The North Central, Northeastern, South Central and Western jurisdictions will each have one less bishop under a new formula for determining the number of bishops. The action will not affect the Southeastern Jurisdiction, as it already has one less bishop than the present formula allows, and it is not requesting an additional Episcopal leader. The Northeastern Jurisdiction will lose a bishop in both 2008 and 2012.
    The new formula will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2009, so it will not affect the numbers of bishops to be elected in the U.S. in July.
    A Task Force to Study the Episcopacy, mandated by the 2004 General Conference, proposed the reduction, but the legislative committee considering the petition voted 44 to 13 not to recommend the new formula to the entire 992-member body.
    The assembly adopted the proposal from the task force, 457 to 401. The conference then agreed, 435 to 394, that the $4.8 million anticipated savings will be used to fund new episcopal areas outside the United States.
At present, each jurisdiction having 500,000 church members or fewer is entitled to six bishops. Jurisdictions with more than 500,000 members are entitled to one additional bishop for each 320,000 members. There is a provision for additional bishops if episcopal areas average more than 55,000 square miles.
    The task force noted that the current formula results in great inequities in the number of churches per bishop (256 to 928) and the number of members per bishop (58,970 to 225,814). The new formula provides for one bishop for every 150,000 members or one bishop for 100,000 members in jurisdictions where episcopal areas average more than 55,000 square miles.

Proposed new hymnal will go to 2012 assembly
Delegates to the 2008 General Conference set part of the agenda for the 2012 assembly late in the evening of April 28 as they approved creation of a hymnal revision committee. The committee will bring a proposed hymnal to the next session of the denomination's top legislative body. Delegates from around the world also approved a four-year study of issues around developing an Africana hymnal with findings to be reported to the 2012 session. The benefits of a new hymnal will include the incorporation of "new expressions of worship ... to engage all persons, including new, younger and diverse people," according to the petition to create the committee. If a future General Conference approves developing it, an Africana hymnal would incorporate music and liturgy from African as well as Caribbean, African-American and other traditions with African roots.

Study of ministry
The 2008 General Conference continued a study of ministry from the preceding quadrennium. General Conference took similar action in 2004.  After four years, the Study of Ministry Commission found more questions than answers. The group said there was not sufficient time to resolve the divergent concerns around the ordering of ministry. Delegates asked the Council of Bishops, in consultation with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Board of Discipleship and Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, to establish a 28-member Study of Ministry Commission for 2009-2012. The delegates also requested $150,000 for the new commission's work. This is something that seems to be endless.
    As far as the Study of Ministry Commission, there were seemed more nebulous issues to address than previously. The General Conference found more questions than answers. The group said there was not sufficient time to resolve the divergent concerns around the ordering of ministry.

ELCA bishop’s message
Bishop Mark Hanson, a bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and president of the Lutheran World Federation, preached April 29, a day after delegates approved an agreement establishing full communion with the ELCA. Pointing to worldwide migration caused by famine, war, poverty and national disasters, Hanson said the church has good news to share with a “rootless, restless, hopeless world.”

The Judicial Council
The Judicial Council met during General Conference and ruled on four issues presented prior to the Fort Worth gathering. The council affirmed two bishops’ decisions of law, sustained the church trial conviction and the revoking of credentials of a pastor in the Rocky Mountain Annual (regional) Conference, and ruled that annual conference commissions on religion and race do not have the authority to investigate complaints.

The 2004 Book of Discipline says, “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.” Delegates added the clause “for the transformation of the world” to the end of that statement. A motion to add a clause about “salvation of souls” was defeated. Most argued that the mission is defined in further statements within the Discipline. The Rev. Tyrone Gordon, a clergy member of the North Texas Conference, said people need help living in the “nasty now”; let God take care of the “sweet by and by.”

Liberia President addressed General Conference
Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 69, spoke to the April 29 session of the United Methodist General Conference. Liberia Bishop John Innis noted that the first woman to be elected president of an African nation is a graduate of the Methodist College of West Africa, a secondary school in Liberia. Innis introduced her to the assembly as “your daughter whom you educated.”
    Despite the fact that 85 percent of residents in the Republic of Liberia are unemployed and 63.8 percent live on less than $2 a day, “Liberia is on the way back,” she said.
    Johnson Sirleaf thanked the denomination for its 175-year presence in Liberia. There has been a Methodist presence in the Liberia since it was established by free American slaves in the 1820s. The church operates hospitals, schools and four mission stations in that nation.

Sources: By the Rev. Kathy Noble, UMNS {GC-66}; April 29, 2008; also J. Richard Peck, UMNS {GC-073}; April 29, 2008; UMNS {GC-078}, { GC-87}; May 1, 2008; Tim Tanton, UMNS { GC-84}; May 1, 2008

- Allen O. Morris

Report from the General Conference of the United Methodist Church for April 29, 2008:

The 992 delegates deliberated on a multitude of items, some of significant importance for the future of the church.

Africa education
Noting that United Methodist churches in Africa are the fastest-growing components of the denomination, delegates approved a request for $2 million for United Methodist theological schools on that continent. The $2 million request for African theological schools would help seminaries across the continent train additional pastors for the growing church.

Tshibang Kasap Owan, a professor of the Mulungwishi Theological School in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, told delegates that the school receives 500 applicants each year, but because of budget constraint the school can only accept 10 to 20 students. The request for $2 million would help several African seminaries struggling in a similar manner.

Note: In his testimony, he had pointed out that this university had been existence since the early 1950s. It also should be noted that the Congo has the largest population of Methodist Christians of any country in Africa. He also pointed out the difficulty of anyone who might want to go to Africa University in terms of expense, and first learning English. An immediate thought I had was why we as a church did not establish the university in Congo, or at least expand on the one that was there. After having visited Africa and reviewing the situation there, I had often wondered why we didn’t establish many preacher-training schools across Africa, each of which costs considerably less than a seminary? In this way, we could serve many more Africans in a more practical way than having one seminary located in Zimbabwe, a country controlled by a Marxist-influenced ruler. - AOM

Study of the world-wide church
A Task Force on the Global Nature of the Church, authorized by the 2004 General Conference, asserted that General Conference is too “U.S.-centric.” The six-member group proposed the possibility of making the United States a central conference similar to other conferences outside the United States. The task group submitted 23 petitions that would amend the constitution to allow for the creation of a regional conference for the United States and change the name “central conference” to “regional conference.”

In response to the proposals, delegates asked the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table to create a 20-member committee to consider recommendations of the study group and suggested that the six members of the earlier study be included in the new committee. The new group will also consider the financial implications of proposed changes in structure and report back to the 2012 General Conference. Arthur Jones, a lay delegate from North Texas Conference who introduced the recommendation, said the establishment of a study committee does not require the creation of a U.S. regional conference; however, if the U.S. church were to become a central conference, it would probably convene after General Conference.

Note: We are thankful that Arthur Jones did make this recommendation. The idea of making the United States a “central conference” we see as the “camel getting its nose under the tent” and one of the methods being attempted to get the United Methodist Church into the normalization un-Christian practices that are being promoted in the secular areas of our society. The proposal to make the United States a “central conference” is a bad idea. - AOM

New Faith and Order Committee
Delegates created a new 24-member standing committee on Faith and Order to help bishops and the church reflect on matters of faith, doctrinal teaching, order and discipline. The group will also provide study materials upon the request of the bishops, the Connectional Table or General Conference. The cost of the committee is estimated to be $287,000 to be funded through existing funds within the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and the Board of Higher Education of Ministry.
    The Rev. James Harnish, a delegate from Florida, argued against establishing another committee, saying it just adds to the church’s bureaucracy. “God loved the world so much that he didn’t create a committee,” he said. The Rev. Gregory Stover, a West Ohio delegate and a member of the commission, said the committee does not add to the bureaucracy; it provides an opportunity for the denomination to “draw upon the well springs of the church.” He noted that the church creates study committees every quadrennium and this standing committee might make some of those studies unnecessary.

Note: While I very much respect Rev. Harnish’s perspective, I would side with Rev. Stover. We do need to have a forum on which to discuss our doctrinal teachings. – AOM.

Bishop Lyght sermon
The morning began as usual with a worship service. The April 28 sermon was delivered by West Virginia Bishop Ernest S. Lyght. The church always must be aware of the needs of people and be ready to meet those needs with the “fresh bread” of faith, hope and love, said Lyght.
    Preaching on Jesus’ parable of the man who knocks on a neighbor’s door at midnight asking for bread, Lyght said people facing their “midnight hour” are waiting at church doors for a helping hand.
The bishop listed some of the world’s problems including war, poverty and disease, and said, “Wake up, church! Get up, church! When men, women and children knock on the doors of the church, they are looking for fresh bread. They want to encounter a vibrant faith. They want to embrace hope for tomorrow. They want to experience extravagant love that includes them.”
    Lyght said the church can keep “the bread fresh” by participating in a devout prayer life, regular Bible study, worship, small groups and Christian education.

Note: It is disappointing that the bishop did not point out that one of the biggest problems in the world today is that everyone needs to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We can talk about all types of other issues, but this need is of paramount importance. - AOM

Elections
Judicial Council serves as the supreme court of the denomination. It has been at the center of considerable controversy after ruling that a pastor had the right to deny membership to a gay man. Lay persons elected to eight-year terms on the council are Angela Brown (California-Nevada) and Ruben Reyes (Philippines). Clergy elected are the Revs. Kathi Austin-Mahle (Minnesota); F. Belton Joyner (North Carolina); and William B. Lawrence (North Texas). Council members Jon Gray, Beth Capen, the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe and the Rev. Dennis Blackwell were elected in 2004 to eight-year terms.
    The University Senate is a group of 25 higher education professionals which determines which schools, colleges, universities and seminaries meet the criteria to be listed as affiliate institutions of the denomination. Persons elected to four-year terms on the senate are Maxine Clark Beach, dean, Drew Theological School; David L. Beckley, president, Rust College; Charlene Black, retired president, Georgia Southern University; and the Rev. Maxie Dunnam, former president, Asbury Seminary.

Note: The results of these elections were disappointing. The bishops had evidently formulated a list of people they would have liked to see elected to the Judicial Council. For the most part, these were the ones who did receive a majority of the votes for the seats. Three of the conservative Judicial Council members were not re-elected to their seats. It will be interesting to see how this affects our United Methodist Church. - AOM

Other items
In other action, the assembly raised the retirement age of bishops. Currently bishops are required to retire if they reach age 66 on or before July 1 in a year when jurisdictional conferences are held. The assembly raised that age to 68 effective upon the adjournment of the 2008 General Conference.

Delegates learned that church members raised $3 million for the restoration of churches damaged by Hurricane Katrina. More than $60 million was given through the United Methodist Committee on Relief for humanitarian aid in the Gulf Coast. However, Bishop William Oden, chairman of the Council of Bishops' Katrina Recovery Appeal, said “Katrina fatigue has set in.” He called for a recommitment to the rebuilding and reconstruction of the area.

South Georgia Area Bishop Michael Watson said that after hearing a 23-member choir of children from Uganda sing, his conference wanted to bring the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir to General Conference. They did. What is happening with this group is inspirational.

Delegates declined an opportunity to create a permanent site for the Judicial Council, but they did agree to provide an office for a part-time clerk who would work no more than 20 hours a week. The proposed cost of a permanent site would have added $25,000 a year to the denominational budget. It is not clear what the cost of a clerk’s office might be, but the cost is to be paid out of Council on Finance and Administration funds.

Delegates created a Socially Responsible Investment Task Force to establish, implement and promote a common standard for determining prohibited investments. The task force is also asked to attempt to engage in holy conferencing with identified companies. 

The April 27 evening “area night” included a concert by the internationally acclaimed Texas Boys Choir, followed by food, music and fellowship in a nearby courtyard. Delegates and visitors were treated to Texas delicacies, including empanadas, quail eggs and Blue Bell ice cream.

Note: As a native Texan, I can attest to the popularity of Blue Bell ice cream, which seemed to be well-received by the delegates.

Source: This is edited from a news release filed by J. Richard Peck; UMNS GC56 - Wrap up: Assembly tackles items with price tags; United Methodist News Service; April 29, 2008 @ 1:02 AM.

Report from the General Conference of the United Methodist Church for April 28, 2008:
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We had originally experienced problems with our connectivity to the website and the readability of our information, both of which have been resolved. In the interest of time and coverage, we shall include reports from other reporting agencies with commentaries as necessary.
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The April 28th Report From the General Conference filed by an associated renewal group - The Confessing Movement 
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The Judicial Council, Resolutions, and Legislation

The biggest item on the agenda for Monday, April 28, was the election of the Judicial Council.  The Judicial Council is like the Supreme Court in the US governmental system.  It deals with the interpretation of the Discipline (as the Supreme Court deals with matters related to the Constitution).  In the past the Judicial Council has been the friend (generally) of evangelicals, protecting the church against the abuse of the episcopacy, and actions of conferences (or churches or agencies) that violate the Discipline.                   

However, much like the Supreme Court, members of the Judicial Council have biases.  Liberals are much more apt to overturn laws that don't match their liberal biases (Reconstructionists).  Conservatives tend to hold to original intent and tradition (Constructionists).  Liberals have not been happy with the present Judicial Council which, among other things, reinstated a Virginia pastor who basically had been fired by a bishop's questionable action.  The pastor's "offense" was denying membership to a practicing homosexual who stated that he had no desire to change his lifestyle.

The result of the elections?  Most of the open positions on the Council were won by liberals.  It was obvious that some very good people who had served faithfully on the Council were targeted by the liberals and they were not re-elected.

What does this mean for the church?  It is still too early to tell.  The persons who were elected were all nominated by bishops.  Such persons, though liberal and institutional, might be fair-minded and might place the good of the church above the temptation to re-fashion the church according to their liberal biases.  We surely trust so.  We will soon find out. 

Some legislation has now made it through the legislative groups and is ready for action at the plenary.  Among the items:

..A resolution which calls for immediate withdrawal from Iraq. 

..A resolution which calls for peacemaking but which (significantly) retains recognition that sometimes military response is justified (just war).

..A resolution against human cloning.

..A resolution against stem cell research.

..A resolution which, while supportive of the National Council of Churches, asks for financial accountability.

..The petition to call for constitutional changes in the Discipline to work for regional conferences (called the segregation bill because it would separate the American church from the growing influence of the overseas churches).  This would bring some very major changes to the structure of United Methodism.

..A re-writing of para. 161G in the Social Principles which would remove the phrase "We do not condone the practice of homosexuality.."  This petition, which obviously would change the UM stance on homosexuality, passed narrowly in the legislative group.  A minority report is being prepared and the issue will be debated (as it is every General Conference) on the conference floor.

..A petition authorizing a new United Methodist hymnal.

Among the petitions which DID NOT receive legislative group support:

..Petitions which would clarify the pastor's role in determining church membership.

..Petitions which would change statements on prohibiting funds for promotion of homosexuality; those which would change statements about homosexuals performing same sex unions; those which would change statements on the ordination and appointment of practicing homosexuals as pastors.

There are a few of the legislative groups still working on petitions.  From now on, however, most of the reporting will be on legislation that was or was not approved by the General Conference.

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Note by Allen O. Morris: The following report was filed by a reporter for the United Methodist News Service and adopts, we believe, a perspective supportive of this type of practice. It is especially instructive in that it quotes members from some of the youth groups in the United Methodist Church. It is to be noted that these youth – the future of the church – are supportive of normalizing homosexuality in our denomination.
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Title of the news release: Rally urges inclusion regardless of sexual identity

April 26, 2008                           
           
By Kathy L. Gilbert*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—“Change is coming,” says one young adult leader who says The United Methodist Church is getting closer to welcoming everyone regardless of their sexual identity.

“Don’t worry; it will happen because nothing can stop the force of this generation,” said Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, chairperson of the United Methodist Student Movement.

Birkhahn-Rommelfanger was among speakers who addressed more than 200 people gathered for a noon rally on April 26 to support inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the denomination.

The rally took place outside of the Fort Worth Convention Center, where the 2008 United Methodist General Conference is meeting April 23-May 2. The church’s top legislative body will decide policy for the denomination for the next four years and is expected to vote on legislation dealing with membership and ordination of homosexuals.

The church’s law book states “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”

The Division on Young People, United Methodist Board of Discipleship, is sponsoring one resolution that asks the denomination to offer membership “to all who have been baptized and those who have professed their faith regardless of age, class, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation.”

“We are offering bold pieces of legislation,” said Theon Johnson III, co-chair of the division. “We are not called to do church but to be the church.”

Shalom Agtarap, a member of Young Adult Seminarians Network, Board of Higher Education and Ministry, asked the young people to remember that General Conference is a “family meeting.”
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