Download
1 / 21
210 likes | 1.24k Views
Slides from the March 10th OHUMC town hall meetings held to discuss what happened at General Conference in St. Louis. The presentation covers the decision of the General Conference and discusses what it means for our church.
E N D
United Methodist Church General Conference 2019 What happened? What next?
Some Background • UMC Constitution • Three branches • Bishops – Executive • Conferences – Legislative • Judicial Council – Judiciary • Bishops do not vote at Conference
How we got here • GC2016 - Call to Bishops to lead on “Way Forward” • Resolve differences on dealing with LGBTQ persons • Same-sex marriage • Ordination of LGBTQ persons • Bishops agreed • Commission on the Way Forward • 32 members, lay and clergy • Included Bishop Schnase (Rio-Texas Conference) • Recommended “One Church Plan” • Council of Bishops concurred
What Happened? • General Conference met in St. Louis: 23-26 February 2019 • Protected pension plans for pastors and Bishops • “One Church Plan” defeated • “Traditional Plan” adopted
The Traditional Plan • Affirms current bans: • No ordaining of LGBTQ clergy • No officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage • No celebration of same-sex unions • “Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” • Marriage is only between one man and one woman
The Traditional Plan • Affirms current bans • Tightens definition of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” • Removes perceived “loopholes”
The Traditional Plan • Affirms current bans • Tightens definition of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” • Failure to certify results in penalties • Board of Ordained Ministry • Must certify they examined the sexuality of candidates for ordination • More intrusive examination required • Restricts Bishops from overturning or mitigating trial findings
Observations • A majority of delegates approved the “Traditional Plan” as proposed • Some elements of the plan have been ruled unconstitutional by the Judicial Council • A majority (about 2/3) of American delegates voted for the “One Church Plan” • Delegates from Africa, the Philippines, and Russia strongly committed to the “Traditional Plan” • Homosexuality is illegal in much of the world
Observations • “Traditional Plan” Orchestrated by Good News, the Confessing Movement and leaders of the Wesleyan Covenant Association • “Just enforcing the rules” • General Conference did not support the Council of Bishops • Any congregation, District, or Annual Conference that objects must leave the denomination or suffer penalties • No room for differences of opinion on LGBTQ matters
What now? What next? • Judicial Council • Meets 1 April 2019 • deciding constitutionality of some provisions of adopted plan • Approved measures will appear in the Discipline on 1 January 2020
What about Oak Hill UMC? • We aren’t going anywhere • Come to church • Pray for the pastors and leaders. We need God’s help. • Keep lines of communications open • Keep doing the work of the Lord • Keep our programs running and serving through our mission work • Check out the Connections Table Today! • As options develop we will keep you informed
OHUMC Welcoming Statement At Oak Hill United Methodist Church, we affirm that all persons are beloved children of God. As followers of Christ, whose love is boundless, we seek to invite and welcome people of every age, gender identity, physical ability, ethnic background, racial identity, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic standing, education level, national origin, family configuration, and mental ability into full participation in the life of this faith community. We are committed to the reconciliation of all persons as children of God.
We want to keep you informed! • Sign up for our newsletter • Follow us on social media • Check out updates on our website: oakhillumc.org/whats-next • To sign up, use your phone’s camera and point it at this code.
What do you need? • Questions answered? • Information? • Talk to someone?
Leaving the Denomination (tentative) • Pay remaining annual obligations to pension funds • Take property and obligations, although agreements with bishops and annual conferences that may involve purchase of assets • May not use the UMC name or logo
UMC Statements on Homosexuality • 1972 – “We do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider it incompatible with Christian teaching” & “We do not recommend marriage between two persons of the same sex.” • 1976 – add 3 statements banning the use of church funds to promote homosexuality • 1980 – 1972 and 1976 positions were left intact. • 1984 – Adopted as the standard for ordained clergy, commitment to “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness” and “self‐avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.” • 1988 – Added “… we affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.” • 1992 – Delegates voted to retain the church’s stand.
UMC Statements on Homosexuality • 1996 – Added a definition of “self‐avowed practicing homosexual,” and a declaration that ceremonies to celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by United Methodist clergy or in United Methodist churches. • 2000 – added “We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn their lesbian and gay members and friends.” • 2004 – Delegates agreed to a statement of unity: “As United Methodists, we remain in covenant with one another, even in the midst of disagreement, and affirm our commitment to work together for the common mission of making disciples throughout the world.” Delegates reaffirmed the denominational position. • 2008 – Delegates approved a new resolution to oppose homophobia and heterosexism. • 2012 – Two items stating Christians have different opinions about homosexuality were not approved, leaving the current language intact.
