2019 General Conference Review Bishop Peggy Johnson

Opening Prayer

General Conference 2019 St Louis, MO February 23-26, 2019

831 voting delegates, 31 absent because of visa problems The conference and the Way Forward cost $4.4 million dollars 8 delegates from EPA and 2 reserve delegates

The event began with a day of prayer

Commission on the Way Forward We heard from the Commission on the Way Forward

legislative prioritizing We had a full day of legislative prioritizing Wespath (Pensions) Traditional Plan Disaffiliation Plan (Taylor) Disaffiliation Plan (Boyette)

legislative prioritizing We had a full day of legislative prioritizing One Church Plan Disaffiliation Plan (Ottjes) Retain Paragraph 161G Simple Plan

The Traditional Plan prevailed three times It got the highest priority in the ranking on Legislative Day It was approved on the plenary day (53% to 47%)

The Traditional Plan prevailed three times The One Church plan minority report was presented and the Traditional Plan surpassed it The margin of voting difference between the Traditional Plan and the One Church Plan remained consistent

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are not Constitutional dealt with the following: Episcopal authority (3 petitions) Board of Ordained Ministry Composition and certification (3 petitions) Full examination of candidates for ordained ministry (1 petition)

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional Expansion of what it means to be a “self - avowed and practicing” homosexual It adds “those who are in same sex marriages, or domestic partnerships or civil unions and those that have made a public statement that they are a practicing homosexual”

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional If someone is found guilty of a chargeable offense, there is a one - year without pay penalty for the first offense and the loss of ministerial credentials for the second offense

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional Bishops are prohibited from consecrating new bishops who are self - avowed homosexuals even if they have been elected.

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional Bishops are prohibited from commissioning or ordaining those who are on the deacon or elder track if the Board of Ordained Ministry has determined that the individual is a self-avowed, practicing homosexual

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional The District Committee on Ministry and the Board of Ordained Ministry shall not approve or recommend persons who do not meet the qualifications after full examination, and the bishop shall rule any unqualified candidate so recommended out of order

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional Bishops can only dismiss a complaint if it has no basis in law and the reason for dismissal is shared with the complainant A “just resolution” must state all identified harms and how they will be addressed to the complainant

Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional Every effort should be made for a “just resolution” to be agreed upon by the complainant Churches can appeal a decision based on egregious errors of law

The Judicial Council will rule April 23 -26 Members of the 2016-2020 Judicial Council.

The Judicial Council will rule April 23 -26 It will study the Traditional Plan and rule on its constitutionality The question that is asked is: if some of it is unconstitutional, does that make the whole thing unconstitutional They will rule on the disaffiliation plan (Taylor) that passed (minority report)

Taylor Disaffiliation Petition – Some of the major points It gives churches a chance to leave the denomination based on theological disagreement It gives a time limit up to Dec. 31, 2023 There must be 2/3 of voting church members at a church conference

Taylor Disaffiliation Petition – Some of the major points The board of trustees of the conference determines the terms The church shall pay any unpaid apportionments, a pension liability and other liabilities The church shall keep their property.

Wespath (pensions) Petitions Passed Pastors who leave the denomination who have been part of our pension system will have their assets reverted to a direct compensation plan (UMPIP) and no longer a portion of direct benefit. (This does not affect retirees). Requires any disaffiliated churches to pay a pension liability

Time Line Everything voted at GC 2019 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020 in the US and 12 months after General Conference 2020 for those conferences outside the US General Conference 2020 will be May 5-15, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN

Time Line Delegates (lay and clergy) for General Conference will be voted on at our annual EPA Conference: Expo Center in Oaks, Pa June 13-15

Final Thoughts Be gentle and prayerful with one another - LGBTQIA people have experienced deep pain over these decisions

Gentle and Prayerful

Final Thoughts Engage in conversations with one another and share perspectives respectfully

Final Thoughts Our 2016 Discipline will be revised online only in January 2020 with any changes approved by the Judicial Council. A new Discipline will be published in January 2021, following the 2020 General Conference.

Final Thoughts Remind people that this is important work the church is doing, and although it is difficult, it is important conversation for the future of the church We are still a United Methodist Church There has been no schism

Photo Overview of the Conference

UMC Commission on a Way Forward

President of the Council of Bishops : Bishop Ken Carter

Procession of Bishops

Worship

Day of Prayer

Bishops in Prayer

Communion and Blessing

Bishop Cynthia Harvey from Louisiana .... did most is the presiding on Tuesday

Legislative Day

Protests

Young People

Sign language interpreters

International Friends

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS