General Conference 2008 News & Info
General Conference Prayer Calendar
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Petitions addressed welfare, hate, torture
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) — New resolutions adopted from the consent calendar by United Methodists touch on a variety of social justice issues, including a living wage, hate crimes and the use of torture. A consent calendar item is one passed by an overwhelming majority in the Legislative Committee to which it was assigned. Unless a number of people request its removal from the consent calendar, it is not debated on the floor.
United Methodists reject changes to homosexuality stance
By Robin Russell*
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—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.” Mrs. Selena Henson, delegate from the Memphis Conference and a member of the Church and Society II Legislative Committee, was one of the presenters of the Minority Report.
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:
*Russell is the managing editor of the United Methodist Reporter.
Thursday Wrap-up: Assembly retains stance on homosexuality
April 30, 2008
By J. Richard Peck*
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—After a long and emotional debate, the 2008 General Conference voted April 30 to retain statements in the Social Principles that the “United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”
The final action replaced a “majority report” from a legislative committee, which called for recognition that “faithful and thoughtful people who have grappled with this issue deeply disagree with one another; yet all seek a faithful witness.” The assembly replaced the majority report by a 517-416 vote.
The committee had voted 39-27 to ask for United Methodists and others “to refrain from judgment regarding homosexual persons and practices as the Spirit leads us to new insights.” Frederick Brewington, a layman in the New York Annual (regional) Conference who chaired the legislative committee, said the proposed statement would eliminate a sentence that has “caused festering sores among the body for three decades.”
The Rev. Eddie Fox, director of world evangelism for the World Methodist Council, led the effort to retain the current language. “My integrity will not allow me to be silent,” he said in introducing the “minority report” to keep the church’s stance unchanged. He said the Social Principles must be faithful to biblical teaching, and he suggested that any change in the language would harm the global church.
In a separate resolution, the conference asked the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, the church’s social advocacy agency, to develop educational resources and materials on the effects of homophobia and heterosexism, the discrimination or prejudice against lesbians or gay men by heterosexual people.
The conference also retained a rule that prohibits United Methodist clergy from conducting ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions.
When delegates returned for the evening session, they walked by some 100 people standing in silent protest of the afternoon votes.
Both majority and minority reports rejected on Pastoral Authority over Church Membership: current wording in the Discipline retained
General Conference let stand language in the Book of Discipline regarding pastoral authority over church membership.
Petitions were brought to the assembly after considerable controversy over a 2005 decision by the United Methodist Judicial Council 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 Conference.
A majority report of a legislative committee asked the conference to make it clear that pastors and congregations “are to faithfully receive all persons who are willing to affirm our vows of membership.”
The Rev. Ted Virts, a superintendent in Sacramento, Calif., argued for the majority report. He said his job is to be “an errand-runner for God” who tells people they are “invited to a banquet,” not to be “a ticket-taker or a security guard.”
A minority report urged delegates to declare that “pastors have the responsibility of discerning one’s readiness to take the vows of membership.”
The Rev. Bob Moon, a pastor in Macon, Ga., supported the minority report, saying pastors must be good shepherds who care for their flock. Allowing anyone to come into the community could have unintended consequences.
The minority report was defeated 515-384, while the majority report was defeated by 51 percent of the delegates, leaving in place the Discipline’s current language: “All people may attend its worship services, participate in the programs, receive the sacraments and become members in any local church in the connection.
100 years of men’s ministry
Shortly before adjourning at noon, delegates celebrated the 100th anniversary of ministry to men in The United Methodist Church and predecessor denominations. A six-minute video presentation noted that men’s ministry was launched in 1908 because two-thirds of Methodists worshipping on Sunday morning were women.
Fewer U.S. bishops—more bishops funded outside U.S. Delegates approved a plan that will result in one less bishop in 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 of the United States. The North Central, Northeastern, South Central and Western jurisdictions each will have one less bishop under a new formula for determining the number of bishops. The action will not affect the Southeastern Jurisdiction, which already has one less bishop than the current formula allows. The Northeastern Jurisdiction likely will lose a bishop in 2008 under the current formula and a second one in 2012 under the new formula. Africa University On April 28, delegates requested $20 million over a four-year period for the school—$10 million in apportionments and $10 million to be raised through the World Service Special Gifts. The Philippines
Delegates adopted a resolution addressing the “unabated and egregious violations” of human rights in the Philippines that have resulted in 886 extrajudicial killings and 179 disappearances, including pastors and church workers. A second resolution pledged to “pray for the Filipinos as they disciple among their people and call them to fidelity to our Lord Jesus Christ’s imperatives for love, compassion, justice and peace.”
Other items
Tuesday, April 29,
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.
Hymnal revision The assembly approved the compilation of a new hymnal and the creation of a 27-member hymnal revision committee, including three bishops, two from each of the five U.S. jurisdictions, a representative from two groups concerned with liturgy and hymnody, three representatives from the United Methodist Publishing House, five from the Board of Discipleship and four chosen for expertise in liturgy and music.
Delegates also approved a petition calling for at least 7 percent of the hymns to be from the Evangelical United Brethren tradition and the creation of both gender-neutral and traditional-language editions.
Delegates also authorized the Board of Discipleship and the Publishing House to create a nine-member committee to determine the need for an Africana hymnal.
Other items The Commission on Religion and Race celebrated its 40th anniversary. The agency was formed at the 1968 uniting conference in Dallas.
The Judicial Council meets 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."
General Conference reinvests in Africa University
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) -
On April 28, the General Conference affirmed its investment in Africa University and made it a priority by voting to allocate $20 million over a four-year period - $10 million in apportionments and $10 million to be raised through the World Service Special Gifts - to continue developing the school and its programs.
"Thank you, General Conference, for your continued support," said Fanuel Tagwira, the university's interim vice chancellor. "Your contributions are helping make a difference on the African continent. The fire shall continue to burn, and it shall never be put out."
'Your investment is secure'
Delegates were told that while Zimbabwe has an inflation rate of 200,000 percent - the highest in the world - the university, with a few challenges, continues to operate and fulfill its mission of educating its 1,400 students from 24 African countries.
"The political situation has not affected the university. Your investment is secure," Tagwira said. "Both government and opposition politicians have great admiration for what Africa University has achieved. We remain open and following our normal calendar. We thank God for his divine favor," he said.
The $20 million approved by the delegates is not final until the churchwide Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table present a quadrennial budget to the 2008 General Conference for approval.
Global Ministries struggling with critical social issues: Beth Brown
Beth Brown, a member of the Global Ministries Legislative committee, said, “Our committee has struggled with some of the most critical social justice issues in our world. We have discussed the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the Global Health Initiative for HIV/AIDS. We passed petitions regarding both concerns. Our committee adopted petitions calling for the Abolition of Torture and the end of slavery which controls the lives of over 27 million persons worldwide. We are also calling for the eradication of abusive child labor which is pervasive in many of the world’s poorest countries. All of these proposals will go before General Conference.
Mandatory retirement age for bishops increased by two years to 68
The 992 delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference increased by two years the mandatory retirement age for bishops.
The decision impacts three of 14 bishops who were retiring on Aug. 31 following the regular sessions of the five U.S. jurisdictional conferences in July and the central conference meetings in Africa, Europe and the Philippines in the fall and in 2009. The increase in the retirement age was proposed by a task force studying the episcopacy, and a hand vote the delegates took on April 28 made the decision effective at the conclusion of the 2008 General Conference.
Changing the retirement age from 66 to 68 reflects the way Social Security is moving in allowing people to work longer if they choose, said Peggy Sewell of the episcopal services office at the United Methodist Council on Finance and Administration.
The action also moves the bishops closer to the retirement age for ordained elders and saves costs for the Episcopal Fund, according to the Rev. Janet L. Forbes, a delegate from the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference and chairwoman of the subcommittee considering the recommendations from the episcopal study task force.
The Episcopal Fund provides economic support to bishops by paying their salaries, pensions and benefits as well as episcopal office, business travel and meeting expenses.
Bishops William Hutchinson, Jane Middleton and Solito Toquero have the option of proceeding with retirement if they choose or serving for another four years.
Prior to General Conference, mandatory disciplinary requirements stated that bishops had to retire on Aug. 31 following the regular session of the jurisdictional conference if the bishop's 66th birthday had been reached on or before July 1 of the year in which the jurisdictional conference was held.
‘Grateful to serve more’
Middleton, 67, episcopal leader of the Central Pennsylvania Annual (regional) Conference, said she is “very grateful to have another four years to serve in this way.” She was elected to the episcopacy in 2004 and never expected to be able to serve more than four years. It was after reading the recommendation to increase the retirement age that "I wondered if perhaps a door was opening that I thought was absolutely closed by the Book of Discipline," she said.
But Toquero, 66, bishop of
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