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General Conference Decisions

Posted: May 1, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Bishop's Blog | Tags: , , , |Leave a comment

Over the last few years, we have engaged in a continual process of discerning who God is calling the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference to be.  As votes have unfolded at the General Conference, bringing change to The United Methodist Church, there are many results to be celebrated, interpreted, and analyzed for implications. Some are deeply grateful for these changes, and some among us will be challenged.

However, with these changes, our commitment to who God has called us to be does not change. Together, we discerned this vision from God for the TWKUMC:

WHO WE ARE TO BE

1. A people who are rooted in Christ and Spirit-led.

2. A people who seeks to journey purposefully, humbly, and joyfully together, helping one another along the way of love, prioritizing relationships over ideas. 

3. We seek to show the world another way; to be the Beloved Community through acts of love, reconciliation, and justice.

These values help us now as we come to process and understand the actions of the postponed 2020 General Conference.  There will be many further communications in the days and weeks to come but because of the attention needed for interpreting a vote on Wednesday morning, I am going to focus on that in this blog.  

By a 93.14% vote, the delegates approved legislation that opens space for The United Methodist Church to be a more welcoming and inclusive Church. I have been reminded of how much harm has been done across time to LGBTQIA persons through our many years of debate.

General Conference delegates from all over the world voted to remove harmful language to LGBTQIA persons.  The removal of this language makes room for differences of opinion and belief to be present in one church family.

Also, United Methodist clergy were granted the space to perform weddings for same-gender couples and the space for all persons to be licensed for pastoral ministry and ordained as Elders or Deacons.

There are some important things about this decision that I want you to know:

First, pastors have always decided who they will marry. This is based on several factors including the couples’ preparation for the marriage covenant. This has not changed. Pastors will continue to decide who they will marry. There is no mechanism in Conference leadership nor desire on my part as bishop to determine who a pastor will marry.  Further, the desires of all clergy are to be honored and not judged by others.

Second, the legislation approved this morning explicitly protects the right of clergy and churches not to officiate at or host same-sex weddings. We know that different people have different opinions on these matters and our churches are in different contexts within the bounds of Tennessee and Western Kentucky.  It is my expectation that the diversity of everyone’s opinion and everyone’s context is to be honored.

In addition, the General Conference has decided that a person’s entrance into the ministry process of the United Methodist Church shall not be prohibited by gender, ethnic origin, color, economic status, and now adds – by removal from the Discipline – sexual orientation.

In other words, candidates for ministry are to be eligible by their perceived gifts and potential for effectiveness in the proclamation or teaching of the gospel, the making of disciples, providing pastoral care, or connecting the church to the world.

As the bishop of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, the Cabinet and I will continue to work with churches and clergy to ensure we have the best match possible when making appointments.

We want churches to have a vital ministry rather than one defined by conflict. Your district superintendent will continue to be your primary contact on appointment related issues.

We celebrate the ways these recent decisions reinforce the power of God’s love in our lives and the world. I also recognize how these decisions add complexity to our life together as United Methodists.

One other thing that will not change. Every United Methodist Church will be open to anybody who seeks to know Christ. Our communion table is open, and so are our hearts.

We remain on the journey together trusting God will show us our next faithful steps as we follow Jesus in the Wesleyan Way.

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