Randa's Ramblings
The General Conference has concluded its meetings in Dallas-Fort Worth and the delegates are already home, returning their lives to normal. While they met, these same delegates worshiped, sang, debated, laughed, cried, and made decisions together. They represented all Methodists from around the world and sought to be faithful to their calling as delegates and to their understandings of God’s grace and nurture. Most of the decisions they made will continue to affect the United Methodist church for years to come. Some of them are welcomed and affirmed by local churches and others are thorns in the side for local churches.
I wish to highlight a few of the decisions and their ongoing impact in our life together.
- Committed to starting 650 new churches by finding and equipping 1000 church planters.
- Affirmed support of the people of Tibet, Sudan, and Taiwan in their struggles for independence.
- Pledged to work to end the “unabated and egregious violations” of human rights in the Philippines.
- Increased its commitment to fight malaria by entering into a capital campaign to raise $75 million to $100 million for global health.
- Added the promise to be faithful in “their witness” as well as in their “prayers, their presence, their gifts and their service.”
- Adopted a “minority report” that retained the denomination's decades-old proscription describing homosexual practice as “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
- Approved creation of a hymnal revision committee which will bring proposals to the 2012 General Conference.
These are only a few of the thousands of pieces of legislation that were addressed during the General Conference. In addition, they committed to “holy conferencing” about issues such as homophobia and heterosexism. Deep divisions were avoided in some cases because the delegates worked hard to build personal relationships as the Conference began. A peaceful demonstration was permitted on the floor of the Conference and several bishops met to talk further with some of the demonstrators. Nevertheless, some of the decisions are disturbing.
I am, personally, distressed that the delegates chose to accept a “minority” report instead of a “majority” report in regards to ¶161G Human Sexuality in the Book of Discipline. This is the paragraph which addresses the understanding of sexuality in its many forms. The new wording has reiterated the belief that sexual relations must be within “the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage bond.” Over the coming months, I’m sure we will have the opportunity to have conversations about many of the actions taken at the General Conference. I hope that we will all seek to remember the “holy conferencing” that was advocated for the General Conference and which was practiced by the delegates.
Join me in dreaming an open and inclusive world for all of God’s children.
Shalom, Randa