Commission on a Way Forward Dr. Tim Bruster CTC Delegation Rev. Casey Orr Commission on a Way Forward

Report of the Delegation Elected at the 2014 Session of the Annual Conference Met regularly to plan our work and understand the legislation that would be considered at General Conference. Participated in the October 2015 information session in Oklahoma City for all delegations in the South Central Jurisdiction General Conference in Portland in May of 2016

Report of the Delegation May 17, 2016 – Request of the General Conference that the bishops provide leadership to help the church find a way forward through the chaos and impasse in which the General Conference found itself over the issues of human sexuality May 18, 2016 – The General Conference voted to accept the bishops’ An Offering for a Way Forward report and act on the steps outlined. October 24, 2016 – The Council of Bishops named 32 persons to serve on the Commission on a Way Forward. Reverend Casey Orr was one of two deacons named to the commission.

What is before us? Disagreement about ¶161.G Same-sex marriage Ordination of “self-avowed practicing” homosexual persons

What is before us? Our ability to reach LGBTQ persons and their allies and include them in the life of the church Our ability to reach traditionalists and include them in the life of the church People leaving our churches Progressives Traditionalists

Where are we in the conversation? 2 years since 2016 General Conference 17 months of work by the Commission on a Way Forward Forwarding a Proposal A Theological Framework A Missional Framework

The Models The One Church Plan The Connectional Conference Plan The Traditionalist Plan

The One Church Plan Recognizes the diverse theological and scriptural understandings of our global church. Provides generous unity for conferences, churches, and pastors Allows congregations and pastors greater freedom to reach new people.

The One Church Plan Removes the current restrictive language about homosexuality from the Book of Discipline and removes chargeable offenses Adds assurances or protections for pastors and conferences who, due to their theological convictions, cannot perform same-sex weddings or ordain LGBTQ persons

The One Church Plan Decisions about same-gender weddings made by congregations for their buildings, by pastors for their ministry, and by Boards of Ordained Ministry for ordinations. Does not require any annual conference, bishop, congregation, or pastor to act contrary to their convictions.

Connectional Conference Plan Creates three values-based connectional conferences to replace the current five Jurisdictional Conferences: Accountability – no one can Contextualization – all can, no one must; some will, some won’t Justice – all shall

Connectional Conference Plan Allows for a Book of Discipline within each connectional conference Current Central Conferences have choice of becoming their own connectional conference

Connectional Conference Plan Council of Bishops is focused on shared learning and ecumenical relationships Episcopal oversight, accountability, elections, assignments, and funding occur within the College of Bishops of each connectional conference

Connectional Conference Plan Annual conferences choose their connectional conference Local churches who desire to join a connectional conference that is different from their annual conference could vote to join another annual conference

The Traditional Plan Strengthens the current language of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality for greater clarity Increased Accountability: Streamlines the process to enforce penalties for violations of the Book of Discipline related to marriage and ordination for “self-avowed practicing” homosexual persons

The Traditional Plan Maintains the current structure of the church Continues the current relationships between the church and all general agencies and commissions

The Models THE ONE CHURCH PLAN* CONNECTIONAL CONFERENCE PLAN THE TRADITIONALIST PLAN PRIORITY UNITY DIFFERENTIATION / SPACE ACCOUNTABILITY PRACTICE CONTEXTUALITY UNIFORMITY LANGUAGE REMOVES RESTRICTIVE LANGUAGE CONNECTIONAL CONFERENCE DECIDES STRENGTHENS RESTRICTIVE LANGUAGE STRUCTURE SAME NEW

Recognizing the Difference This is a different kind of report. It is the product of a different kind of work. It asks for a different kind of response. It potentially leads to a different kind of future.

The Importance of the Difference Albert Einstein: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them.” From the Gospel of Mark: “no one sews a piece of new, unshrunk cloth on old clothes…” “no one pours new wine into old wineskins”

A Different Kind of Report From your Commission – not a caucus, constituency, agency, or committee, *32 people *9 nations *15 states *All jurisdictions *Men and women *Straight and gay *Laity, elders, deacons, bishops *Full span of generations *All theologies / positions

A report that… Does not come from like-minded people Is not the product of debate and parliamentary procedure. Angered and upset people – who never left the table and never stopped contributing Is a product of conversation, study, prayer, listening, transparency, trust In 26 days of meeting, no votes were taken

Putting it in context: Blue states and Red states A UMC in over 95% of US counties African nations where homosexuality is illegal Congresswoman Geraldine Roman in the Philippines Western Europe which has few issues Generations that have few issues

Putting it in context: Blue states and Red states A UMC in over 95% of US counties African nations where homosexuality is illegal Congresswoman Geraldine Roman in the Philippines Western Europe which has few issues Generations that have few issues There is no definitive answer, except for those people who have their own definitive answer.

Putting it in context: Blue states and Red states A UMC in over 95% of US counties African nations where homosexuality is illegal Congresswoman Geraldine Roman in the Philippines Western Europe which has few issues Generations that have few issues There is no definitive answer, except for those people who have their own definitive answer. If this is a problem to be solved, it has no solution other than picking whose side you are one.

If not problem solving, choosing… …to find a way forward That can be as connected and unified as possible That can be as agile, responsive, and contextual as possible. That can live in and address the widest global and cultural mission field as possible. (From the COWF Founding Document: Mission, Vision, and Scope)

Polarities A polarity is two equal truths that cannot be easily held at the same time.

The Choices for GC 2019 Which side of the polarity must the United Methodist Church now lean into in order to live into its next guiding story?

The Choices for GC 2019 Which mission must the church now choose to pursue? The public mission? The private mission?

Who will the UMC be? The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Who will we be? In what form of faith community? With what unity? Seeking to do ministry with whom?

A Message from the Council of Bishops Council of Bishops Overview of the One Church Model

Timeline July 7, 2018: Final report published in official languages of General Conference July 8, 2018: Deadline for submission of petitions Summer/Fall 2018: Delegates prepare for General Conference – including the October meeting in Oklahoma City for delegations in the South Central Jurisdiction. February 23-26, 2019: Special Session of General Conference

Judicial Council Decision 1360 The purpose of the special session of the General Conference 2019 stated in the Bishops’ call is limited to receiving and acting upon a report from the Council of Bishops based on the recommendations of the Commission on a Way Forward. Petitions to the special session of the General Conference 2019 may be filed by any organization, clergy member and lay member of the United Methodist Church as long as the business proposed to be transacted in such petition is in harmony with the purpose stated in the call. It is the obligation of the General Conference to determine, in the first instance, through its committees, officers and presiders, acting in accordance with The Discipline and the rules and procedures of the General Conference, whether any such petition is “in harmony.” However, business not in harmony with the purpose as stated in the call is not permitted unless the General Conference by a two-­‐‑thirds vote shall determine that other business may be transacted. See ¶ 14.

Judicial Council Decision 1360 You can read the full decision on the Judicial Council Decisions page: www.umc.org/decisions Just search for Decision No. 1360

2019 General Conference Petition Submission Process UMC Judicial Council has ruled to allow petitions to GC19 by any UMC organization, clergy member and lay member petition must be in harmony with the purpose stated call of GC19 limited to receiving and acting upon a report from the Council of Bishops based on the recommendations of the Commission on a Way Forward Petitions may be submitted June 6 - July 8, 2018 Petitions may be submitted online or via email umc.org/contact/2019-general-conference-petition petitionsecretary@umcgc.org Detailed instructions for formatting/submitting petitions at umc.org/contact/2019-general-conference-petition

Report of the Delegation Thoughts from the Delegation

Praying Our Way Forward Pause daily from 2:23-2:26. Pray for the United Methodist Church and our mission and way forward. Participate in a weekly Wesleyan fast from Thursday after dinner through Friday afternoon. Use a prayer calendar being developed to pray for delegates to General Conference and bishops by name

Central Texas Conference General Conference Delegation in order as elected by the 2014 CTC Annual Conference June 8-11, 2014 Clergy Tim Bruster First Fort Worth John McKellar White’s Chapel Clifton Howard CTCSC Brenda Wier Meadowbrook (Ret) CTCSC Laity Tom Harkrider Arborlawn Kim Simpson St. Barnabas Steve McIver First Ferris Darlene Alfred St. James - Temple

St. Andrew’s - Arlington Central Texas Conference General Conference Delegation Alternates in order as elected by the 2014 CTC Annual Conference June 8-11, 2014 Clergy First Mansfield St. Andrew’s - Arlington Harvest Laity Darcy McCready Marianne Brown-Trigg First Burleson Crowley

A Litany of Encouragement Conference: We have pledged our trust, and give you our support in your leadership as members of the Central Texas Conference Delegation.   Delegation: With all humility we have embraced this call on our lives.

A Litany of Encouragement Conference: What core values do you hold as you represent the Central Texas Conference in your work and decision making as a General Conference Delegation?

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation: We value the presence of the Holy Spirit and open ourselves to the outpouring of that Spirit, as we seek to discern God’s call for our denomination’s future. Conference: May the Spirit of Christ fill your hearts and guide your work.  

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation: We value being known by our love, not our anger or opposition.   Conference: May the Spirit of Christ fill your hearts with unconditional love and joy.

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation We value the loosening rather than the tightening of constraints that keep us from being the Church that Christ has called us to be.   Conference: May the Spirit of Christ free your hearts and minds from all that limits who we have been called to be.

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation: We value being intentional concerning inclusiveness and diversity.   Conference: May the Spirit of Christ open us to God’s inclusive love for all.

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation: We value Wesley’s Three Simple Rules: Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God, as we maintain focus by letting go of non-essentials. Conference: May the Spirit of Christ fill your hearts with focus on what really matters.

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation: We value making disciples over institutional maintenance. Conference: May the Spirit of Christ fill your hearts with a passion to share God’s love.

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation: We value public over private missions and agendas. Conference: May the Spirit of Christ fill you with an openness that leads to reconciliation.

A Litany of Encouragement Delegation: We value transparency, honesty, and truth. ALL: May the Spirit of Christ fill all our hearts and guide all our work. Amen.