Covenant We will carefully listen to one another. We will be careful not to judge one another. We are not here to change one another’s positions. (Speak to be understood, not to convince) We will ask questions.

Covenant We will speak our truth in love. We will assume trust not suspicion. We will protect the confidentiality of the conversation. Let everyone participate, no one dominate, allow every voice to be heard.

We pledge to God and to each other that we will lead by example in a world where civil discourse seems to have broken down. We pledge to model a better way in how we treat each other.

We commit to create in Matthews United Methodist Church, a safe and sacred space for common prayer and discussion as we come together to discern God’s will for our church.

Three Plans Traditional/Traditionalist One Church Connectional Conference

Traditionalist Plan 3 Expected Petitions Dissolving of Jurisdictional Episcopal Committees and replacing them with a Global Episcopal Committee for accountability of bishops. General Council of Finance & Administration will withhold funds from bishops and/or annual conferences who don’t sign pledge to uphold the Discipline or act outside of the Discipline. Grants $200,000 for conference who choose to leave the denomination. (For administrative costs.)

The One Church Plan

How might the answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” vary across the United States? The world?

In non-essentials liberty In all things charity In essentials unity. In non-essentials liberty In all things charity Rupertus Meldenius

The One Church Plan The apostle Paul wrote, "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-23 NRSV)

The One Church Plan  “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”  (John 17:20-21 NRSV)

The Wesleyan Quadrilateral Reason Tradition Experience Scripture

Hamilton – Schnase Video Trim to 7:03 – 25:50

The One Church Plan This plan would remove the Book of Discipline's restrictive language and allow more freedom for United Methodists to set policies around LGBTQ+ inclusion, according to their own contexts. The Board of Ordained Ministry and Annual Conference Clergy session could choose whether to ordain openly gay clergy.

The One Church Plan Local churches could decide by a majority vote of a Church Conference to adopt a policy to celebrate same-sex marriage on church property. Local congregations might rewrite their wedding policies to either explicitly allow or explicitly prohibit same sex weddings in their facilities.

The One Church Plan No annual conferences, bishop, congregation or pastor would “compelled to act contrary to their convictions.” Each episcopal area [annual conference(s)] would be responsible for paying for the cost of their own bishop’s compensation package.

The One Church Plan Changes would apply to Jurisdictional Conferences in the U.S., with Central Conferences given the authorized to retain the current language or adopt this new legislation according to their national context. A resource that would assist bishops, pastors and laity in conversations related to the changes created by this plan would be prepared by a group of bishops who served on the Commission of a Way Forward.

Video: One Church Plan Bishop Steiner Ball

What do you find positive about this plan? What do you find troublesome? What would be the impact of this plan on Matthews UMC?

A Prayer for The United Methodist Church and The Commission on A Way Forward Gracious God, you are the source of all life and giver of all good and perfect gifts. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, and with your Holy Spirit, you have drawn us together to be your church, to be a witness to the world of your glory, to reflect your love, and to convey your grace. We thank you especially for The United Methodist Church, and its ongoing commitment to both social holiness and vital piety.

We remember that your desire is for us to be in relationships with one another that are life giving and soul renewing. Yet, we have allowed our kinship to others to be defined more by our differences than by our commonalities. Forgive us, O God, for our thinking, conditioned in us by a culture beset by winners and losers. Show us the way of love, which is the only way that saves and the only basis for relationships in your kingdom.

O God, we pray for your church O God, we pray for your church. We pray for those who have been marginalized by Christians on the basis of their sexual orientation. We pray for a return to Biblical literacy as a standard for discipleship. We pray for a renewal of the church's witness, that it may not be governed by culture, but a transformer of it. We pray for the people called Methodist, that as your Spirit guides each of us toward perfection in love, we might move closer to holiness in heart and life.

Over the days ahead, illuminate my heart through prayer, and guide me in praying for The United Methodist Church … and show me how I might make your love real in ways that Reach, Teach, Praise and Serve … both significant and small, for the sake of your kingdom.   Amen.