Special general conference 2019 Your one-stop guide to understanding your future

WHOA! Slow down there friend! We are so happy that you are taking the time to better understand what is set to happen at General Conference 2019! Before you jump straight in, please be aware that this guide contains a LOT of technical jargon that may be unfamiliar to you. We have attempted to highlight all of these words. Their definitions can be found on the Glossary that goes along with this guide. And, as always, never be afraid to ask one of us questions! We are happy to assist you however we can.

What is General conference? General conference is a meeting of the General Church that occurs every four years. During General Conference, delegates discuss and vote on petitions and resolutions proposed by individuals, annual conferences, and other groups within the denomination.  A General Conference is the only group that can change the Book of Discipline.

What makes this general conference special? When is it? The only topic of conversation at this special conference will be human sexuality. This will be held in addition to the normal General conference schedule. There will still be a 2020 General Conference. The special conference will take place from Feb 23rd to 26th 2019, in St Louis, Missouri

Who’s Who in General Conference 2019? Part One: The players Who’s Who in General Conference 2019?

Who is going to be there? 850 voting delegates from around the world (the delegates are half clergy and half laity) Delegates are elected at annual conferences. Iowa has 12 delegates Phil Carver, a member of St. Mark’s, is the head of the Iowa delegation

Who is going to be there? Bishops (endorsing legislation, but not voting) Visitors—free to attend Members of the Commission on the Way Forward

Who is the commission Bishops (endorsing legislation, but not voting) 32 members, named by bishops to represent various interest groups

Part two: The Game What are the proposals?

What are They talking about? Report of Commission on a Way Forward: 3 potential plans One Church Connectional Conference Traditionalist Both the Commission and the majority of the Council of Bishops endorse the One Church Plan

What is the “one church” plan? It removes the current denomination-wide prohibitions on same-sex weddings However, it requires local churches to vote if they want to allow same-sex weddings. 

What is the “one church” plan? It allows for the possibility of ordination for gay and lesbian clergy candidates However, it also allows provisions for individual Annual conferences to ban LGBTQ+ candidates

What is the “one church” plan? It would remove the current prohibition statement from our Social Principles: “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,” However, it would introduce new language to say, “We affirm those who continue to maintain that the Scriptural witness does not condone the practice of homosexuality.”

Are there other plans? Several, among them, Connectional, traditional, and Simple (see endnotes)

Part three: the Rule book What even is the book of discipline?

What is the book of discipline? The Book of Discipline contains the law, doctrine, and administrative bylaws of the UMC It is revised at every General Conference (every four years) It includes a list of all the bishops, a brief history of the church, the church constitution, a statement concerning doctrine and theology, the social principles, and a legislative section

What is the connectional conference plan? The connectional conference plan creates three divisions of the United Methodist Churcheach with its own theological viewpoint and response to issues related to LGBTQ+ inclusion. These would share general agencies, such as Global Ministries, Discipleship, and Pensions.  It does away with the five current jurisdictions in the U.S.

What is the traditionalist plan? This plan strengthens anti-LGBTQ+ provisions in the Book of Discipline It adds new measures intended to ensure “greater accountability”, such as mandatory minimums It requires loyalty pledges from bishops and other leaders within annual conferences, stating they will uphold the heightened LGBTQ+ restrictions Should they choose not to sign, they will lose their identity and funding as a United Methodist entity

What is the “Simple” Plan? The simple plan is an alternative plan, initially written by the Queer Clergy Caucus The Simple Plan proposes to “simply” remove the language from the Book of Discipline that excludes LGBTQ+ people from full participation in the church It only deletes language regarding LGBTQ+ persons and makes no additions of any kind