Bishop Beard’s Pre-Conference Briefing on A Way Forward

OUTLINE OF THE DAY Overview by the Bishop of the Report from the Commission Potential Financial Implications Small Group Discussion Time A Time for Questions and Comments A Time of Prayer for the IGRC and our Delegation

2019 “Called” Session of General Conference February 23-26, 2019 in St 2019 “Called” Session of General Conference February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. -General Conference is the legislative body of The United Methodist Church. -normally meets every 4 years. -composed of 864 delegates elected by annual conferences from all over the world. 40% of delegates are from outside the United States.

2019 Special Session of General Conference -charged with making decisions for the entire Church that result in our Book of Discipline. Clergy make a sacred promise to follow it and Bishops are charged with overseeing it. -IGRC has 10 voting delegates – 5 clergy and 5 laity.

2019 Special Session of General Conference -This body will discuss, debate and vote on the report from the Commission on a Way Forward. -Bishops do not participate in debate or vote. Bishop’s preside when selected to preside. -A pool of potential presiders is given to the General Commission members to choose from.

History -46 years of Debate around human sexuality. -Creation of the Commission on a Way Forward. -Work of the Commission. -Presentation of Final Report. -2019 Special Session of General Conference.

Commission on a Way Forward -32 members nominated by the Council of Bishops from around the world. -1/3 laity; 1/3 clergy & 1/3 bishops. -diverse in gender and ethnicity.

Commission on a Way Forward Vision - The Commission will design a way for being church that maximizes the presence of a United Methodist witness in as many places in the world as possible, that allows for as much contextual differentiation as possible, and that balances an approach to different theological understandings of human sexuality with a desire for as much unity as possible.

Final Report -Originally to come from Council of Bishops, including all plans with a recommendation of the One Church plan by 61% of active bishops. -A Judicial Council Ruling resulted in the report coming from the Commission of a Way Forward with no recommendation of a plan. (footnote # 6 from the Judicial Council Decision 1360)

Organizational Design for the 2019 Special General Conference The Commission on the General Conference has determined by a unanimous vote that there will be only one legislative committee—to which all delegates will be assigned. All legislation deemed in harmony with the call will be assigned to that committee.

Organizational Design for the 2019 Special General Conference According to the Plan of Organization all properly submitted petitions and reports must be assigned to a legislative committee.

Organizational Design for the 2019 Special General Conference The model that was selected by the Commission, however, would allow all delegates to be a part of the entire process and to be equally informed and involved.

Organizational Design for the 2019 Special General Conference Saturday, February 23 will be designated for prayer and preparation. Each day of the special session will begin with worship, and worship will also be woven throughout the three days.

Organizational Design for the 2019 Special General Conference The first official day of the session, Sunday, February 24, will be dedicated to organizational and administrative matters.

Organizational Design for the 2019 Special General Conference On Monday, February 25, the body would go into legislative committee to consider, amend and vote on petitions.

Organizational Design for the 2019 Special General Conference On Tuesday, February 26, the body would go back into plenary session for final voting, considering future directions and closing worship. All petitions approved by a legislative committee must have a vote by the plenary session.

JUDICIAL COUNCIL DECISION 1366 The Court found most of the One Church Plan to be constitutional. The Court identified more problems with the Traditional Plan. The Court ruled that the Connectional Conference Plan, because of the amount of constitutional amendments, fell outside of its jurisdiction. General Conference Delegates will decide how to move forward with each plan.

Three Plans The One Church Model The Connectional Conference Model The Traditionalist Model

The One Church Plan overview The One Church Plan provides a form of unity that gives conferences, churches, and pastors the flexibility to uniquely reach their missional context without disbanding the connectional nature of The United Methodist Church.

The One Church Plan - Defines marriage as being between two adults - Removes language from BOD that states: “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching”.

The One Church Plan Clergy will have the freedom to decide whether or not they perform same-gender marriages. Local churches will have the freedom to decide whether or not to allow same-gender marriages in their churches. (Majority vote of Church Conference).

The One Church Plan Annual Conferences will have the freedom to decide whether or not to ordain practicing LGBTQ persons. (Majority vote of Clergy session – once every 30 months unless consent of bishop allows for sooner).

The One Church Plan Bishops will have the freedom to decide whether or not they ordain practicing LGBTQ persons. The Jurisdictional College of Bishops shall provide for the ordination, commissioning, and licensing of all persons recommended by the Board of Ordained Ministry and the clergy session of the annual conference.

The One Church Plan All clergy with security of appointment shall continue under appointment by the Bishop of the annual conference.

The One Church Plan Clergy who cannot in good conscience continue to serve in a conference based upon that conference’s standards for ordination regarding practicing homosexuals, may seek to transfer under ¶ 347, and shall be supported and assisted in that process.

The One Church Plan Clergy who cannot in good conscience continue to serve a particular church based on unresolved disagreements over same-sex marriage as communicated by the pastor and Staff-Parish Relations Committee to the district superintendent, shall be reassigned.

The One Church Plan Churches leaving the denomination must contribute an amount of money equal to its share of the Conference’s unfunded pension liability, payment of apportionments as arranged, and other financial considerations that may be set by the Annual Conference.

The One Church Plan Amends The Clergy Retirement Security so active clergy who leave the denomination are removed from the defined benefit and annuity risk pools for their former annual conference and the Church, and are provided an actuarially equivalent account balance benefit.

The One Church Plan Central Conferences will have the freedom to adapt the Book of Discipline to their context. A Global Book of Discipline is being prepared for the 2020 General Conference to consider.

The Connectional Conference Plan Overview The Connectional Conference Plan reflects a unified core that includes shared name, logo, doctrine and services / ministries. creates three values-based connectional conferences that have distinctive definitions of accountability, contextualization and justice.

The Connectional Conference Plan Allows various parts of the UMC to follow their understandings of human sexuality without breaking unity completely by forming three Connectional Conferences: Traditional, Unity and Progressive.

The Connectional Conference Plan Five U.S. jurisdictions are replaced by three connectional conferences, each covering the whole country, based on theology including perspectives on LGBTQ ministry (i.e. progressive, unity, and traditional).

The Connectional Conference Plan A redefined Council of Bishops focuses on ecumenical relationships and shared learning. Episcopal oversight, accountability, elections, assignments and funding occur within the College of Bishops of each connectional conference.

The Connectional Conference Plan Cross-connectional conference cooperation, relationships, and partnerships in mission and ministry continue as they do now, at the initiative of the entities involved. All connectional conferences would continue to support mission work and sustain ministry in the areas outside the U.S.

The Connectional Conference Plan Each connectional conference would create its own Book of Discipline, which would begin with The General Book of Discipline, including Articles of Religion, Confessions of Faith, the General Rules and other items that are commonly agreed upon by United Methodists.

The Connectional Conference Plan Each connectional conference has the authority to adapt those items not included in The General Book of Discipline. Each connectional conference elects and (in the U.S.) pays for its own bishops. Bishops outside the U.S. would continue to be supported by all U.S. annual conferences.

The Connectional Conference Plan Each connectional conference has its own policies regarding LGBTQ weddings and ordination. Each connectional conference sets its own standards for ministerial credentialing and list of approved schools/seminaries.

The Connectional Conference Plan Jurisdictional conferences would have the first level vote regarding connectional conference affiliation. Annual conferences that disagree with the decision of their jurisdiction may decide to affiliate with a different connectional conference. No local church is required to take a vote unless it decides to join a different connectional conference than its annual conference.

The Connectional Conference Plan All active and retired Bishops will choose which Connectional Conference to affiliate with. All active and retired clergy will follow their annual conference unless they opt to transfer to a different Connectional Conference.

The Connectional Conference Plan Some Bishops and Clergy may make themselves available to serve in more than one connectional conference. In order to serve in a connectional conference, a clergy person will need to agree to meet the qualifications of the connectional conference and maintain the standards of conduct as set forth by the connectional conference they are serving.

The Connectional Conference Plan Central Conferences may either join one of the three Connectional Conferences formed by jurisdictions or form its own Connectional Conference. Wespath could continue to provide pension services to all connectional conferences.

The Connectional Conference Plan Property owned by Annual Conferences follows the Annual Conference into its connectional conference. Jurisdictional properties follow the jurisdiction into its connectional conference.

The Connectional Conference Plan Requires Constitutional Amendments (These would require a 2/3 majority vote from across the whole church for adoption)

The Traditionalist Plan Overview Maintains current language in BOD that states: “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching”. Maintains definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

The Traditionalist Plan Maintains the stance that self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates for ministry, ordained as ministers or appointed to serve as pastors in The United Methodist Church.

The Traditionalist Plan Broadens the definition of self-avowed practicing homosexual to include persons living in a same-sex marriage or civil union or persons who publicly state that they are practicing homosexuals.

The Traditionalist Plan Allows annual conferences or any group of 50 congregations to form a self-governing church if they are in “irreconcilable conflict for reasons of conscience with the doctrine or moral teachings and requirements of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church on the issues of human sexuality.

The Traditionalist Plan Require bishops (active and retired) to certify that they will uphold, enforce, and maintain the Discipline’s prohibitive standards on LGBTQ marriage and ordination. Require every annual conference to certify that they will uphold, enforce, and maintain the Discipline's standards on LGBTQ marriage and ordination.

The Traditionalist Plan Annual conferences that did not so certify would be encouraged to form something similar to an “autonomous, affiliated, or concordat church.” As of 2021, annual conferences who could not so certify could no longer use the United Methodist name and logo, and they could no longer receive any funds from The United Methodist Church.

The Traditionalist Plan Local churches that disagreed with their annual conference's decision to enforce the Discipline's standards could vote to withdraw from the UMC and unite with the “autonomous, affiliated, or concordat church.”

The Traditionalist Plan Local churches that disagreed with their annual conference's decision to not enforce the Discipline's standards could vote to remain with the UMC. Clergy who could not maintain the Discipline's standards on LGBTQ marriage and ordination would be encouraged to join the “autonomous, affiliated, or concordat church.”

The Traditionalist Plan Bishops are prohibited from consecrating Bishops and commissioning or ordaining individuals who are self- avowed homosexuals. Requires members of Boards of Ordained Ministry to certify that they will uphold provisions of the Book of Discipline regarding homosexuality.

The Traditionalist Plan Sets minimum penalties for performing same-gender marriages. Creates additional accountability measures for Council of Bishops.

The Traditionalist Plan Clarifies that churches leaving the denomination must contribute an amount of money equal to its share of the Conference’s unfunded pension liability.

Our Challenge Our challenge is to pray for our delegates to find a way forward that glorifies Jesus Christ and advances the church’s mission of making disciples. The 2nd challenge is to select a path that will do the least amount of harm globally while focusing us on mission and ministry. The 3rd challenge is to remember that no matter what plan is selected we are called to love one another as Christ loves each of us.

OUR MISSION “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28.19-20

The PROMISE of CHRIST “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth.” - Acts 1.8

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION TIME What did you hear that gives you hope? What was challenging for you? What is our witness and what can be our witness to the world in relation to our differences? How can we model for the world what love looks like in the midst of diverse opinions among Christian brothers and sisters?

Questions and Comments: 1 Questions and Comments: 1. One question or comment per person until all that desire to do so have shared. If time remains a second question or comment may be made. 2. Questions are preferred but comments are welcomed. Please remember that we are NOT here to debate, argue, or persuade. Speeches are not necessary! 3. Please limit your question or comment to 1 minute or less.

A Time of Prayer Pray for the Congregations of the IGRC that WE would continue to increase our passion for the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Pray that we will be on FIRE for Jesus Christ!

A Time of Prayer Pray for the Leaders, both clergy and lay that we would fall deeper in love with God and boldly use our gifts for ministry and mission.

A Time of Prayer Pray for God’s direction regarding the future of The United Methodist Church. Pray for ME and for the Council of Bishops.

A Time of Prayer Pray for the Delegates of the 2019 General Conference that they would seek God’s wisdom and choose God’s will for the United Methodist Church.