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

2. 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

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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”

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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)

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

27. 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?

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

29. 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?

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

31. 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

32. 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.

33. Judicial Council Decision 1360
You can read the full decision on the
Judicial Council Decisions page:
Just search for Decision No. 1360

34. 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
umc.org/contact/2019-general-conference-petition
Detailed instructions for formatting/submitting petitions at umc.org/contact/2019-general-conference-petition

35. Report of the Delegation
Thoughts from the Delegation

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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.

40. 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?

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. 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.