1. Welcome!
Please make a nametag and create a table where all the sugar packets are represented.

2. We’re so glad you’re here tonight.
Welcome!
We’re so glad you’re here tonight.

3. GUIDELINES FOR OUR CONVERSATION
Listen with respect and in love to everyone who chooses to speak
Listen first, speak second
Honest not hurtful

4. GUIDELINES FOR OUR CONVERSATION
Careful not to make assumptions
Speak only for yourself
No one is here to win an argument

5. What are the issues before us?

6. THE ISSUES BEFORE US IN THE UMC
Disagreement about Book of Discipline Language
Same Sex Marriage
Ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexual persons

7. THE ISSUES BEFORE US IN THE UMC
Our ability to reach LGBTQ persons and include them in the life of the church
Disagreement on the interpretation of Scripture related to same-sex relationships

8. THE ISSUES BEFORE US IN THE UMC
People leaving our churches – both progressive people and traditional people

9. The “Sugar Packet” Video from Rev. Tom Berlin
A helpful Framework
The “Sugar Packet” Video from Rev. Tom Berlin

10. Video Link:

11. Overview + Three Possible Plans
The Way Forward
Overview + Three Possible Plans

12. UMC 101
General Conference
Jurisdiction
Annual Conference
Local Church

13. UMC 101 General Conference (meets every 4 years: 2016, 2020, etc.)
Jurisdiction
Annual Conference
Local Church
(Northeastern Jurisdiction, meets after each GC)
(Baltimore-Washington Conference, meets every May)
(SPUMC)

14. UMC 101 General Conference Council of Bishops Judicial Council
GC is made up of reps from each annual conference, clergy and lay
Judicial council ensures that everyone (including Council of Bishops and General Conference) is following BOD properly

15. UMC 101

16. 3 Things to Know about the Book of Discipline
UMC 101
3 Things to Know about the Book of Discipline

17. UMC 101
1. It is a book of legislation that governs how the United Methodist Church operates.

18. 2. It can only be modified by the General Conference.
UMC 101
2. It can only be modified by the General Conference.

19. 3. It contains bylaws, theology, a constitution, and more.
UMC 101
3. It contains bylaws, theology, a constitution, and more.
It takes different types of legislative voting to change different parts of the BOD, just like with US law.

20. 4. Three statements about homosexuality were added to it in 1972.
UMC 101
4. Three statements about homosexuality were added to it in 1972.

21. What Does the B.O.D. Say?
Regarding ordination: ¶ The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.

22. What Does the B.O.D. Say?
Regarding Same-Sex Marriages: ¶ Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.

23. What Does the B.O.D. Say?
Regarding Human Sexuality: ¶161F We affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God…

24. What Does the B.O.D. Say?
Regarding Human Sexuality: ¶161F …The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.

25. What Does the B.O.D. Say?
Regarding Human Sexuality: ¶161F (cont’d) We affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We will seek to live together in Christian community, welcoming, forgiving, and loving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.

26. This is the “Restrictive Language”
No ordination
No weddings
Homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching”
*All added to the Book of Discipline in and contested at each General Conference since.

27. We Needed a new way Forward.
Council of Bishops
May 2016
Commission on the Way Forward
Summer-Fall
2016
General Conference

28. We Needed a new way Forward.
Met regularly from 2016 to 2018
32 people
9 nations
All jurisdictions
5 states
Men and women
Straight and gay
Laity, elders, deacons, bishops
Full span of generations
Across the ideological spectrum
We Needed a new way Forward.
Council of Bishops
May 2016
Summer-Fall
2016
Commission on the Way Forward
General Conference

29. We Needed a new way Forward.
Council of Bishops
May 2016
Commission on the Way Forward
Summer-Fall
2016
General Conference
now-2019
now-2019
2017-now

30. Three Possibilities

31. Option 3: Traditionalist Plan
Keeps “restrictive language”
Strengthens it for clarity
Streamlines process to enforce penalties for BOD violations
Maintains current church structure
Continues current relationships between churches & agences

32. Option 2: Connectional Conference Plan
Creates 3 values-based connectional conferences: Progressive, Traditional, and Unity
Each branch would have its own BOD with or without “restrictive language” (according to beliefs)
Greater freedom, less unity

33. Option 1: One Church Plan
Removes “restrictive language”
Does not require any annual conference, bishop, congregation, or pastor to act contrary to their convictions
Maintains current church structure
Continues current relationships between churches & agencies
Recognizes the diverse theological and scriptural understandings of our global church

34. TIMELINE July 7, 2018 Final report published in four languages Summer/
Fall 2018
Delegates prepare for General Conference
February 23-26, 2019
Special Session of General Conference

35. Scripture Study

37. Wesley’s Quadrilateral
SCRIPTURE – primary source and criterion; Jesus Christ is the living Word of God; the Bible is the sacred canon and the source of all that is necessary and sufficient for salvation; we are guided by scholarly inquiry and personal insight; we properly read Scripture within the believing community.
TRADITION – represents a consensus of faith over time and in a diversity of human cultures
EXPERIENCE – the personal appropriation of God’s forgiving and empowering grace; and the corporate experience of God’s people.
REASON – by reason we ask questions of faith and seek to understand God’s action and will. All truth is from God, including truth of science and nature.

39. Interpreting Scripture
You shall not lie with a male as with a female; it is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22, NRSV) If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. (Leviticus 20:13, NRSV)

41. Interpreting Scripture
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NIV)

42. Interpreting Scripture
9 Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, 10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NRSV)

44. Interpreting Scripture
9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. (from Acts 10, NRSV)

45. Interpreting Scripture
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” (from Acts 10, NRSV)

46. Interpreting Scripture
15 The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven… (from Acts 10, NRSV)

47. Interpreting Scripture
23b The next day [Peter] got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. (from Acts 10, NRSV)

48. Interpreting Scripture
25 On Peter’s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; (from Acts 10, NRSV)

49. Interpreting Scripture
28 and he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean… (from Acts 10, NRSV)

50. Interpreting Scripture
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ— he is Lord of all… (from Acts 10, NRSV)

51. Interpreting Scripture
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ— he is Lord of all… (from Acts 10, NRSV)

53. Small Group Discussion
How does this issue impact you and your loved ones?
Which aspects of the three plans do you agree with or find most hopeful/encouraging?

54. Small Group Discussion
Which aspects of the three plans do you disagree with or find most frightening/discouraging?
If you had to pick 1 of the 4 categories presented in the “sugar packet” diagram, which best describes your view right now?

55. Small Group Discussion
How does this issue impact you and your loved ones?

56. Small Group Discussion
Which aspects of the three plans do you agree with or find most hopeful/encouraging?

57. Small Group Discussion
Which aspects of the three plans do you disagree with or find most frightening/discouraging?

58. Small Group Discussion
If you had to pick 1 of the 4 categories presented in the “sugar packet” diagram, which best describes your view right now?

60. Instant Polls The Wi-Fi password for SPUMCWIFI is Baltimore3
Closing Thoughts
Instant Polls
The Wi-Fi password for SPUMCWIFI is Baltimore3

61. Instant Polls
Of the 4 categories in the “sugar packet” diagram, which best describes where you are on this topic right now?
Our Wi-Fi password is Baltimore3

62. Instant Polls
Of the 4 categories in the “sugar packet” diagram, which best describes where you think our church is on this topic right now?
Our Wi-Fi password is Baltimore3

63. Instant Polls
Of the 3 plans before the UMC, which best reflects what you desire for our church?
Our Wi-Fi password is Baltimore3

65. What have we learned tonight?
Closing Thoughts
What have we learned tonight?

67. Thank You