1. 2019 General Conference Review
Bishop Peggy Johnson

2. Opening
Prayer

3. General Conference 2019
St Louis, MO
February 23-26,
2019

4. 831 voting delegates,
31 absent because of visa problems
The conference and the Way Forward cost $4.4 million dollars
8 delegates from EPA and 2 reserve delegates

5. The event began with a day of prayer

6. Commission on the Way Forward
We heard from the
Commission on the Way Forward

7. legislative prioritizing
We had a full day of
legislative prioritizing
Wespath (Pensions)
Traditional Plan
Disaffiliation Plan (Taylor)
Disaffiliation Plan (Boyette)

8. legislative prioritizing
We had a full day of
legislative prioritizing
One Church Plan
Disaffiliation Plan (Ottjes)
Retain Paragraph 161G
Simple Plan

9. The Traditional Plan prevailed
three times
It got the highest priority in the ranking on Legislative Day
It was approved on the plenary day (53% to 47%)

10. The Traditional Plan prevailed
three times
The One Church plan minority report was presented and the Traditional Plan surpassed it
The margin of voting difference between the Traditional Plan and the One Church Plan remained consistent

11. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are not Constitutional dealt with the following:
Episcopal authority (3 petitions)
Board of Ordained Ministry Composition and certification (3 petitions)
Full examination of candidates for ordained ministry (1 petition)

12. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional
Expansion of what it means to be a “self - avowed and practicing” homosexual
It adds “those who are in same sex marriages, or domestic partnerships or civil unions and those that have made a public statement that they are a practicing homosexual”

13. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional
If someone is found guilty of a chargeable offense, there is a one - year without pay penalty for the first offense and the loss of ministerial credentials for the second offense

14. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional
Bishops are prohibited from consecrating new bishops who are self - avowed homosexuals even if they have been elected.

15. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional
Bishops are prohibited from commissioning or ordaining those who are on the deacon or elder track if the Board of Ordained Ministry has determined that the individual is a self-avowed, practicing homosexual

16. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional
The District Committee on Ministry and the Board of Ordained Ministry shall not approve or recommend persons who do not meet the qualifications after full examination, and the bishop shall rule any unqualified candidate so recommended out of order

17. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional
Bishops can only dismiss a complaint if it has no basis in law and the reason for dismissal is shared with the complainant
A “just resolution” must state all identified harms and how they will be addressed to the complainant

18. Parts of the Traditional Plan that are Constitutional
Every effort should be made for a “just resolution” to be agreed upon by the complainant
Churches can appeal a decision based on egregious errors of law

19. The Judicial Council will rule April 23 -26
Members of the Judicial Council.

20. The Judicial Council will rule April 23 -26
It will study the Traditional Plan and rule on its constitutionality
The question that is asked is: if some of it is unconstitutional, does that make the whole thing unconstitutional
They will rule on the disaffiliation plan (Taylor) that passed (minority report)

21. Taylor Disaffiliation Petition – Some of the major points
It gives churches a chance to leave the denomination based on theological disagreement
It gives a time limit up to Dec. 31, 2023
There must be 2/3 of voting church members at a church conference

22. Taylor Disaffiliation Petition – Some of the major points
The board of trustees of the conference determines the terms
The church shall pay any unpaid apportionments, a pension liability and other liabilities
The church shall keep their property.

23. Wespath (pensions) Petitions Passed
Pastors who leave the denomination who have been part of our pension system will have their assets reverted to a direct compensation plan (UMPIP) and no longer a portion of direct benefit. (This does not affect retirees).
Requires any disaffiliated churches to pay a pension liability

24. Time Line
Everything voted at GC 2019 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020 in the US and 12 months after General Conference 2020 for those conferences outside the US
General Conference 2020 will be May 5-15, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN

25. Time Line
Delegates (lay and clergy) for General Conference will be voted on at our annual EPA Conference: Expo Center in Oaks, Pa June 13-15

26. Final Thoughts
Be gentle and prayerful with one another - LGBTQIA people have experienced deep pain over these decisions

27. Gentle and Prayerful

28. Final Thoughts
Engage in conversations with one another and share perspectives respectfully

29. Final Thoughts
Our 2016 Discipline will be revised online only in January 2020 with any changes approved by the Judicial Council. A new Discipline will be published in January 2021, following the 2020 General Conference.

30. Final Thoughts
Remind people that this is important work the church is doing, and although it is difficult, it is important conversation for the future of the church
We are still a United Methodist Church
There has been no schism

31. Photo Overview
of the Conference

32. UMC Commission on a Way Forward

33. President of the Council of Bishops :
Bishop Ken Carter

34. Procession
of Bishops

35. Worship

36. Day of Prayer

37. Bishops in Prayer

38. Communion
and
Blessing

39. Bishop Cynthia Harvey from Louisiana ....
did most is the presiding on Tuesday

40. Legislative Day

41. Protests

42. Young People

43. Sign language interpreters

44. International Friends

46. QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS