While General Conference 2016 is looking pretty thin compared to 2020, there’s still plenty in store for United Methodists in May 2016.
No, Not This One…the Other One.
At the end of the UMNS report on General Conference, we see a common refrain:
- The Connectional Table has presented guidelines for restructuring the UMC so a proposal can be made for the next General Conference in 2020.
- The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters will present a global Book of Discipline in 2020.
- The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, in 2012, was charged with categorizing part of the current Book of Discipline by 2016. They have made progress but will appeal to complete their work in 2020.
- The General Board of Church and Society will submit the first major revision to the Social Principles in 40 years in 2020.
- A Proposal to add five Bishops to Africa will be studied and presented in 2020.
- Discipleship Ministries (GBOD) proposes an exciting cloud-based hymnal to be studied for 4 years and presented for approval in 2020.
In short, there’s at least six new initiatives or major revisions to how United Methodists operate, and all are being delayed or proposed such that they will be decided by the 2020 General Conference.
Why 2020 instead of 2016?
While there’s a host of other reasons (logistics, communication considerations, and that we are a worldwide church), there’s three non-obvious reasons for the 2020 proposals:
- This is the Methodist Way. It’s the Methodist way to bring forth a topic, commission a study, then present a solution at the next General Conference. Hasty ideas take one General Conference (ie. PlanUMC, SuperBishop, Guaranteed Appointment) and fail, whereas good ideas seem to take at least two. So while it is a delaying tactic in justice topics to “study a topic” for 4 years, for big structural pieces it can make sense to delay…just not too much (see #3).
- Anticipation yields affection for delegates. For most of 2012-2016, the schismatic forces in the UMC have ran the narrative that we should break the UMC in two. By giving delegates so much to look forward to in 2020, the people who love the United Methodists re-seize the narrative that we are better together and look at what we can accomplish together. Not to mention that the delegates to General Conference end up on these very committees that will make these decisions, so there’s personal benefit to them to support them and work on them.
- Previous failures yield timidity. The global restructure movement was dealt a serious blow after the 2008 constitutional amendments were weirdly framed as pro-gay by the anti-gay caucus groups and defeated. So with plans only now emerging in 2016 and 2020 makes sense. As well, the Connectional Table expected to become an all-powerful administrative body with the 2012 PlanUMC, which was ultimately ruled unconstitutional, so their visioning work was understandably delayed.
So while I am really hesitant about putting so many big proposals into one year, since they are all good directions, I’m okay with the 2020 GC being filled with good ideas that will crowd out the bad ones.
But the Biggest Reason is…
The biggest consideration, though, is that many of these proposals deal with the worldwide church: global Book of Discipline, global structure, global social principles, etc. To have so many decisions about the worldwide nature of the church in one year is odd until you realize one particular timing consideration.
The last General Conference to be held in America for the next decade is in Minnesota in 2020. The 2024 General Conference is in the Philippines, and the 2028 General Conference is in Zimbabwe, so long as they make it legal for our LGBT delegates to attend without being killed. The 2032 hasn’t been decided yet, but regardless, for 12 years, only one GC will be held in America…in 2020.
As America’s Methodists see democratic power shifting from them to a worldwide church, there’s great impetus for the powerful to maintain power in structural changes, and the underpowered to make the structure less colonial and more equitable. Having a final GC in America may actually cause those two groups to finally get together and come up with a viable solution that better reflects our worldwide nature. While some changes may come in 2016, and some should, they will help set the stage for a 2020 major revision.
What’s left for 2016?
2016 is still a big year.
- Excluding Sexual Minorities. Debates on how the United Methodist Church will continue to exclude LGBT persons will be front and center at General Conference 2016. Since the UMC has a majority conservative/moderate flavor, it’s really a conversation over how they will exclude not only LGBT Methodists but also Progressive Methodists. Or will the Spirit overcome?
- Structural Proposals. These varied ideas are competing with the timeline proposed by the Connectional Table and offer changes to structure at all levels of United Methodism in 2016.
- Divestments from Fossil Fuels and Israel Occupation of Palestine. Divestment opportunities will be hot topics for fiscal and justice considerations.
- The Ministry Study proposals to change clergy credentialing and the Board of Laity’s proposals for the bishops will both be debated and take effect immediately after the 2016 GC.
- PlanUMC, though the Pre-GC forum obliterated it and its face was melted off like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, laying bare its naked power grab in glorious fashion…still has powerful voices behind it and it won’t go away anytime soon.
Looking ahead
For this blog, we’ll continue to be a place of non-establishment commentary on The United Methodist Church, clarity and cutting through the rhetoric on the proposals to General Conference, and a reliable source of Star Wars-themed photos. Thanks for reading.
Thoughts?
Just a couple more considerations from an old GC hand on why everything substantive is postponed to 2020:
1) After the debacle of 2012, leadership probably figures it will be sufficient to get everyone to learn how to play nicely with each other for one session.
2) They’re waiting for the most diehard resisters to global inclusion to pass on to glory. I was both proud of and surprised by the young delegate who said this out loud in Portland.
I loved that quote! And it was a delegate from my local church! 🙂
Wespath hasn’t divested from Palestine. Divestment has taken place against banks in the State of Israel, which happens to be in the geographic location of what many call Palestine. Calling Israel ‘Palestine,’ while establishing pro-Palestinian leanings, fails to accurately characterize what is going on right now.
I’ve clarified above. It’s technically true because they are divestments against Israel companies that operate in occupied Palestine, but I agree it needed to be more clear. Thanks Jeff.
Unfortunately, as Jeremy points out in “1” above, the likely inaction or tightening of rules against LGBT/Q persons (a continued lack of repentance for The UMC’s homophobia) will further the attrition of Progressive Methodists from active participation in The UMC (the tyranny of the majority to quote a recent RMN speaker). There’s a slim chance of change in 2016 and an even more slim chance in 2020– and our Conservative friends know and count on this.
Progressive Methodists… Hum… So let me get this straight. Only those who agree with your position regarding the topic of LGBT are considered Progressive! Such an open minded viewpoint you have.
Thank you for such an organized synopsis of the GC 2016 outlook. I’m concerned that 2020 is 4 years away! The changes that have happened in US/European society in last 4 years have been substantial. Yes, I know we are a global church, and yes, I am aware there are different views on LGBT inclusion, but 4 more years of having to explain to a majority of US members why we continue to discriminate? Four more years of hoping for continued funding of global ministries while we lose youth because we don’t include their friends, family, teachers, and community leaders in our church?! How long can this continue? Yes, churches have traditionally taken longer on some issues after society has cast their vote. BUT, churches (especially Methodists at times) have also been at the front of an issue helping and guiding society toward a more loving community together. What of that UMC?
On tbe hymnal taking 4 years… this is built into the Constitution (par 16) and Discipline (par 1113). Only GC can eatablish the hymnal and ritual of the Church. To do that DM first has to ask GC call for its creation, and then it has to be created and brought back for GC’s final approval. So we’ve partnered with UMPH to bring an exciting proposal for a new approach to hymnals, and trust GC will approve that so we can work on building the base version for approval on 2020, with the ability to add new materials every succeeding quadrennium.
Hum…”waiting for the most diehard resisters to global inclusion to pass on…the tyranny of the majority,” etc. Sounds like all the talk about faith, etc., is just window dressing for left-wing people who want to seize control of the denominational structure to serve their own social/political interests. Guess when you get right down to it, Puff Daddy was right, “It’s all about the Benjamins.”
You close with a note that this blog will ” continue to to be a place of NON-ESTABLISHMENT COMMENTARY on the United Methodist Church…..(emphasis added)”. I enjoy reading you, and I comment occasionally, but you are as establishment as they come. Your positions are virtually indistinguishable from those of The Connectional Table, General Board of Church and Society, and a significant percentage of the US portion of the Council of Bishops.
In Christ,
The enemy hates clarity
Thanks for the reply, TEHC. I enjoy reading your comments as well.
I think I meant that “establishment” is people who work for the general church or annual conference, or perhaps even the caucus groups. I’m only a pastor of a local church and have a vested interest in institutional reform, but I do not speak as someone employed beyond the local church. It’s not my paid job to write this blog, only an interest.
It is inevitable here in Satan’s world he will win the denominations. The people bury their heads in the sand. Ignorance is bliss.
I would say holding fast to the Scriptural idea that the practice of homosexuality is a sin IS a working of the Holy Spirit.