This page will detail some of the results of the petitions presented to various Annual Conference Sessions during the 2019 "Conference season," as well as some notable events at these gatherings. See also this page of reports sent to United Methodist News Service (UMNS). (Unless otherwise noted, all legislation listed passed. The highlighted text is a link to the source, sometimes the actual petition, sometimes the listing of all petitions or journal section, sometimes a press release, sometimes a news story.)
Western Jurisdiction
- MSC-03: Calculation and Payment of General and Jurisdictional Apportionments
- MSC-09: Moving Towards God’s Good Future (task group formation)
- MSC-10: All Are Welcome (ruling of law requested)
- MSC-12: Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops (call for special Western Jurisdiction Conference)
- GC-01: Organizational Restructure of The United Methodist Church (passed by 71%, not enough to be sent from MSC)
- ...a declaratory decision was approved to be sent to the Judicial Council for its Fall docket... [which] essentially ... asked for the Disciplinary restrictions and clarifications on if an annual conference withdraws from the denomination, would it still have to pay the pension liability and other aspects of “disaffiliation.”
- affirmed the four commitments that came forth from UMC Next
Pacific Northwest (PDF): (UMNS Report)
- Reaffirming Non-compliance With Anti-lgbtqia+ Policies (petition #BB2)
- Affirmation And Celebration Of Sexual And Gender Identities (petition #BB3)
- Denunciation Of Anti-lgbtqia+ Actions Of GC 2019 (petition #BB4)
- Request For Greater Nw Act Of Repentance In 2020 (petition #BB5)
- Development Of New Inclusive Models Of Governing And Decision-making (petition #BB7)
- Committing To Inclusive Church And Resistance Of Discrimination (petition #BB8)
- Request For Continued Dialogue And Deep Listening (petition #BB9)
- Cessation Of Funding For Lgbtqia+ Persecution (petition #BB10) [ruled Out Of Order]
- Call For Serious Deliberation Of Future Options (petition #BB11)
- Task Force To Pursue Boldly Inclusive Future (petition #BB12)
- Petition 2020 General Conference To Create North American Central Conference (petition #BB13a)
- Study Committee For Disaffiliation And Special Annual Conference Session (petition #BB14a)
- Exploratory Task Force For A New Methodism (petition #BB15a)
- Complaints Priorities (petition #BB16)
- No Use Of Conference Reserve Funds (petition #BB17a)
- AR-9: Study Committee for Disaffiliation and Special Annual Conference Session
- AR-11: Convene Special WJ Conference
- SR-6: Standing up for Inclusion
- SR-7: Standing With United Methodists Seeking Love and Justice For All
- Six clergy candidates issue a joint open letter
- "The Traditional Plan targets LGBTQIA+ people with weaponized theologies of homophobia and patriarchy, shaping negative perceptions about queer people and reinforcing shame, taboo, fear, and stigma..." [a must read!]
California-Pacific (Offcial Summary) (Legislation Tracking - PDF) (6 LGBTQ candidates ordained)
- RES 19-02 Support of the Western Jurisdiction's Efforts Justice and Compassion (Preliminary Report, p. PR-95-96)
- RES 19-06 Disavowal of the Traditional Plan (Preliminary Report, p. PR-101-102)
- RES 19-07 Action of Nonconformity with the General Conference of the UMC
- RES 19-14 Preparing for Amicable Separation of the UMC Referred to the GC/JC Delegations noted in RES 19-06
- RES 19-15 Amicable Separation of Progressives and Traditionalists in the UMC Not Passed
- RES 19-23 Draft Disaffiliation Agreement
- RES 19-25 Petition WJ College of Bishops to Convene Special WJ Conference
Desert Southwest
- All legislation, both sessions (PDF)
- June 2019 (DSC UMC Story - June)
- A call for a special session of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference in September to consider all remaining legislation as well as additional items submitted in response to the 2019 special session of the General Conference and the future of the Desert Southwest Conference (p.1)
- BoD par. 362, Complaints, limiting complaints to the conference where the member serves or lives (p. 1)
- Judicial Council Declaratory Decision request re: separation of powers (pp. 3-4)
- Resolution: Affirming our Covenant (pp. 13-14)
- Disavowal of the Traditional Plan passed in the 2019 General Conference Special Session (resolution, pp. 14-15)
- A petition to the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops for a special session of the Western Jurisdictional Conference to consider and develop a process should separation from The UMC become inevitable (p. 5)
- The formation of ten teams to work on various pieces to form a new way forward for the Desert Southwest Conference.
- September 2019 Special Session (DSCUMC Story - September) (see also Bishop Hoshibata's note)
- Theological Statement - Executive Summary (adopted, p. 17, content pp. 18-21)
- Resolution: Integrity of Faithfulness (p. 22)
- Resolution: Respecting Cultural Differences (Contextualizing) (pp. 22-23)
- Resolution: Preserve our Connectionalism (p. 23)
- Resolution: Repudiation of efforts of "renewal" coalition to divide the UMC (pp. 23-24)
- Resolution encouraging dialogue with Central Conference leadership (p. 25)
- Resolution of protection and contingency if split is inevitable (pp. 26-27)
- Resolution on moratorium of complaints, investigations and trials (pp. 27-29)
Other Jurisdictions
Baltimore-Washington:
- Two ordinations which were refused last year were performed this year. Chaplain Joey Heath-Mason, and T.C. Morrow. News Story. BWC Story. UMNS Story.
- All resolutions were referred to the relevant conference committee for action.
- Supporting Deliberations for New Expressions of Methodism
- Called Back to Our Methodist Roots
- Calling for an Adjourned/Special Session of Annual Conference
- Representation of LGBTQIA+ Persons on Conference Commissions, Committees and Agencies
- Doing No Harm through the Ordination Prohibition
- Do No Harm through Marriage Prohibitions
- Do No Harm Across the Northeast Jurisdiction
- Conference Funds to Support LGBTQIA+ Faithful and Their Allies
- Resolution to Affiliate with the Western Jurisdiction
- Resolution on the Constitutionality of Discipline Paragraph 304.3
Dakotas: (UMNS Report)
- Affirming LGBTQ and Work to Remove Discrminatory Language (vote: 220-136)
Great Plains (Nebraska-Kansas): (See this page for complete results from GP News) (UMNS Report)
- Bylaws amended for KS UM Foundation to serve disaffiliated Methodist churches (Resolution 1)
- Resolution condemns the Traditional(ist) Plan (Resolution 16, 607-396) Mainstream UMC Story
- Grants to local congregations "to raise up LGBTQIA+ persons as missional leaders" (Resolution 17, 548-385)
- Affirming Commitments of UM-Next Conclusions (Resolution 18, 586-396)
- Science of Human Sexuality Study Guide Passed on show of hands (Petition 1)
Indiana (UMNS report) (Indiana UMC Report) (Gangler's Report)
- Hunt P-6: Amend BoD Par. 161G: Petition amended. See Saturday business doc for amendments.
Iowa: (UMNS Report)
- Action Item #506: Resolution: Disapproval of the Traditional Plan - PASSED 684 – 180.
Holston: (UMNS Report)
- "...we commit ourselves to welcome and affirm LGBTQAI+ persons in the churches of Holston"
Kentucky (KYUMC Report) (UMNS Report)
- Resolution to be a church of Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors (409-285)
Michigan (UMNS Report)
- News story from Conference:
- "Three times, clergy and laity members voted on measures that would provide Bishop David Bard and conference leadership with aspirations for greater inclusion of LGBTQ persons in the Michigan Conference."
- Aspirations for the Michigan Annual Conference (819 (68%) to 377 (32%), p. 19) "A ruling of law on the constitutionality of this resolution was requested..."
- Create North American Central Conference (~68%-32%, p. 16-17)
- Two LGBTQ persons commissioned
Minnesota (MN UMC Story) (Uniting Methodists story)
- Moving Forward - A Vision (PDF) - Adopted 491-86
- Statement Regarding The Traditional Plan (PDF) - Adopted 446-108
- Open Spirit Task Force ("align with, create, or form a new church body in the Methodist tradition)
- RS-19-212 Aspiring To Live Into Nonconformity
- RS-19-215 Aspiring To “do No Harm”
- RS-19-216 Responding To Emerging Expressions Of Methodism
- RS-19-217 To Boycott General Conference 2020 – ruled out of order
- RS-19-303 Statement Of Conscience From The NE Annual Conference
- RS-19-305 Petition To Amend: Powers Of The General Conference
New York (UMNS Report)
- “Truly Open Doors” calls for full inclusion and resistance to injustice and oppression, as well as congregational self-evaluations regarding inclusion and bias.
- Creation of an intersectional task force to develop workshops for organizing and action based on the “NYAC Clergy and Lay Statement on General Conference 2019.”
- UNYAC2019.1 “Action of Nonconformity With the General Conference of The United Methodist Church” - ruled out of order
- UNYAC2019.2 “UNYAC Response to Actions of the 2019 General Conference" - ruling of law requested
- UNYAC2019.3 “A Call for Structural Change” - ruling of law requested
- UNYAC2019.4 “Create a Team to Consider Processes for Future Movement” (large-scale separation)
- UNYAC2019.5 “Discerning Gifts and Graces for Ministry Without Partiality”
- UNYAC2019.8 “Caring for LGBTQIA+ Ministry Candidates”
Northern Illinois: (Consent Calendar - PDF) (Legislation Document)
- M Barclay, "non-binary trans" candidate ordained elder. UMNS Story.
- 700.01: A task force to explore a new Methodist expression (p. 9-10)
- 700.10: Affirming Dignity (p. 24)
- 700.11: Affirming Our Theological Task (p. 24-5)
- 700.12: Do no Harm: Limiting Complaints and Trials (p. 26)
- 700.13: Do No Harm: Candidates for Ministry (p. 27)
- 700.14: Reaffirm Commitment to Inclusion (p. 27-28)
- 700.15: Restructure the UMC (p. 28-29)
- 700.16: Strategic Goals for the NIC from the Annual Conference Shepherding Team (p. 29-30)
- 900.05-12: A Simple Plan (p. 34-40) (petitions to General Conference 2020)
North Carolina (Media coverage - UM-Insight)
- 15–Supporting Full Inclusion Of LGBTQIA+ Persons And Rejecting The Traditional Plan (p. 17-19)
- Resolution to Love Our Neighbors as Christ Loved Us (PDF p. 138, R-14)
Western PA (PDF): (UMNS Report)
- P 13 For Dissolution (p. 404: "prepare a process of structurally dividing the denomination into two or more unique expressions of Methodism ")
- P 81-85 Several petitions on Principle of Legality (pp. 477-483)
- Resolution 2019-01: “To Rebuild, Reclaim the Christian Community: ‘Church’”
- NOT Approved:
- Resolution 2019-03: “Maintain Unity through the Structural Realignment of The United Methodist Church”
- Resolution 2019-05: “A Healthy Way Forward”
South Georgia: (UMNS Report)
- Inclusion Resolution - adopted 335-208 (News Story)
Central Texas
- What’s Next in the Central Texas Annual Conference (affirming UMC-Next, and resolving to listen, dialog, pray)
North Texas:
- Single, openly gay lesbian ordained. UMNS
- resolution intending to live NOW as a “One Church Conference” (80%) Folkerth on UM-Insight.
- Motion 2 - "Motion to Delay" any inquiry of the official conduct of clergy related to LGBTQIA+ clergy, LGBTQIA+ clergy candidates, and same-gender weddings until after the General Conference 2020
- Motion 3 - "Removal of Incompatibility Language"
- Motion 4 - "Removal of Incompatibility Language for Ministry"
- Motion 5 - "Removal of Incompatibility Language for Chargeable Offenses"
- Endorsing the Commitments of UMC Next and Supporting the Full Inclusion of All People (564-328) (p. 106)
- Petition GC2020 to Remove "Incompatibility" Language from BoD (692-481) (p. 105)
- Petition GC2020 to Amend Constitution to Allow Contextualizing BoD to Jurisdictions (754-554) (p. 103-4)
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GC2020 Delegate Elections Heating Up: Compiled by Cynthia B. Astle, UM-Insight, May 28, 2019
Four Conferences Shut Out WCA Delegates. Story by Cynthia B. Astle, UM-Insight, June 20, 2019
See also this compilation by Cynthia Astle, editor of UM-Insight.