This is a report I originally wrote for some friends in my home church, Arvada UMC, and was originally posted on Facebook. The official reports are now online here, including delegate results. And here is an article pointing out some "firsts" of this Annual Conference: in the legacy Rocky Mountain delegation, the first African-American First-Elected clergy (Jasper Peters), first First-Elected lay Tongan young adult, Harvey Tukutau, head of delegation, and two LGBGQ clergy leaders licensed or commissioned, Ashley Hawkins and Amber Mitts. And then there's the "first birthday party" for the Mountain Sky Conference!
Friends in the Arvada UMC asked me for a report on our Conference, so I'm going to share it here for any who are interested. It is not exhaustive not complete, but things that caught my attention and inspiration.
We met in two convention centers across the street from each other, associated with two hotels, in which we also had gatherings, so one had to pay attention to which building as well as which room.
We used the same tech company, GNTV, that we've used before, and it turns out that they have an awesome sound system, about which more later. The event was livestreamed, I'm told, but I didn't verify this.
We adopted a significantly smaller budget (PDF), though I didn't pay much attention to the numbers (there is a companion commentary also PDF). However, even more significant was a different way of supporting the budgets outside of the MSC. We divided the "apportioned" funds asked from churches into a 10% "tithe" of certain local church income sources and a more "cafeteria" type plan for about another 3% for the work of the various global ministries of the denomination. This allows local churches to choose which types of ministries outside the annual conference to support and at what level. (See petition MSC-03 PDF.)
We adopted a plan (PDF) for a specially-formed task force to develop strategies for responding to the recent decisions of the 2019 general conference which restrict the kinds of ministries to, with, and from LGBTQIA people.
We adopted a statement (PDF) that stated our intention not to follow or implement the discriminatory and punitive church laws against LGBTQ persons, their marriages, and their ability to become ministers or to serve as ministers. This was challenged by a member of a conservative faction as to whether it is "legal" under church law. The bishop has 30 days to rule.
After much discussion and amendment (originally passed, then reconsidered and failed), we voted to support (by 71%) a general outline of massive reorganization of the UMC. It needed 80% to go to the GC with our name on it. (See GC-01.)
We adopted a resolution asking the bishops of our jurisdiction to call a special jurisdictional conference to develop a jurisdictional response to the discriminatory and punitive decisions made by the 2019 general conference. The body voted overwhelmingly to hear it (2/3 was required), and then after it was presented voted overwhelmingly also (a sea of raised hands!) and without any opposition (no voices raised in objection nor hands raised to vote "no.")
We elected a group of generally progressive clergy and laity to represent us at the jurisdictional amd general conferences. The voting process for these folks was long and involved waiting for results of ballot- counting. The bishop encouraged the tech team to play music that was lively and energizing such as "Dancing Queen," "YMCA," "I Will Survive," the Macarena, and Johnny Cash "Ring of Fire." It became a big party, one of the most unique experiences I've ever had at an annual conference! Needless to say I think this "first birthday" of the new Mountain Sky Conference helped cement the bonds of cooperation and camaraderie of this 4-state region. (If yoo do Facebook, you can get a flavor of it as these folks did the Macarena.)
The MSC website now has the reports, legislation, election results, and giving totals. -- Ben Roe, lay equalization delegate, Mile High/Metro District