Articles about developments of alternatives for the future of The United Methodist Church: discussions of options, other expressions of the Methodist or Wesleyan Way, new alignments, petitions and resolutions approved in annual conferences, etc.
Four stories analyzing a "grassroots survey" run by Mainstream UMC.
Survey Results 1 of 4: Awakening & Urgency
July 30, 2019
Advisory Board, Mainstream UMC
This is the first of four posts analyzing the results of the Mainstream UMC Grassroots Survey that ran from June 25 to July 11, 2019. There were 28 questions total. This post covers questions 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17. These questions focused on the demographics of the respondents and were designed to gauge grassroots opinions and expectations for change. There are links below to read the other posts as they are available.
[Update] The Event website at Lovers Lane UMC has each presentation listed and described, with a link to the YouTube recording. The presentation list is also downloadable as a PDF.
POST-WAY-FORWARD GATHERING OF UM SCHOLARS
August 7-8, 2019 - Dallas, Texas
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By Heather Hahn
Aug. 1, 2019 | UM News
At this event, the resistance to the Traditional Plan comes with doctorates.
About 60 United Methodists scholars plan to meet at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas for a gathering they hope will bring biblical, theological and historical heft to arguments for the full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in the life of the church.
They also hope to help inform conversations about the future of The United Methodist Church.
Deadline: September 18, 2019!
by Commission on General Conference
July 8, 2019
NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Petitions for consideration by the 2020 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary now through Sept. 18, 2019.
According to church law, "Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference...".
Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website at umc.org/gcpetition. Petitions must be typed and may be submitted through the General Conference website, by postal mail or fax, or via e-mail to
Due to the passage of legislative material by the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference, an addendum to The Book of Discipline 2016 may be found at https://www.umofficialresources.com/updates. These paragraphs replace what is printed in The Book of Discipline 2016. Petitions related to these paragraphs must reference the material in the Addendum. The Errata (corrections) for The Book of Discipline 2016 are included at the end of the Addendum document and should also be considered in petition texts. [More at UM-Insight]
Court docket reflects busy conference season
By Linda Bloom
July 26, 2019 | UMNS
Reaction by United Methodist regional bodies in the U.S. — as well as the Council of Bishops — to the Traditional Plan adopted by the 2019 General Conference dominates the fall agenda of the denomination’s top court.
The Judicial Council has an 18-item docket to consider when it meets Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Evanston, Illinois. Aug. 19 is the deadline to submit briefs and make requests for oral hearings.
Two items are from the United Methodist Council of Bishops regarding questions about legislation passed at the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis.
The bishops are asking for a declaratory decision on “the constitutionality, meaning, application and effect of certain petitions adopted as the Traditional Plan,” specifically asking five questions about the effects of the plan “that need to be addressed for the benefit of The United Methodist Church.”
The bishops also requested a ruling from the Judicial Council about the effective date of a new paragraph in the Book of Discipline about the disaffiliation of local churches over issues related to human sexuality. [Continue reading at UMNews.org]
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