GC2019 Update: Monday, Feb. 25
Monday, February 25 Highlights
VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: Bishop Lawson Bryan and Dr. Scott Hagan, pastor of Bonaire UMC and a reserve delegate, talk about Day 3 at General Conference.
Legislative Process Continues
The third day of the special called session of General Conference began with delegates in legislative committee, determining what the General Conference, in plenary session, will take up tomorrow. All petitions were reviewed by today’s legislative committee to determine which petitions will be voted on tomorrow by the conference.
Much of the morning focused on discussion and debate surrounding the Traditional Plan. After several hours, multiple amendments, and an effort to postpone a vote on the plan until the end of the day, an amended Traditional Plan was approved by the legislative committee and will be voted upon by the General Conference tomorrow. The vote was 461 (56.22%) to forward to the plenary tomorrow and 359 (43.78%) against.
Other items considered by the legislative committee were two disaffiliation petitions, or “gracious exit plans.” They will be considered by the plenary tomorrow. The two plans would allow churches, with certain limitations, to leave the denomination with their property.
After approving the Traditional Plan this morning, General Conference delegates spent the afternoon debating and ultimately voting against the One Church Plan. Delegates opposed the One Church Plan by a vote of 436 to 386. The vote was 53 to almost 47 percent. Delegates also voted against moving forward with the Simple Plan by a vote of 494 to 323. The One Church Plan and the Simple Plan could still come back, but as a minority report.
The votes mean that, along with two pension petitions and two disaffiliation petitions, the Traditional Plan is the only plan guaranteed to go to plenary Feb. 26. {Read a more in-depth report of the day from UMNS here.}
Delegates will begin tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. EST with worship and then meet as the plenary.
WATCH VIDEO HERE | WATCH VIDEOS FROM DAYS 1 & 2
PHOTOS
Schedule for Tuesday, February 26
- Opening Worship: 9:00 – 9:20 am EST
- Morning Session: 9:20 am – 1:30 pm EST
- Lunch: 1:30 – 2:30 pm EST
- Afternoon Session: 2:30 – 7:30 pm EST
- Adjournment: 7:30 pm EST
Following General Conference
- Live Stream
- GC Agenda (reminder: all times listed on this agenda are CST)
- Advanced Daily Christian Advocate (The ADCA contains all of the legislation submitted for consideration by the delegates.)
- Daily Christian Advocate (The DCA is the official journal of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. It serves as the record of those who have been elected to serve as delegate, the legislation submitted, and the decisions made by the General Conference.)
- South Georgia Conference website
- Legislative Tracking (Find up-to-date tracking of any legislation being discussed at General Conference. Search for legislation submitted by petition number, keyword or submitter.)
- About General Conference
- General Conference Primer (FAQs)
- UMNS Stories
- UMNS photos
- Videos: Watch videos from GC2019
Social Media
Follow the action on social media.