GC2019 Update: Tuesday, Feb. 26
Tuesday, February 26 Highlights
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Bishop Lawson Bryan and Dr. Scott Hagan, pastor of Bonaire UMC and a reserve delegate, talk about the final day at General Conference.
General Conference concludes, adopts Traditional Plan
On a day when “time is our only enemy” and three years’ worth of decisions had to be made by the 6:30 p.m. deadline in order for a Monster Truck Rally to be set up in The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Mo., time was still made for prayer, worship, and earnestly seeking God’s will for The United Methodist Church.
As the four-day gathering came to a conclusion, the 864 clergy and lay delegates passed an amended Traditional Plan 438 to 384. They then voted to ask the Judicial Council, the highest court in the denomination, to review the constitutionality of the approved legislation.
In addition to passing the Traditional Plan, delegates also approved two Wespath pension petitions and a disaffiliation petition, or an “exit plan,” via a minority report.
Acknowledging that not everyone feels the same about the decisions that were made, Bishop Lawson Bryan urged South Georgia United Methodists to treat one another like family, with love.
“So care for one another, be in church on Sunday, and then be present on March 9 as we are alive together in Christ,” he said in a video.
What is the Traditional Plan?
The Traditional Plan keeps the current language around sexuality and increases accountability by streamlining the processes to enforce penalties for violations of The Book of Discipline related to marriage and ordination of LGBTQI persons. Some parts of the Traditional Plan were ruled unconstitutional, and it will take some time to clarify which parts will become part of our church law and which parts will not.
“We continue to teach and believe that all persons are welcomed in the church, all persons are persons of sacred worth and we welcome all to receive the ministry of Jesus. Human sexuality is a topic on which people of faith have differing views,” said Bishop Ken Carter, president of the Council of Bishops, after the conference ended. “Despite our differences, we will continue to work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and share God’s love with all people.”
{Read a more in-depth report of the day from UMNS here}
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- Daily Christian Advocate - The Daily Christian Advocate (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 a delegate, the legislation submitted, and the decisions made by the General Conference. Click on the date to access each DCA. Saturday, February 23, 2019 | Sunday, February 24, 2019
Monday, February 25, 2019 | Tuesday, February 26, 2019
March 9 Information Session
South Georgia United Methodists are invited and encouraged to attend a post-General Conference information session Saturday, March 9 from 1-4 p.m. at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton. An informational meeting – not a special session of the annual conference – the gathering is open to everyone in the South Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church. Learn more I Download a bulletin insert to use in your local church