Amid growing concerns for the denomination’s future, the 2016 General Conference authorized the formation of a commission to deal with church teachings on homosexuality and find ways to help the church stay together. The Commission on a Way Forward submitted proposals that were considered by the delegates at the 2019 special called General Conference.
Delegates to General Conference include equal numbers of lay and clergy members elected by annual conferences around the world. Bishops preside and facilitate the work of the delegates, but do not vote. The General Conference is the only body that approves church policy and speaks officially for the denomination.
What was decided by General Conference?
The General Conference delegates passed by a 438-384 vote the Traditional Plan, which retains restrictions against “self-avowed practicing homosexual” clergy and officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage ceremonies and requires stricter enforcement for violations of church law.
The Traditional Plan was one of the plans that came out of the work of the special commission. The One Church Plan, which would have left questions of marriage up to individual churches and clergy, and ordination requirements up to conferences, was defeated.
The Traditional Plan as approved includes:
The delegates also approved an exit plan for churches that want to leave the denomination with their property. Local churches that elect to leave must pay unpaid apportionments and pension liabilities.
Two petitions were approved to deal with the pension liabilities of departing churches and the accrued benefits of departing clergy. One requires that any local church that withdraws or is closed must pay, at a minimum, its fair share of unfunded pension liability for their annual conference. Delegates amended the legislation to say “nothing in the forgoing would prevent annual conferences collecting other obligations from local churches.”
The other petition spells out that any clergy members who end their relationship with a conference will be treated as “terminated vested” participants, meaning their accrued benefits would be safe and converted to an individual account balance.
In addition, delegates approved a timeline for 2019 legislation to take effect in church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines 12 months after the 2020 General Conference.
Where can I read the plan that passed?
The approved legislation and amendments are available at http://umc.org/calms.
Summaries, overviews and other resources about the Traditional Plan and each of the other proposals is available on the 2019 General Conference website.
Was any of it unconstitutional?
Yes, the Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court, in Decision 1366 and Decision 1377 has ruled parts of the plan as violations of the denomination’s constitution.
The Judicial Council ruled that certain portions of the plan strayed from the constitution on matters of due process and by elevating adherence to requirements related to homosexuality above all other requirements. Those portions deal with bishop accountability and responsibilities, composition of boards of ordained ministry and the examination of candidates for ministry by the boards of ordained ministry.
In Decision 1377, the church court also identified constitutional problems in legislation dealing with the exit of churches from the denomination.
Delegates amended a Traditional Plan petition dealing with board of ordained ministry nominees as well as the exit plan petition. It’s up to the Judicial Council to determine if the amendments resolve the constitutional problems.
Will the Judicial Council review the plan approved by General Conference?
The General Conference delegates requested a ruling by the Judicial Council on the constitutionality of the Traditional Plan. The Council of Bishops also has requested a review of the approved exit plan for churches. The Judicial Council will address these requests at its next scheduled meeting April 23-25.
When will changes take effect?
The legislation takes effect Jan. 1, 2020 for churches in the U.S. and 12 months after the 2020 General Conference for churches outside the U.S. Any portions of the plan ruled unconstitutional will not take effect.
How did each delegate vote?
Delegates vote by secret ballot. The voting system generates final results based on a tally of all valid votes. There is no record of how individuals vote. This is to protect all delegates so they can vote their own conscience.
How many delegates were from each country?
The special General Conference session had the same delegates as General Conference 2016 unless annual conferences chose to elect new delegates.
The number of delegates was set at 864 — about 58 percent (504) from the United States and 30 percent (260) from Africa. The remaining delegates (90) are from the Philippines, Europe and Eurasia as well as 10 from “concordat” churches with which The United Methodist Church has formal relationships. Thirty-one delegates were absent during General Conference, mostly because they could not obtain visas.
How will delegates be selected for the General Conference in 2020?
Each annual conference elects lay and clergy delegates from among its members. The number of delegates assigned to each annual conference for 2020 has been announced.
Can the 2020 General Conference change the outcome?
Each General Conference makes decisions on the submitted requests before it. It is possible the 2020 General Conference may receive similar legislation and delegates will make their own decisions. The actions of one General Conference do not bind the next General Conference. Every General Conference can alter or revise any previous actions or adopt new policies within the limits of the Constitution.
What is the best way for me to express my concerns or support regarding these decisions?
What if I have other questions?
Share your thoughts, feelings and questions with your pastor or district superintendent. They are best equipped to have conversations and offer guidance for your particular congregation.
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This content was produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications. First published March 12, 2019.
February 23-26, 2019 | St. Louis, Missouri | America’s Center
Since 1972, when the church set parameters in the Book of Discipline for ministry to, with, and by homosexual people, The United Methodist Church has struggled with this matter.
The 2016 General Conference took a major step toward trying to resolve the struggle when it approved a Commission on a Way Forward to be appointed by and make recommendations to the Council of Bishops.
The Commission was charged with finding a way forward for our church that maximizes the presence of a United Methodist witness in as many places in the world as possible, that allows for as much contextual differentiation as possible, and that balances an approach to different theological understandings of human sexuality with a desire for as much unity as possible.
In February 2019, a called General Conference will consider legislation growing out of the Commission’s work.
General Conference Primer | READ PRIMER
Special Session of General Conference Q&A | READ Q&A
Download a detailed schedule of the conference.
Pre-Gathering | Saturday, Feb. 23
Delegates will gather on Saturday, Feb. 23 for a day of worship.
Day 1 | Sunday, Feb. 24
The first official day of the session will be Sunday, Feb. 24. The session will begin with worship. Delegates will hear a presentation from the Commission on Way Forward — whose formation General Conference authorized in 2016 to help find ways to keep the church together. They will then spend the day in plenary discussion seeking to discern which of the multiple plans the majority of delegates want to refine.
This is not a day for amending legislation but instead determining what general direction the delegates want to go in. Bishops, who have no vote at General Conference, will preside over the day’s discussions.
Day 2 | Monday, Feb. 25
On Monday, Feb. 25, the delegates will meet in a legislative committee of the whole to amend and vote on petitions. Delegates will elect the chair of the committee from a pool of delegates who have been trained and served as committee chairs in 2016.
Day 3 | Tuesday, Feb. 26
The delegates will return to plenary on Tuesday, Feb. 26, for final voting and to consider what their actions mean for the future, including the next regularly scheduled General Conference in 2020. Again, bishops will preside. The session will adjourn on Tuesday.
As secretary of the General Conference, the Rev. Gary Graves hears many questions about the special 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. Graves recently sat down with UM News to respond to questions he’s hearing from the church. His interview is part of “Seeing a Way Forward,” a video series featuring different perspectives of church leaders on the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. Watch videos