Understanding and Communicating the Second Week of General Conference: Frequently Asked Questions

Follow Jesus, Make Disciples, Transform The World

Saturday, May 4, 2024

ON REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIVE LANGUAGE RELATED TO LGBTQ+ PEOPLE
What changes were made to the Book of Discipline that relate to human sexuality?

The General Conference voted by overwhelming majorities to remove from the United Methodist Book of Discipline discriminatory language and bans related to ministry by, with and for “self-avowed practicing” gay and lesbian people. Actions included:
• Removal of the language that the “practice of homosexuality … is incompatible with Christian teaching.”
• Removal of the ban on the ordination and appointment of “self-avowed practicing homosexual” clergy.
• Removal of language that made the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexual” clergy and the performance of same-sex weddings chargeable offenses.
• Removal of mandatory minimum penalties for clergy holding same-sex weddings.
• Removal of a prohibition against using United Methodist funds to support groups, activities and causes that promote the acceptance of homosexuality.
• Removal of the requirement that the General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance agency, enforce the funding ban. Instead, the provision says the agency should ensure that church funds do not go to anything that rejects LGBTQ persons or limits the response to the HIV epidemic.
• Allowance for all clergy in good standing to be appointed across annual conference lines when their bishop can’t locate an appointment in their conference.

These changes bring the Book of Discipline back to a neutral place where one group is not singled out for discrimination. It holds space for differing opinions within The United Methodist Church by avoiding broad mandates.

What does this mean for my local church?

It is important to note that nothing passed by the General Conference would compel churches to receive an LGBTQ+ pastor. The legislation approved also explicitly protects the
right of clergy and churches not to officiate at or host same-sex weddings. Pastors have the authority to decide when and for whom they will officiate a marriage. Congregations have the right to determine whether such ceremonies will be held on church property.
 

At the same time, this legislation means candidates for ministry who are LGTBQ+ will continue to be welcomed. Some of our churches, if they feel so led, may have same-gender weddings. There is no prohibition against either.
 

As Bishop Carter stated in his letter to the Conference earlier this week, “United Methodist churches will have the freedom to respond to God’s call to ministry in ways that are best for their contextual and missional communities. We will do this anchored in the grace of Jesus Christ, in connection with each other, and in our desire to grow in love with God and our neighbor.”
When do these changes take effect?

These changes go into effect at the close of General Conference on Friday, May 3, 2024.

ON REGIONALIZATION:

On Thursday, April 25, a day Bishop Thomas Bickerton called “an historic day,” the General Conference delegates voted 586 to 164 for an amendment to the denomination’s constitution that will now go before annual conference voters for potential ratification.

What is regionalization?

With regionalization, the United States and also each Central Conference outside of the US will become known as Regional Conferences. Each Regional Conference will have the authority and ability to adapt a portion of the Book of Discipline to better align with the missions of their context to continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
 

This change will decentralize the U.S. church, allowing all conferences to have equal partnership in The UMC, while allowing each geographic area the ability to make changes for their local cultural and missional church expressions.
 

The votes to approve Regional Conference legislation will not make immediate changes to the Book of Discipline. Because this legislation includes changes to the Constitution, it must be approved by ⅔ aggregate vote of all Annual Conferences.
 

Legislation that requires approval at the Annual Conference level must go through an editorial process so that each annual conference around the world can read the legislation and vote accordingly. Due to the time it will take to complete this process, the Western NC Annual Conference will most likely vote on this legislation at the meeting of the Annual Conference in 2025.

ON THE REVISED SOCIAL PRINCIPLES
What changes were made to the Social Principles that relate to human sexuality?
General Conference delegates eliminated language stating “the practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teaching.” ¶161,¶162 The Social Community

In the same vote, delegates affirmed “marriage as a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith (adult man and adult woman of consenting age or two adult persons of consenting age) into a union of one another and into deeper relationship with God and the religious community.”

Below is the adopted Revised Social Principles legislation:
• Part V: Social Principles Preamble
• ¶160 The Community of All Creation
• ¶163 The Economic Community
• The Political Community
• Part V: Social Principles Preface
• ¶161,¶162 The Social Community

What does this mean for my local church?
The Social Principles, contained in both the Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions, are statements that reflect official United Methodist teachings on a wide range of topics. They are not church law, and therefore do not have any direct implications for your church, but are intended to inform United Methodist witness on issues of the day with a biblical foundation.

When do these changes take effect?
These changes take effect January 1, 2025.

ON SACRAMENTAL RIGHTS FOR DEACONS
What does it mean for Deacons to have sacramental rights?

This means deacons can now offer Holy Communion and conduct baptisms where they have been appointed to serve, whether that is a church, outreach ministry or mission. Bishop Carter anticipates making this change in our practice on a date earlier than the official date of January 1, 2025.

Read more about this decision here.

When does this change take effect?
This takes effect on January 1, 2025.

ON THE BUDGET
Delegates approved a 2025-2028 budget of $373.4 million. That total is contingent on collection rates being at 90% or more for the next two years. If giving is below that percentage, the budget bottom line will be $353.6 million. The total approved is significantly smaller than the budget approved by the 2016 General Conference. Annual conferences will be asked to pay less in apportionments.

A word from Bishop Carter on the budget: “We will streamline, find efficiencies, and realign redundant models of ministry. But hear the good news – While we do not have an abundance of financial resources at any level of the church, neither do we have a scarcity of resources. The best word is “sufficient”. God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12). God will continue to provide all that we need (Exodus 16). We have sufficient financial resources to be the church. Thanks be to God.”

ON THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS
What is the Council of Bishops?
Bishops of The United Methodist Church provide spiritual leadership to almost 12 million persons in a broad range of settings on four continents, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. In the United Methodist tradition, bishops are not "ordained" as bishops, but are clergy elected and consecrated to the office of bishop. All bishops are members of the Council of Bishops, which collectively is charged with the general oversight and promotion of the temporal and spiritual interests of the entire Church.

Who is the new Council of Bishops president?

Before nearly 800 delegates and hundreds of observers, Bishop Tracy S. Malone, resident bishop of the East Ohio Conference, on Tuesday afternoon took the mantle as the new president of the Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church. In so doing, she became the first Black woman in the history of the global denomination to ascend to the pinnacle of episcopacy leadership.

Bishop Malone was elected as president during the COB meeting at Lake Junaluska in November last year. She will lead the COB for two years.

Another historic first -
Bishop David Wilson, resident bishop of the Great Plains Conference, became the first Native American bishop to preside over the General Conference on April 25, 2024.

ON THE WORK OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE:
General Conference is the top lawmaking assembly of The United Methodist Church and the only entity that speaks for the denomination. It convenes every four years, with delegates from the denomination’s regions around the world.

What is the Book of Discipline and why does it matter?

Simply, the Book of Discipline is the doctrinal and theological rule book containing information for conferences, churches, laity, and clergy on how to live, teach, and practice faith in the Wesleyan understanding. The General Conference is the only body that is allowed to bring forth changes to the Discipline. Those changes come in how the church is to hold itself accountable through church law, doctrine, administration, and organization. The Discipline is revised at the General Conference through petitions and legislation that has been submitted by laity, clergy, delegates, churches, and the like. The church (local, annual, jurisdictional, and general) is to look to the Discipline for guidance in ordering the life of ministry in their local communities. This is available through the five parts of the Discipline: Constitution, General Book of Discipline, Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task, The Ministry of All Christians, and Social Principles.

OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP YOU COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CONGREGATION:

Bishop Carter’s letter to the Western NC Conference

https://www.wnccumc.org/newsdetail/18354264

Bright Hope for Tomorrow: Bishops' message after General Conference https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/bright-hope-for-tomorrow-bishops-message-after-general-conference

Legislative Recap: Discover Key Outcomes of the Historic 2024 General Conference https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/general-conference-legislative-recap

News and Resources from General Conference
https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/general-conference-2020