Just a short note from the Atlanta airport to say I have successfully made it out of the General Conference bubble and the Charlotte airport. The second of those was not easy!
One very good follow up from my post yesterday, before we left GC, the Judicial Council ruled that the actions of the Interjurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy were fine, we were not out of line acting before the actual end of GC. Praise God!
The JC has a few more rulings to issue, including one decision requested by GP’s own David Livingston challenging the constitutionality of an amendment made by GPs Mark Holland allowing Jurisdictions to adapt the BOD. I have my money on David on this one, though I applaud Mark’s effort to make a safety net if the last step for regionalization fails.
I’m feeling bullish about ratification of the constitutional amendments though. All the signs in Charlotte were that many African delegates came with the idea to stand down on human sexuality and gain regional autonomy. I take this, too, as the work of the Holy Spirit that leaders across the world can now see we have to be structured differently so we can all thrive.
What will it mean to set aside the fight around sexual orientation that has CONSUMED us for so long? I am really excited to see. Last night I sat with a few friends from the Pacific Northwest and we talked about how they will get to reimagine their position in relation to the rest of the church too. So much has changed.
Yesterday, as usual, we moved to warp speed in the late afternoon plenary as everyone realized there were 16 or so calendar items and only 2 hrs left.
The first move was by Lonnie Chafin who made a motion to refer six or seven petitions (as a way to kill or dismiss them) and not support any that were not supported by committee but had been put back on the calendar by 20 or more delegates. This was a good move for efficiency but hard for some because legislation they wanted to debate was included in the motion. We had earlier in the day completed the last of the 3R goals (regionalization, revised social principles, and remove harmful language). And can I just say that we did all that while making very public these were our goals. There were no secret agendas here. No back room dealings. May it ever be so.
Back to Lonnie’s motion. He included in it referring a petition on paragraph 101 that gives the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters it’s mandate to keep working on the General book of Discipline. I happened to be on stage waiting to present a different petition and so consulted with several bishops and was called on to make an amendment to remove it from Lonnie’s list. We eventually adopted that petition instead of referring it, crisis averted.
Another in Lonnie’s list was a petition on investment practices for our pensions. Should our pension money be invested in fossil fuel companies? Wespath says engagement and advocacy does more good. Others want avoidance. I was sitting next to George Howard on stage waiting to present different opinions on this. But Lonnie’s successful motion sent us to our seats.
After that someone else made a motion to eliminate all debate on the remaining petitions. No amendments, no speeches. It passed and we got every last petition voted on by 6:28. Just under the wire of our 6:30 hard stop.
I’ll write more in a day or two with final reflections. For now I am sitting for my second flight next to a Zimbabwean I have known for a long time who has become a strong supporter of the GMC in Africa. He came to Charlotte, not as a delegate, but, I assume, to recruit among African leaders. He’s flying to Wichita to see friends and Jesus thought it would be a good invitation for me to be a kinder human than I want to be to have us sit together on both flights.
I am just about home, and will be so grateful for the husband, the pup, and some clean clothes!
Thanks for reading my General Conference stories. You all have kept me encouraged these two long weeks!
God has so much to do through the UMC. I am here for it!
Amy
Overwhelming love and gratitude for you, Amy!
Thanks for updating us, Amy! I am so pleased with GC outcomes this year.