Sunday, February 24 Update

General Conference started Sunday morning with worship. Bishop Ken Carter, Resident Bishop of the Florida Annual Conference and the President of the Council of Bishops preached. During his message he urged the Conference to make every effort to maintain unity and asked uncomfortable questions including, “What if we sought to hold together an evangelical orthodoxy with a radical hospitality to all people and trusted that God will journey with them (and us) toward a holiness that is not ours to define in this life?” (Click here to read the full sermon.)

Following worship, the Conference then heard the report of the Commission on a Way Forward. Different members of the 32-person commission presented their report which included the mission, vision and scope of their work as well as the three plans – One Church Plan, Connectional Conference Plan and Traditional Plan.

After a lunch break, delegates began a process to prioritize their work. Over the three days of business, they will consider a total of 78 petitions. In order to determine the order in which they will consider the legislation, delegates went through a process to rank plans and petitions not a part of an overall plan. Each plan or petition was named and delegates voted either “high priority” or “low priority.” The votes were tabulated and developed an overall ranking (highest priority to lowest). The legislation will come before the single Legislative Committee to be perfected in the order based on the prioritizing ranking.

Here are the results of the ranking process. You can read all the legislation in the Advanced Daily Christian Advocate.

Title & Petition Number(s)	ADCA Page Number(s)	“High Priority” Votes	Percentage
Wespath Recommendations – Pension Liabilities and CRSP Amendment – Par. 1504 90016–90017	pp. 168–169	518	63.56%
Traditional Plan 90032–90047 (except 90041 & 90048)	pp. 182–195	459	55.57%
Disaffiliation 90066	pp. 205–206	412	50.06%
Disaffiliation 90059	pp. 201–202	406	49.51%
One Church Plan 90001–90014 (Except 90015)	pp. 164–168	403	48.67%
Disaffiliation 90058	p. 201	395	48.41%
Retain Paragraph 161.G 90062	pp. 202–203	214	26.13%
A Simple Plan 90068–90075	pp. 207-210	153	18.68%
A Traditional Way Forward with Enhanced Enforcement 90052	pp. 197–198	148	18.03%
A Graceful Exit as a Way Forward 90051	p. 197	133	16.24%
Inclusiveness 90082	p. 223	107	12.94
Human Sexuality 90083	p. 223	104	12.73
Inclusiveness 90087	p. 231	104	12.70
Connectional Conference Plan 90019–90031	p. 170–182	102	12.44
Abeyance of Trust Clause Enforcement 90056	p. 200	99	12.03%
Marriage 90067	pp. 206–207	87	10.64%
Chargeable Offenses 90088	pp. 231–232	87	10.57%
Definition of Gender 90057	pp. 200–201	70	8.54%
Interpretation of Fidelity in Marriage for Deacons 90077	pp. 210–211	69	8.42%
Fully Inclusive Way Forward 90090–90092	p. 233	67	8.18%
Replace Par. 161.G 90055	pp. 199–200	64	7.79%
One New Discipline Plan 90084	pp. 223–227	61	7.42%
Sexual Practices 90089	p. 232	45	5.47%

All submitted petitions must receive a vote from the Legislative Committee according to the General Conference rules. Any legislation approved by the Legislative Committee will then go before the plenary for further debate & vote. Anything approved in committee must also receive a vote in plenary. All 864 delegates comprise both the single Legislative Committee and the plenary during this Special Session of General Conference.

Following an afternoon break the delegates convened as the single Legislative Committee. They first elected officers out of a pool of people who served as Legislative Committee officers during the 2016 General Conference, indicated a willingness to serve again, and attended a mandatory refresher course. The officers elected included Chair Joe Harris (Oklahoma); Vice Chair Betty Kazadi Musau (North Katanga); and Secretary Carlene Fogle-Miller (Florida).

The Legislative Committee then considered the petitions rated highest priority from their ranking process — Wespath Recommendations regarding Pension Liabilities and CRSP Amendment. After discussion and explanations from Wespath officials, the Committee approved the petitions.

The Conference then adjourned for the evening and will begin is work as the Legislative Committee tomorrow morning following a time of worship.

For any legislation to be enacted by the Special Session of General Conference, it will need to be approved by both the Legislative Committee and the plenary.

Pictures from Today

(click pictures to enlarge)

Sunday began with worship. The entire Council of Bishops processed during the opening hymn. Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett is pictured above.

Retired Bishop Will Willimon also participated in the procession.

Retired Bishop Robert Fannin (third from left) joins the bishops and congregation in singing "This Little Light of Mine" following the sermon.

North Alabama Conference delegates votes during the prioritization of legislation.

North Alabama Conference delegate Rev. Tiwirai Kufarimai stands during a short break.

Many North Alabama United Methodists are in St. Louis observing General Conference. Some of them joined the delegation for a group picture at the end of the Sunday afternoon session.

Monday Schedule

8:00 – 8:20 a.m.
Worship

8:20 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Morning Session 1
Break
Morning Session 2

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch

1:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Afternoon Session 1
Break
Afternoon Session 2
Worship

6:30 p.m.
Adjournment

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