Update on General Conference 2024

May 8th, 2024

On Sunday, I told you that the General Conference made significant changes to the Book of Discipline last week. While there were many changes to the structure, most do not directly concern our local congregation at this time. I do though want to provide you with an outline of some of the significant changes that were made which may impact Dover First UMC.

My goal is to provide you with an overview of some of the major legislation that will be of interest or concern to our congregation so that we can think about these issues and have respectful conversations. As I said on Sunday, I want to hear what you have to say. Your thoughts and feelings are important to me, but I want to also remind you:

Our church is made of people with widely varying opinions who come together to build love for one another in Jesus. This means that others are processing these changes differently, and we want to maintain love and respect in our conversations, seeking to grow closer to one another and not to let these issues divide us. So, while I encourage you to talk, I am also encouraging you to listen to what others say, so that we might show love to one another.

In John 17:21 Jesus prays that his followers might be one, and when we look at the larger section beginning in John 13 we notice that Jesus prioritizes unity and love among his disciples. He does not mean unity of beliefs. He knows that will not happen. What he means is a commitment to love one another in him, and as we maintain that unity of commitment, he promises the wisdom of his Spirit. So let us commit to loving one another as Jesus commands us in the hope that we will find the unity he offers. With this in mind, here is a short overview of the changes made to our Discipline:

A plan for regionalization was passed. The plan for regionalization that was adopted means that conferences within the United States would operate as an independent region when establishing guidelines for church membership and the qualifications for ministry. Effectively, this makes these conferences autonomous from the other regions in the world in these matters. This plan needs to be approved by the Annual Conferences meeting later this year. Read 'UMC News’ breakdown here
Language that prohibited same-sex weddings and practicing homosexual clergy was removed from the Discipline. Our last Discipline (2016) prohibited “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being clergy. This language will be removed from the relevant paragraphs of the Discipline which now allows for the full inclusion of LGBT individuals as clergy. The language that restricted UMC congregations from holding same-sex weddings in our buildings and barred clergy from officiating at same-sex weddings was also removed. Read the UMC News breakdown here
- While this language has been removed from the Discipline, it comes with a caveat that local churches will not be given LGBT clergy if they make a theological stance against such. Also, churches are allowed to maintain restrictions on same-sex weddings within their buildings.
Paragraph 2553 that allowed for disaffiliation was removed from the Discipline. Paragraph 2553 allowing for the amicable disaffiliation of churches with convictions against the ordination of LGBT clergy was discontinued, ending a local church’s opportunity to leave the denomination over this issue.
Reduced the denominational budget
Reduced the number of active Bishops

For our conference’s full wrap-up click here

My prayer is that as we move forward in conversations around these issues we do so in love. I am reserving 2 hours tomorrow (Thursday May 9, 10-12) and on Thursday May 16, 10-12 for anyone who wants to gather for conversation I will be in the lounge. If these hours do not work for you or if you would like to talk in private I am glad to talk with you, simply call the church office.

Blessings,
Pastor Wesley