A Bumpy Rollercoaster Ride Forward on Unity

PORTLAND, Ore. – In a 24-hour span teetering between elation at an apparent in-breaking of God's Holy Spirit and a political blockade that almost derailed a way forward, delegates to the 2016 General Conference voted 428-405 to accept a Council of Bishops' proposal for a series of steps intended to lessen strife over human sexuality and foster unity across the worldwide United Methodist Church.

The day's emotional rollercoaster began with a report from the Council of Bishops, which was asked May 17 by the General Conference to provide leadership on the 44-year-old conflict about United Methodist stances regarding homosexual practice and LGBT rights within the denomination.  Bishop Bruce Ough, newly installed president of the Council, presented a proposal hammered out overnight calling the denomination to a series of steps:

  • a renewed commitment to unity,
  • times of prayer led by bishops,
  • deferring action at the 2016 General Conference on all human sexuality petitions,
  • establishment of a special commission to review all parts of the Book of Discipline that reference homosexuality, and
  • the possibility of sending the commission's report to a special called General Conference in 2018 or 2019.

Bishop Ough acknowledged to the assembly that the Council was not unanimous in recommending the report's actions, but added that the bishops had engaged in "deep prayer" about the need to move The United Methodist Church off its unending, agonizing political battles over its LGBTQ stances.

After Bishop Ough presented the report, presiding Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer called the conference to a 40-minute time to "share your stories before you share your stances" on homosexuality. At the close of that time, the Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., and a delegate for the Great Plains Annual Conference, moved to accept the bishops' report to establish the special commission, defer action on human sexuality petitions and have the bishops call a special General Conference.

The Rev. Chappell Temple of the Texas Annual Conference moved to substitute the Hamilton motion with a proposal to approve the creation of a study group, but that the General Conference proceed with voting on the 56 human sexuality petitions remaining. Delegates Simon Mafunda of East Zimbabwe and Thomas Shinkle of Iowa both supported the substitute, both saying they wanted General Conference to honor those who submitted petitions.

However, delegate Lonnie Chafin of Northern Illinois turned the tide with a passionate speech against the Temple motion.

"Now is a time for a pause in prayer to step back from legislative solutions," Chafin said. "We are at a precipice. The church might divide if we drive forward to vote on the human sexuality petitions before us. Instead, the special commission could engage all of us. Our bishops see more than you see; they are able to see beyond. The bishops say, 'Pull back, take a breath, engage each other. The whole church is at risk."

Delegates voted down the Temple substitution 441 to 371. However, because of an "order of the day" – a report on the Global AIDS Fund – Bishop Palmer deferred action on the Hamilton motion until after lunch.

Political hell broke loose when the delegates resumed their deliberations after lunch.

As discussion proceeded on the Hamilton motion, delegates Jen Ihlo of Baltimore-Washington, Fred Brewington of New York and Greg Gross of Northern Illinois challenged Bishop William McAilily's (Memphis Area) presiding. Gross alleged that McAilily was "telegraphing votes" by hand and voice signals, while Ihlo and Brewington alleged that McAilily was deliberately avoiding calling on certain persons in attempts to steer the discussion.

Ihlo then shocked the General Conference by asking for McAilily to either remove himself or be removed from presiding by the Committee on Presiding Officers. Her request threw the assembly into turmoil as Bishop McAilily called a recess to consult on her demand. When proceedings resumed, the full committee on presiding officers stood at the podium and affirmed McAilily's continued leadership.

The Hamilton motion was defeated 438 to 393, to a chorus of groans from onlookers.

Yet, like Lazarus coming forth from the tomb, the bishops' report was resurrected by delegate George Howard of West Ohio. Howard moved that the General Conference affirm the bishops' full report and empower them to take action on the steps as outlined.

"We've asked our leaders to lead and they've offered ways for us to move forward with dignity and respect for our diversity," Howard said. "I think we're ready to move forward with a plan."

Delegates Mike Jen of Central Nigeria and Kenneth Levingston of Texas objected to the Howard motion, saying that the General Conference had already voted down the bishops' report as the Hamilton motion. However, the Howard motion prevailed 478 to 405.

After the final vote, Matt Berryman, Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network released a statement:

"This historic action by the Council of Bishops (COB) represents a significant institutional shift in the direction of inclusion and equality. It is just a beginning, but it signals hope to an end of church trials, to celebrating all marriages, to accepting the gifts of our LGBTQ candidates for ministry, clergy and lay employees. 

"This is the first time the COB has put their collective voice around the urgent cries for change and acceptance. We applaud their efforts knowing that the real work lies ahead. We call on the Council to act quickly and deliberately and to lead the church as promised. Today, we commit to hold the COB accountable for finally bringing justice to The United Methodist Church."

The Love Your Neighbor Coalition, an association of 13 United Methodist unofficial caucuses concerned with justice issues, issued a statement in support of unity the day before the political fireworks around the bishops' report: "Recognizing that it is always difficult to live together against the backdrop of our differences and disagreements, the Love Your Neighbor Coalition has taken a strong and principled stand against schism..."

After Bishop Ough presented the Council's report, the conservative/traditionalist caucus Good News posted a statement on its website:

"…Bishop Bruce Ough’s morning statement at General Conference should be applauded for its directness and its honesty, but it was also a cause for sadness and disappointment. His confession that the Council of Bishops is divided and unable to provide the leadership we need to be a united and vibrant church is another indication of how serious our dysfunction is.

"It’s particularly disheartening, in light of the fact that we have debated issues regarding human sexuality for over 40 years, to hear that the Council has not done the work necessary to provide the leadership the church needs and deserves at this time. We had hoped and prayed that the Council would exert the moral and risk-taking leadership this desperate moment requires. We are afraid we are about to witness a terribly disruptive and divisive ending to General Conference and then several years of chaos and harm. This development is more than the result of different views held within the church. It is the fruit of leadership that has failed us.

We are grateful the Council has finally begun to talk about how deep our divisions run and perhaps have the kind of conversations that should have been going on for the last ten years. We are praying that these conversations will be fruitful and lead us to a way forward."

Good News also said that the caucus and its allies had proposed much legislation that was approved by legislative committees. The statement said Good News expected the legislation to be adopted by General Conference, but those petitions that were related to homosexuality have now been deferred by the vote affirming the bishops' report.

United Methodist Insight Editor & Founder Cynthia B. Astle has reported on eight General Conferences.