Reactions Pour In to Judicial Council Ruling on Traditional Plan

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Bishops Respond to Judicial Council Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Council of Bishops expresses its deep gratitude to the Judicial Council for its careful review of the actions of the 2019 General Conference. The Judicial Council’s decisions are clear and sound, and they give helpful guidance to the Church.

In Decision 1378, the Judicial Council ruled that the constitutional parts of the Traditional Plan enacted by the General Conference were severable from those parts that it ruled were unconstitutional. The parts of the Traditional Plan that were declared unconstitutional during the General Conference were held again to be unconstitutional.

In Decision 1379, the Judicial Council ruled that the disaffiliation petition passed by the General Conference is constitutional and clarified that the annual conference must approve a local church’s decision to disaffiliate with the denomination in addition to the other requirements set forth in the new legislation.

These are some of the important rulings:

1. The question of local churches exiting from the denomination is one that is determined by votes in the local church and at the annual conference. This retains the value of our connection.

2. The practice of certifying Board of Ordained Ministry members on whether they would follow the Book of Discipline in its entirety, including on matters of human sexuality/LGBTQ identity, was found unconstitutional. Current language around sexuality and restrictions on same-sex weddings and ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexuals was not in question and is retained.

3. Accountability for bishops continues to be lodged in the jurisdictional college or central conference.

4. Exiting churches must pay their fair share of pension liability. Exiting clergy retain their pension but it is converted to limit further liability to the conference.

5. Seven petitions in the Traditional Plan were found to be unconstitutional, consistent with two previous Judicial Council decisions, and eight petitions were found to be constitutional.

Our polity disperses authority to lay and clergy delegates to General Conferences in writing legislation and to the Judicial Council in interpreting the constitutionality of that legislation. Bishops are in the role of providing spiritual and administrative leadership, which is to say, putting in practice the discernments of these two bodies. While additional questions may arise as the new church laws take effect January 1, 2020 (except in Central Conferences), today’s decisions provide a path for local churches and annual conferences to move forward. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we pray that we will fulfill the law through our love for one another (Galatians 5. 14).

The peace of the Lord,

+Ken Carter, President, Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church

A statement from the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops:

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

The Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church has ruled on the constitutionality of the plan known as “The Traditional Plan” that was passed at the Special Called Session of General Conference 2019 (St. Louis, Missouri). In its ruling, some of the petitions were ruled constitutional while others were ruled unconstitutional, and a petition related to a plan for churches to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church was ruled constitutional. With humble gratitude, we acknowledge the diligent and faithful work of the Judicial Council. The decision, made during the Council’s April 23-26 meeting, means that less than half of the Traditional Plan will take effect in the U.S. on January 1, 2020, with Africa, Europe, and the Philippines taking effect twelve months after the next General Conference. The petition on a gracious exit goes into effect immediately. You may review the Judicial Council’s Ruling No. 1378 at http://bit.ly/JCR1378 and No. 1379 athttp://bit.ly/JCR1379. An explanation of both rulings is available at http://bit.ly/UMNSApr26.

While graciously received, the intent of the Western Jurisdiction remains the same as was stated on the floor of General Conference 2019: to live in the spirit of “One Church.” The Mission Cabinet and the delegations of the Western Jurisdiction endorsed the One Church Plan before the Special Session, believing it to be the best option for allowing faithful United Methodists of differing theological perspectives to be in ministry together. We believed the One Church Plan was an expression of Wesleyan values that we practice in the West. In the wake of the Judicial Council decisions, we continue our commitment to live into Beloved Community as one church in each of the conferences of the Western Jurisdiction.

Even now, efforts are underway to coalesce our plans and energy to help forge the future of our church.  If you are interested and energized in assisting, we invite you to visit the Western Jurisdiction website to volunteer and join this movement. (http://westernjurisdictionumc.org/ahomeforall)

We commit to be true to John Wesley’s tradition of the entire world being our parish. We will continue to relate with one in another in such a way that all people may find our United Methodist Church to be their spiritual home. We will remain united in our determination to make our Jurisdiction a home for all.

Next month, on May 17-18 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and May 20-22 in Leawood, Kansas, persons of courage and faith from the Western Jurisdiction will participate in discussions that are happening and are connecting with representatives from Conferences around the world about the next steps for our Church. Those discussions will continue as annual conferences convene this summer and when our Western Jurisdiction leadership gathers in the fall.

The ruling by our Judicial Council will spark new discussions in our churches and in our Annual Conferences and across the connection. We anticipate that difficult decisions will take place during General Conference 2020. Thus, the road ahead may feel like a wilderness. But we, your bishops, are prayerfully in conversation in many places, with many individuals and groups about your hopes and your vision for being Church in this challenging time. We remain committed to ministry as one church for all and we ask for your prayers for the church and for the future of the love and grace as we travel this road together, not knowing where it will lead us, yet, but confident in God’s presence with us.

Faithfully,

The Bishops of the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church

Active

Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata, President

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

Bishop Grant J. Hagiya

Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky

Bishop Karen P. Oliveto

RetiredBishop Wilbur W. Y. Choy

Bishop Calvin D. McConnell

Bishop Melvin G. Talbert

Bishop Roy I. Sano

Bishop Elias G. Galvan

Bishop Mary Ann Swenson

Bishop Beverly J. Shamana

Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr.

http://westernjurisdictionumc.org/ahomeforall

Statement on Judicial Council Decision No. 1378

Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) thanks the Judicial Council for its work of deliberating the constitutionality of the Traditionalist Plan and the exit plan passed by delegates to the special session of General Conference 2019 (GC2019). In Decision 1378, the Judicial Council found the exit plan to be constitutional and found seven of the Traditionalist Plan’s 17 petitions to be unconstitutional (including four amended during GC2019).

The outcome is not surprising and does not change our plan to continue to resist the decisions of GC2019; continue to live into Biblical Obedience; show up at General Conference 2020; and remain open to new possibilities for our Church.

Notably, the Judicial Council struck down the “certification requirement” that individuals up for nomination to an Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (BoOM)must certify to their bishop their willingness to comply with the entirety of the Book of Discipline. It also struck down a requirement for BoOMs to “conduct an examination to ascertain whether an individual is a practicing homosexual,” as well as certifications that respondents will not repeat an action or actions.

Petitions found constitutional include the continued prohibition of LGBTQ persons in ordained ministry; the prohibition of LGBTQ bishops; and mandatory penalties for pastors convicted by a trial court of performing same-gender wedding ceremonies or conducting ceremonies to celebrate same-gender unions.

GC2019 proved that while LGBTQ persons have been the subject of the Church’s discriminatory attention for the past 40 years, justice and inclusion for LGBTQ persons in the full life and ministry of the Church will not come by the same processes and deliberative bodies that codified exclusion. Work remains to be done across the connection through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, by the leadership of queer and trans people of color and other LGBTQ persons, and by the might of a Reconciling movement that includes over 40,000 individuals and over 1,000 Reconciling Communities.

At RMN, we are not only working on what is to come, but we are already enacting it. We will continue to both lead and be part of conversations with United Methodists, church leaders, and groups around the connection. What will come of these ashes must be a Wesleyan movement that has already resolved to include LGBTQ persons in the full life and ministry of the Church.

We call upon the Reconciling movement to practice Biblical Obedience; to continue to perform weddings with multiple officiants; to repeatedly state your dissent; to support the work of resistance by United Methodist seminaries; to continue to write open letters and visibly be in solidarity with those on the margins; and more.

For more information on how you can rise and resist, visit our statement here.

Furthermore, we stand firm in our baptismal vows:

We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, we reject the evil powers of this world, and we call upon the Church to repent of the sin of homophobia.

We accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.

We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and put our whole trust in his grace, promising to serve him as our God in union with the Church, which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races.

Now is the time to rise and resist beside the growing number of Reconciling United Methodists and Wesleyan siblings who are working to be the Church in spite of the denomination.

Mainstream UMC Labels Denomination "Officially Anti-Gay"

Dear Friends,

The Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church has allowed portions of the mean-spirited Traditional Plan to take effect. Every single item is anti-gay. It has also allowed the exit provision to take effect which is also based entirely on a church’s view on homosexuality.

Bishop Carter of Florida made this observation before the Judicial Council last fall in Zurich, “The Traditional Plan organizes our church around one issue— human sexuality.” And so it has come to pass. Beginning January 1, 2020 the UMC will begin a wholesale purge of LGBTQ persons and their allies.

Low-lights include:

  • There is a more specific definition of “self-avowed, practicing homosexual” lest any sneaky gays slip through the cracks.
  • Bishops cannot consecrate gay bishops. For the record, bishops are still allowed to consecrate adulterous bishops (contrary to Matthew 19) and women (contrary to 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and other passages.) And bishops can consecrate hypocrites, just apparently not gay hypocrites.
  • Sets mandatory penalties for, you guessed it, pastors performing gay weddings and no other offense. Minimum sentencing guidelines have worked so well in our federal prison system, the church thought we should try them too. The penalties: one year of unpaid suspension for the first offense and loss of credentials for the second.
  • An agreement must be made with the accuser. So, anyone who accuses a pastor of a gay-related crime must be satisfied before a just resolution can be signed. In what court in America does the “accuser” sign off on the punishment of the “offender?” The United Methodist Church courts apparently.
  • The church can now appeal trial courts that fail to punish gay-related crimes sufficiently.

Don’t forget, the prohibition against gay weddings only applies to the United States. Any Central Conference outside the United States can allow gay weddings because these prohibitions can be ignored per paragraph 101 of the Book of Discipline. A cultural gift that is not reciprocated to the U.S..

All of us who supported the One Church Plan agreed to live in a church with differences of opinions and practices. Imagine forcing every conservative pastor to certify that they must perform a gay wedding or be brought up on charges and kicked out of the church. No one suggested that. The One Church Plan allowed conservatives to be conservative. But those who support the mean-spirited Traditional Plan want to kick out those who disagree. Their reading of Scripture is pure and ours is wrong. Gay pastors and their allies must be evicted from the church.

Paragraph 140 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline convicts our hypocrisy: “Inclusiveness means openness, acceptance, and support that enables all persons to participate in the life of the Church, the community, and the world; therefore, inclusiveness denies every semblance of discrimination.” Perhaps the authors of the Traditional Plan will amend this paragraph to continue: “…except for LGBTQ persons and their allies.”

The UMC is officially anti-gay. The dream of 100 trials has begun.

Mainstream UMC is not going anywhere. We will not be bullied out of our church. We will not stand idly by while LGBTQ persons and their allies are singled out and harassed in our churches. We will not allow others to define ministry for 2/3 of the U.S. church. We are digging in against the Traditional Plan for as long as it takes. Thank God our ancestors never gave up on slavery, women in ministry, segregation, or exclusion of divorced clergy. We will not give up either. “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24

I would encourage you to forward this email to every United Methodist on your contact list, and encourage them to sign up for our newsletter at www.MainstreamUMC.com/sign-up. We have had a tremendous response since the harmful General Conference. We need to continue to grow our network for what is next. The Traditional Plan cannot stand…but only if we stand together.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Mark Holland

Executive Director, Mainstream UMC www.MainstreamUMC.com

Links:

Options for the Future: https://mainstreamumc.com/blog/options-for-the-future/

5 Reasons to Consider a U.S. Church: https://mainstreamumc.com/blog/5-reasons-to-consider-a-u-s-church/

Bishop Carter’s statement: https://mainstreamumc.com/archives/endorsements-ocp/bishop-ken-carter/

UM Forward: Constitutional but unChristian

The Judicial Council put the final nail in the coffin of the United Methodist Church (UMC). Their ruling allowed many of the Traditional Plan’s most discriminatory and punitive measures to remain in the Book of Discipline (BoD) thereby exacerbating the assaults on LGBTQIA+ people and further empowering agents of harm. This creates an unbearable level of toxicity and unsustainability. I have serious concerns as to whether General Conference 2020 will be able to fix this vicious mess. We have not managed to clean up the BoD from all the harm inflicted unto us since 1972. How will 2020 be any different?

Progressives have been fighting for survival mechanisms and deploying creative forms of resistance for so long, but now many of our places of refuge have been taken away. We are ready to begin thriving through God’s grace, rather than remain in survival mode. That may mean living into a new expression of Methodism. It is increasingly clear that our current expression is corrupted beyond repair. To make matters worse, far-right exclusionary local churches have the upper hand even when it comes to disaffiliation. A gracious exit is available for conservative churches in progressives ACs, because “no good Christian would punish a church that wants to leave.” But progressive churches in exclusionary ACs will probably be in deep trouble, given the punitive tendencies of conferences dominated by WCA. Going forward, a number of inclusive churches will continue to discern whether they can continue to acquiesce to the now-institutionalized abuses of the UMC. These churches remain at the mercy of their Annual Conferences. I hope our church can, at the very least, acknowledge that some local churches cannot in good conscience remain complacent to the harm and abuse currently perpetuated by the UMC.

Here is my read of the legislations deemed constitutional, yet utterly unChristian:

90032 - No more plausible deniability. FB, Twitter posting might become irrefutable proofs of "violation of BoD" as a marriage licenses now is.

90036 - No more consecration of Queer Bishops, and conservative Bishops have the power to bar ordination even if DCOOM and BOOM have affirmed a candidate.

90042 - Minimum sentencing without legal recourse. Probably based on out clergy still in ministry case and clergy who have performed various same-gender-loving marriages. "a) First (1st) offense – One (1) year’s suspension without pay. b) Second (2nd) offense - Not less than termination of conference membership and revocation of credentials of licensing, ordination, or consecration."

90043 - Bishops have the power to exclude candidates that DCOOM and BOOM have approved. This one is also aiming to destroy the separations of power. They want to destroy the argument that inclusive bishops have used when questions of Legality were raised at Clergy Sessions that approved queer candidates.

90044 - Progressive Bishops will have a hard time protecting Out Clergy since now any public statement of being “self-avowed practicing” can be deemed a “fact” or a “proof” of violation of the BoD.

90045 - No repeat offense, two strikes (gay marriages, one statement of being ‘self-avowed practicing homosexual) and you’re out.

90046 - "Complainant(s)" are empowered to force the hand of discrimination reinforcers (DCOOM, BOOM, Bishops). The charges cannot be dismissed until the charging party is satisfied with the result. And we know that some "complainants" won't be satisfied until they have pushed us out completely no matter how many trials it may take.

90047 - It is precisely what it says it is not: “Double Jeopardy”.

Thanks be to God for the ones on the margins doing the work of resistance and liberation,

Rev. Alex da Silva Souto

A Pastoral Message from Iowa Bishop Laurie Haller

April 26, 2019

Grace and peace to the holy and faithful saints in Christ Jesus in Iowa!

I share this letter with you in convicted humility, knowing that I am a sinner, continually falling short of God’s glory and standing in need of God’s grace. None of us knows the will of God completely, and none of us is able to perfectly reflect God’s unconditional love for all of God’s children. My hope as a Christ follower and a bishop is to humbly share the Good News of Jesus Christ and reflect the love of Jesus in ways that help others to open their hearts to hear God’s voice and live transformed lives.

As many of you know, the February Special Called General Conference in St. Louis was devoted exclusively to our denominational disagreements around human sexuality. General Conference delegates voted 438 to 384 to approve the Traditional Plan, which strengthens the enforcement of bans on same-sex weddings and the ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexuals. At the same time, the General Conference also approved a subsequent motion to request a declaratory decision by our United Methodist Judicial Council on the “constitutionality, meaning, application, and effect” of the Traditional Plan.

A second item for the Judicial Council was a request from the United Methodist Council of Bishops for a declaratory decision on the constitutionality, meaning, application, and effect of Petition 90066, which was one of the proposed “exit plans” allowing local churches to leave the denomination.

As the Judicial Council met this week in Evanston, Illinois, I was praying and pondering the Gospel lesson from John 20:19-31 for this Sunday, April 28.

On the first day of the week, when Jesus was raised from the dead, the disciples met behind closed doors because they were afraid of what the Jewish authorities might do to them if discovered. Suddenly, Jesus appeared among them and said, “Peace be with you.” When Jesus showed them the wounds in his hands and side, they were filled with joy, whereupon Jesus breathed upon them the Holy Spirit.

When Thomas arrived, he wouldn’t believe that his friends had seen the Lord and demanded proof. After Jesus showed Thomas his hands and side, all Thomas could say was, “My Lord and my God.” And Jesus chided him, saying, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”

Just as the disciples did not always recognize Jesus or fully understand who he is, so you and I do not always recognize Christ in one another. Yet Jesus continues to call us to trust, to believe that we are all God’s precious children, and to act in ways that affirm that of God which lives in each one of us.

The Judicial Council Rulings that were released today declared that, while some parts of the Traditional Plan approved at General Conference are unconstitutional, the rest of the plan is constitutional. You can read about the Judicial Council decisions in this United Methodist News article and in this summary of the decisions, with wording from considered petitions.

  • As was approved in February, clergy who perform same-sex weddings will be required to take a one-year involuntary leave of absence without pay. If they officiate at a subsequent same-sex marriage, their clergy credentials will be removed.
  • Boards of Ordained Ministry will be required to examine and not recommend candidates who do not meet standards regarding human sexuality. The Plan also prohibits bishops from commissioning or ordaining those determined to be self-avowed practicing homosexuals.
  • In addition, the Traditional Plan has now expanded the definition of “self-avowed practicing homosexual” to include people living in a same-sex marriage, domestic partnership, or civil union or a person who publicly states that she or he is a practicing homosexual.
  • In a separate ruling, the Judicial Council approved an exit strategy for local churches wanting to leave the denomination that requires three things:
  1. Disaffiliation approval by a two-thirds majority of members present voting at the local church conference
  2. Establishment of conditions of disaffiliation by the conference board of trustees between a local church and the annual conference.
  3. Approval of the disaffiliation by a simple majority of members of the annual conference present and voting.

Bishop Ken Carter, president of the Council of Bishops, has issued a letter in response to the Judicial Council rulings that you can read here.

It is important to know that General Conference 2020 will take place in Minneapolis from May 5 to May 15. Any clergy and lay members of General Conference, as well as United Methodist groups, are invited to submit petitions related to human sexuality or other disciplinary matters. Instructions for online submission of petitions will be available in the near future and will be published on the Iowa Annual Conference website.

The decisions of the 2019 General Conference have been perceived by many as appropriate. Others, however, see the decisions as excessively punitive, sending a clear message to the world that The United Methodist Church does not welcome all and is perpetuating injustice. This is especially concerning because many young adults today in the United States, especially, have grown up in a culture where diversity is mandated in schools and the workplace and intolerance against the LGBTQIA community is not accepted. They will not attend a church that excludes others from full participation.

At the same time, The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. The 2016 Book of Discipline says (¶4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church), “All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection.”

My heart aches for our beloved denomination right now because I dream of a fully inclusive church. I dream of a deeply Wesleyan and evangelical church that is welcoming of all, is focused on mission and outreach, and offers a place at the table for everyone.

My life was changed in the mid-1990s when Gary and I were serving as co-pastors of First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. One Sunday, a young man greeted me after worship and asked to meet briefly in my office. He said, “I have AIDS, and I want to know if I am welcome to take Communion in this church.” We talked a bit more, and Len said, “I am not accepted at my parents’ United Methodist Church, but I do not want to give up. I love Jesus and the church. That’s why I came here.” My views on human sexuality were fairly traditional at that time, yet I looked Len square in the eye and said, “You are always welcome here.”

Len’s partner never came to church, but I was able to minister to Len over the next year until he died. His greatest joy during that time was being received into membership of the church. I was humbled that Len’s partner and friends trusted me enough as a pastor to invite me to officiate at his funeral. My life was forever transformed because of Len’s witness to a God of grace and glory.

You see, one of the things that scared Len the most was other people who said directly to him that God did not welcome homosexuals in heaven. Len believed in God, who lovingly created him, and in Jesus who died for him, yet Len desperately needed the affirmation of the church as well. Members of the LGBTQIA community are made in God’s image, just as every human being is. They are our family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and fellow church members.

It is still not clear what our denomination will look like in the days and months ahead. As we move into an unknown future as United Methodists, knowing that the risen Christ is with us, I think it is important for you to know of my hopes and dreams for The United Methodist Church and The Iowa Annual Conference.

I yearn for a church that honors diverse theological beliefs, whether Traditional, Centrist, or Progressive. The United Methodist Church has always had a big tent where we do not all think alike, but where we all love alike. And it is precisely our diversity that is our strength. One of my greatest fears is that in our reluctance to honor difference in The UMC, we risk becoming irrelevant in our global world, especially to our young people.

My hope is that each one of us will have a heart of peace as we navigate these difficult times. Here is what I will commit to you.

  • I will remain focused on the mission and vision of the Iowa Annual Conference
  • Missin: Inspire, equip and cnnect communities of faith to cultivate world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ.
  • Visin: Gd’s hope for the world made real through faithful leaders, fruitful communities, and fire-filled people
  • I am committed to creating space for all clergy, laity, and congregations to lead out of the fullness of who they are and out of their own unique pastoral context.
  • I continue to be supportive of the foundational concepts of the One Church Plan because it honors a variety of beliefs and practices around human sexuality. At the heart of the One Church Plan is every pastor having the freedom to officiate at same-sex weddings or not; every congregation having the option of hosting same-sex weddings or not; and the ordination of qualified LGBTQIA candidates for ministry who are committed to faithfulness in marriage and celibacy in singleness, just as I would expect the same of heterosexual candidates.
  • I am committed to avoiding complaints and trials around human sexuality, if at all possible. If a complaint is filed, however, I will address it with integrity and as much grace as possible, according to The Book of Discipline.

And here is what I hope that you, as clergy and laity of the Iowa Annual Conference, will commit to each other.

  • I encourage you to continue to create a welcoming atmosphere in your local churches so that all people know that they are invited to be a part of your faith community.
  • I ask you to follow the apostle Paul’s admonition to the Christians in Ephesus (Ephesians 4:32) “Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.”
  • I expect congregations and clergy, as best as you are able, to fully support The United Methodist Church through apportionment giving, which is foundational to mission and ministry in our connectional and global church.
  • I urge you to continue to make a difference in your local communities and around the world by modeling Christ’s love for all people, creating new ministries that fulfill the needs of your particular context, and going out into your communities to be the hands, feet, voice, and heart of our risen Lord and Savior.
  • I urge to continue to love one another, even when you disagree.

God can breathe new life into old bones! I am convinced that God is up to something in The United Methodist Church, and I ask that you be creative, proactive, as well as patient as a new future unfolds. My greatest joy as your episcopal leader is the privilege of worshipping and serving with clergy and laity throughout the conference to make disciples of Jesus Christ, regardless of where anyone stands on human sexuality.

My dear friends, in this time of great anxiety, may you not fear, only believe. May you share the good news that the God who raised Jesus from the dead can raise up The United Methodist Church as well! May you celebrate that perfect love casts out all fear. May you live out our core Wesleyan conviction that unity in diversity strengthens our witness to a broken world. And may you continue to fully immerse yourself in making a difference for Jesus in your local communities, in Iowa, and around the world. May God bless you richly in the days ahead.

God of grace and glory, on thy people pour thy power,

Crown thine ancient church’s story; bring her bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour,

For the facing of this hour.

Blessings,

Bishop Laurie

A Message from New England Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

April 26, 2019

Dear Beloved United Methodists in New England,

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The United Methodist Judicial Council in its decisions 1378 and 1379, April 26, 2019, affirmed, for the most part, the decisions made by the 2019 special session of General Conference.

The rulings are consistent with its previous decisions regarding parts of the Traditional Plan – upholding some and deeming others unconstitutional. See a story from United Methodist News for details of the rulings.

Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter has issued a response to the rulings on behalf of the Council. You can read that here.

Some notable points:

  • The Judicial Council reaffirmed that in order for a local church/congregation to leave the UMC, it must meet certain obligations – including a majority vote of the annual conference session; churches that choose to leave the denomination on theological grounds have until Dec 31, 2023 to do so.

The legislation deemed constitutional:

  • does NOT require the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) members to certify compliance with The Book of Discipline;
  • does NOT require charged clergy to state they will not repeat the offense
  • DOES uphold restrictions on bishops ordaining “self-avowed practicing homosexuals,” despite the recommendation of BOM/DCOM/clergy session
  • DOES uphold restrictions on bishops consecrating of bishops who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals”
  • DOES add to the definition of “self-avowed practicing homosexual” in ¶ 304.3 to include “or is living in a same-sex marriage, domestic partnership or civil union, or is a person who publicly states she or he is a practicing homosexual.”
  • DOES add new requirements for Just Resolutions and timelines for referral or dismissal of complaints
  • DOES add mandatory penalties for charged clergy
  • DOES give Church the right of appeal for egregious errors of law

The changes to The Book of Discipline go into effect Jan. 1, 2020 in the U.S. and in May of 2021 in the Central Conferences (Philippines, Africa, and Europe).

So what does this mean for the New England Conference?

This decision does not change the positions stated by my Cabinet and me and our Board of Ordained Ministry prior to and after the called session of General Conference.

We in New England are not of one mind on several matters of theology and social principle, however, we continue to repent of the ways in which our legislative and judicial process does harm to individual persons and groups – particularly those who identify as LGBTQIA – and fails us in our Christian mandate to love one another after the example of Jesus.

Our churches, camps and retreat centers, food pantries and other meal programs, child care centers, and institutions of higher learning, are and will continue to be open to ALL persons.

I have been gathering with districts for holy conversations in the past couple of weeks, and will continue to do so in these next few days and weeks (see schedule). As always, my door is open to any who wish to join with me in further conversation and prayer.

Regardless of where we stand on the decisions before us, my prayer is that we would join hand-in-hand as disciples of Jesus Christ. Will you kindly join me in prayer for all of our churches, clergy and laity, especially those who continue to be hurt by these decisions.

May we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all we do and say so that we will embody the love of Christ. We know we stand in need of God's grace, and welcome all to participate with us as we continue to seek peace and to live in love with God and one another; and we remain committed to our central mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

In Christ’s Love,

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

From The Michigan Statement

Dear Michigan Statement and Open Clergy Letter Signers,

Yesterday the Judicial Council ruled portions of the, so called, “Traditional” Plan constitutional.  You can read the decision in its entirety here (hyperlink: http://www.umc.org/decisions/79922).

January 1, 2020 the following discriminatory and punitive measures will take effect:

  • In order to make it easier to bring charges against LBGTQ clergy, there is a more specific definition of “self-avowed, practicing homosexual” to include anyone living in a same sex marriage or civil union or anyone who has made a public statement that they are “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals” 
  • Bishops cannot consecrate LBGTQ bishops. Bishops cannot commission or ordain LBGTQ clergy. 
  • Established same gender marriage as the only “chargeable offense” with mandatory minimum penalties. The penalties for clergy who officiate a same gender marriage: one year of unpaid suspension for the first offense and loss of credentials for the second.
  • It weakens the just resolution process by requiring an agreement must to be made with the accuser.  Anyone who accuses a clergy person of an LBGTQ-related offense must be satisfied before a just resolution can be signed.
  • The church can now appeal trial courts that fail to punish LBGTQ-related offenses sufficiently.

The Judicial Council also ruled a disaffiliation petition creating a “gracious exit” constitutional. You can read the decision in its entirety here (hyperlink: http://www.umc.org/decisions/79923) . Beginning January 1, 2020 it will allow the following:

  • Congregations who choose to leave the UMC before December 30, 2023 will be able to keep their church property if they pay two years of apportionments, their prorate share of aggregate unfunded pension liabilities, and any other debts, loans, and liabilities to the Annual Conference.

ACT NOW

In response to these rulings we are encouraging you to sign on in support of the Annual Confernce petition, Aspirations for the Michigan Conference, authored by Alex Plum and the Rev. Megan Walther.

Sign On Here(https://michiganstatement.org/resolution)

The goal is to collect as many signatures as possible so when Alex and Megan present the petition at Annual Conference they can share that thousands of Michigan United Methodists support their vision of a just, compassionate, and inclusive church that focuses its resources on mission and ministry with the most vulnerable communities in our State and around the world.

After you sign, please share the link via social media. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The future for the United Methodist Church, as a denominational institution, is indeed uncertain. It is a moment that requires United Methodist in Michigan, each of us, to be clear about the church we want to be. It will undoubtedly require painful decisions, honest repentance, and difficult acts of resistance personally, congregationally, and institutionally at Annual, Jurisdictional, and General Conferences. It will also require prayerful discernment, dreaming, creativity, and faithful rediscovery of our Wesleyan commitment to the primacy of God’s love and grace.

Locally, each of us must engage in the hard work of leading our congregations and ministry settings to be inclusive communities. Only we can do this work in our local settings. Please join me in engaging in this work in the days, months, and years ahead. Not sure where to start? Take a look at the resources (https://www.michiganstatement.org/resources) listed on the Michigan Statement page or contact me directly. 

Institutionally, there are few upcoming moments to pay attention to.  In the coming weeks two national gatherings are occurring:

  • UM Forward is sponsoring “Our Movement Forward” May 17-18 in Minneapolis, MI – A Summit to discuss the future of The United Methodist Church, centered on POC+Q+T (Person of Color, Queer, and Transgender) voices.Registration is open to all.
  • UMC Next is hosting an invitation only event for 600 United Methodists (see flier). The following United Methodist from Michigan were invited to attend by the UMC Next planning team:

Bridget CabreraMelanie CareyElbert DulworthPaul PerezAlex PlumTom RussellKevin SmallsNichea VerVer GuyMegan WaltherLaura Witkowski

The Michigan Annual Conference meets May 30-June 2, 2019 in Traverse City.

The Michigan Methodist Federation For Social Action (MFSA) is working on a slate of progressive candidates for General and Jurisdictional Conference delegate elections. They are also working on a voting guide for resolutions and petitions. This information will be shared via email by May 12.

Peace,

The Rev. Paul Perez