International Delegates Voice Concerns about General Conference Access, Influence

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A United Methodist Insight Exclusive

With less than two weeks before the postponed 2020 General Conference convenes in Charlotte, N.C., United Methodist delegates are voicing concerns about getting to the assembly and who's going to be permitted to make decisions for the future of The United Methodist Church.

International delegates' messages were considered significant for General Conference issues, especially regionalization. They're seen as key votes in the effort to reorganize The United Methodist Church into roughly continental regions so that mission and ministry can be adapted to serve various contexts and de-centralize the authority and influence of the U.S. portion of the church.

Over the space of 48 hours April 9-11, three groups publicized the following concerns:

  • Lack of invitation letters for some African delegates, documentation they need to obtain visas to the United States;
  • Visa processing delays in some countries with months-long backlogs;
  • Inadequate information about travel arrangements and hotel accommodations for some African delegates;
  • Objection to the interference of U.S. caucus groups in General Conference matters.

Africa Forum went first

The United Methodist Africa Forum kicked off a flurry of activity April 9 by publishing an open letter concerned about late arrangements for some African delegates to get to Charlotte. The letter was addressed to the Rev. Gary Graves, General Conference secretary, and Bishop Thomas Bickerton, outgoing president of the Council of Bishops, and was signed by the Rev. Lloyd T. Nyarota as UMAF's general coordinator and the Rev. Gabrial Banga Mususwa, general secretary.

As of the first week of April, the caucus said, "some African delegates are yet to receive tickets and travel information as well as their lodging details for planning purposes. Those alternates who may have secured visas had not also received confirmation of their credentialing for the coming General Conference, let alone having an idea if they were going to travel and be able to be credentialed as delegates.

"The United Methodist Africa Forum (UMAF), African delegates and our leaders consider these unresolved issues as limitations to meaningful and effective participation of the African church at the upcoming General Conference as delegates may be unprepared for the huge demands of General Conference work which requires high mental preparedness and alertness if one is to make the necessary decisions our church is supposed to make at the coming General Conference.

"Given the prevailing conditions, we would like to express that as Africans we consider this as an uncertain process with limited trust that risks compromising acceptance of the outcome of the General Conference," UMAF's letter continued.

"The United Methodist Africa Forum (UMAF), African delegates and our leaders consider these unresolved issues as limitations to meaningful and effective participation of the African church at the upcoming General Conference."

In an email exchange with United Methodist Insight, Rev. Nyarota said the number of African delegates affected was still being determined.

"At the moment we do not have a stable number as some delegates and alternates are still trying to reapply or apply for the first time, others could not get dates for interviews and are still following the portals checking for open dates that may be surrendered for different reasons," wrote Rev. Nyarota, a clergy member of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference serving as a pastor at St John's United-Anglican Church in Manning, Alberta, Canada. .

"We know of a delegation who out of 50 only 23 got visas like in South Congo," Rev. Nyarota continued. "Half the Nigeria delegation could not get visas and others could not get slots for interviews. We are still collecting numbers."

Although Rev. Graves said during the Feb. 29-March 1 online delegate orientation that all invitation letters had been sent, Rev. Nyarota said in his email that travel information and tickets didn't arrive until April 5.

"Now tickets are trickling in," Rev. Nyarota stated. 

Lack of communication cited

Rev Nyarota also complained about inadequate response from Rev. Graves, the General Conference secretary. United Methodist Insight emailed Rev. Graves for a response to international delegates' concerns but hadn't received a reply as of a noon April 11 deadline.

"We do not have response up to now (from Rev. Graves) and we are not hopeful that he would respond as he never responded to any communication from us including our invitation for him to attend our meeting in Dar es Salaam," Rev. Nyarota said, referring to UMAF's delegate orientation meeting held in January in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

"Right now, we have a situation where he never responded to communication from a Conference secretary and a bishop upon updating their delegations after some delegates left to join GMC (the breakaway Global Methodist Church)," said Rev. Nyarota in his email.

"To the surprise of the conference secretary and head of delegation, their delegates lists have been changed and non-elected people are now listed as reserve delegates and delegates," Rev. Nyarota continued. "No one knows where he got that information."

Africa Voice of Unity joins in

Another caucus, Africa Voice of Unity, published a three-page document April 11 addressed to General Conference delegates supporting UMAF's concerns. The statement included an "urgent call" for General Conference organizers to take steps to assure full representation of United Methodists in Africa. The Rev. Ande Emmanuel, a United Methodist pastor in the Southern Nigeria Annual Conference and AVOU coordinator, forwarded a copy to United Methodist Insight.

The document states in part:

"While we appreciate the efforts of the organizers of the 2024 General Conference and are aware of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic which caused several postponements of the General Conference, we are very concerned about the challenges we see in organizing for the 2024 General Conference." The Africa Voice of Unity cited the same concerns raised by the United Methodist Africa Forum.

"In view of the above (issues)," the AVOU document continued, "we call on the organizers of the 2024 General Conference to make judicial use of the remaining time left before our meeting in Charlotte to ensure that travel itineraries are properly purchased and sent to the delegates and that information on hotel accommodations, delegates IDs, and other logistics needed to help delegates carry out their responsibilities are provided without further delay," the letter continued. "Where seated delegates were not able to secure visas, expedited arrangements should be made for reserve delegates who have visas to be seated in their places. This is an urgent call to the organizers of the 2024 General Conference (emphasis by Africa Voice of Unity).

Africa Voice of Unity also proposed a solution to the visa and information challenges.

"Going forward, we call on the General Conference to designate a proportional representation of Africans among the organizers of the General Conference, including the business manager’s office. These representatives should have the responsibility of addressing specific concerns of African delegates to the General Conference."

Africa Voice of Unity's statement echoed objections raised recently by other international delegates that efforts to extend the disaffiliation period by U.S.-based caucuses aren't needed.

"We who have not disaffiliated ourselves from the United Methodist Church have a right to self-determination and that those no longer in The United Methodist Church have no longer any right to a voice at the General Conference, have no more right to influence the United Methodist decision-making, and should refrain from meddling into the internal affairs of the Church."

– South West Philippines Annual Conference statement

Halfway around the world from Africa, the South West Philippines Annual Conference issued a strong denunciation April 10 of efforts by traditionalist caucuses Good News and the Wesleyan Covenant Association to extend the period for disaffiliations under a special process that expired Dec. 31, 2023. The conference posted a statement on its Facebook page:

"... Good News and the Wesleyan Covenant Association [GN and WCA are aligned with the breakaway Global Methodist Church] intend to be present at the upcoming General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Good News and the Wesleyan Covenant Association plan to advocate at the upcoming General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, for extending disaffiliation rights for non-U.S. churches.

"Churches of whatever denomination and nationality always have a right to disaffiliate and possess the right to determine their future. We believe this inalienable right is clear to members in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Russia; thus, the right to disaffiliate is beside the point. This right is not denied to churches most especially in the developing world whose members are predominantly poor and persons of color. ...

"...Petitions seeking to re-create (the disaffiliation process) are a step backward and need to be defeated," the statement continued. "These petitions are largely the work and priority of Good News, Wesleyan Covenant Association and the Africa Initiative — groups that had a hand in launching the breakaway, traditionalist Global Methodist Church. These groups supported the divisive Traditional Plan that narrowly passed at the 2019 General Conference in St. Louis.

"... It is our conviction that we who have not disaffiliated ourselves from the United Methodist Church have a right to self-determination and that those no longer in The United Methodist Church have no longer any right to a voice at the General Conference, have no more right to influence the United Methodist decision-making, and should refrain from meddling into the internal affairs of the Church. Good News and the Wesleyan Covenant Association have created division within The United Methodist Church for too long and their work at the General Conference will only continue the dissension they have sowed in the past. The continuing efforts of GN and WCA to ask the General Conference “to provide justice” for churches outside the U.S. that have been denied (sic) the chance disaffiliate, is itself proof of the truth that Good News and the Wesleyan Covenant Association is bent on destroying the unity in Christ that the United Methodist Church is enjoying and pursuing, and to defeat the regionalization plan. Each region of the world has unique issues and we should not attempt another one-size-fits-all solution from General Conference."

All three groups – United Methodist Africa Forum, Africa Voice of Unity and the South West Philippines Conference – expressed commitment to remaining part of the United Methodist Church.

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011 as a media channel to amplify news and views by and for marginalized and under-served United Methodists. Please email Insight for permission to reproduce this content elsewhere.